I type these past blogs changing my grammar/spelling but apologies for anything that I haven’t changed! I have also embellished a little. But this blog I have renamed and divided into two.  We (should read just me, it would take another year for Martin) have come a little bit nearer becoming an e-bike owner. I went with a friend (Adrian – the husband of Eleanor’s teacher), to buy an e-bike helmet. Originally it was for me, but I also got one for Eleanor. I have always known I have a small head as my horse riding helmet was VAT free because it … Continue reading An introduction to haggling – Part 1 – 5th October 2014

I went to a recital featuring Alexander Suleiman, Dr Bin Huang and Dr Angela Cholakyan. Suleiman was the only musician of the 3 that I had heard of, but Bin Huang shared 1st prize at the age of 14 with Maxim Vengerov at the international violin competition in Lublin, Poland. Dr Cholakyan accompanied both musicians in their varied repertoire, but also played a number of Bach’s solo preludes. Suleiman showed that he is not only an accomplished cellist, but can sing whilst playing too. That was definitely the surprise of the night. What the concert highlighted for me is that … Continue reading A week of firsts 20th September 2014

WARNING DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE EATING/DON’T LIKE PET SHOPS As we walked past a pet shop yesterday (Sunday), the above words were uttered from Eleanor. What she had seen were two, albeit, lovely looking puppies. Thankfully she didn’t see beyond the cute puppies. I did, and I had seen more of that in the Flower and Pet Street in Suzhou (Pishi Jie) during Friday’s walking trip in downtown. The street is tucked away off the main walking/shopping street by the metro station, Lindun Lu. I had expected an onslaught of smells but at 9.45am as I walked through, … Continue reading Can I have a pet? 15th September 2014

There are some things that you take for granted when buying goods in large supermarkets. The conveyor belt and the ability to pick something from the shelf, pay for  it and take it home. The conveyor belt, probably a relatively modern invention, but I have yet to come across one in Suzhou. Here you take your shopping out of the basket or trolley (never take a trolley as no longer have a car to load up the boot!), put it where there should be a conveyor belt and push it manually towards the checkout assistant. A few items is fine, … Continue reading All Mod Cons and Mid Autumn Festival 6th September 2014

When a child is born and people meet new parents, the question is often asked “how old?” The response varies from days, then weeks and then around 12 weeks the answer turns into x months and then years and then years and exact months if the child is asked. Well we aren’t counting the days anymore, weeks are varied and difficult to define when you aren’t working, but this week is different as we are entering our 1 month anniversary in China. Does it feel like an extended holiday? No. Martin is working really long hours but REALLY loving it, Eleanor is … Continue reading Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, 1 Month 3rd September 2014

Well at some point I had to tackle the issue of where I call home. When I collected Eleanor from school I initially said let’s go up to the flat/apartment. Now I say, “let’s go home”. We are now entering our fourth week and we have fallen into some kind of routine. Today my Mandarin teacher asked if I was English…. well now… talk about a can of worms. Those of you who know me well enough understand my protestations of being called English. Today I succumbed. When I explained that I am Northern Irish, there was an intake of … Continue reading Mandarin is logical 28 August 2014

Hi readers…  This is just a reminder that these are repeat blogs… sadly the provider I used in our first year is no longer a website, so in order to keep an online record of the early days in China I am publishing the old ones again. In bold are the additions or things I have noticed second time around!  “Foreign ID Holders” was what the sign said as we entered Dushu Lake Church. A Church that would not be out of place in any western city or town. A red brick building with a spire that can be seen … Continue reading Foreign ID holders only 24 August 2014

The past two days have taken me completely out of my comfort zone – but to be honest since I handed in my notice I have been out of my comfort zone (Original blog said since middle of July), so my zone of comfort must be expanding. Where to start… well Eleanor got the school bus yesterday to and from school and has settled in well. She likes her teachers and so far so good. Yesterday on collecting her fom the bus drop off, she wanted to be independent and not have me collect her at all, preferring instead to … Continue reading How to befriend complete strangers 20 August 2014

A rainy, overcast day dawned in Suzhou. Martin left for inset at 6.45am, and Eleanor and I set off for school at 7.35am. Eleanor got up, had her breakfast and donned her uniform. No need for her sunhat, but it was proudly put on. From our apartment we can see the entrance gate, I was periodically looking out for the school bus as I wanted to know for tomorrow where it would go from. At 7.20ish it arrived and by 7.30am it had gone. Eleanor and I were going to get a taxi to school. We had the obligatory photos … Continue reading First day as a housewife 18 August 2014

Eleanor had a late night on Thursday evening not because we were out painting the town red, but because she decided that she didn’t want to go to orientation day and that it would be hard to make new friends. Orientation day was not what Martin nor I had expected. The letter said it was 08.30-12.00. Like good people we turned up at 08.20 as the taxi got us there super speedy and knew where he was going. We sat in the reception of DUCKS (Dulwich College Kindergarten Suzhou) – people came in, people went out. At 08.40 we realised … Continue reading A geek/nerd in our flat that is not Martin 15 August 2014