Summer

37 degrees here today. Ice cream is the only remedy!

In other news...

Zara has another wiggly tooth!! Will be her second. Here she is taking a self-portrait on the iPad.

Summer style

Doesn't she look set for a London, I mean Shanghai summer? The handbag, the gloves, the hat and of course the regal Union Jack. Snapped just down the road from our place.

End of pre-school

On Thursday we parents were summonsed to the pre-school to watch a final performance by Zara's group. They sang some songs and did a little skit with brooms, where they metaphorically swept out the halls of pre-school as a final farewell before they move on to the big school. It was fun but an emotional moment as we think back to the little pink bundle of joy we held not that long ago - soon to start Grade 1 and moving on and up in life. Time doesn't stand still.

Dinosaur egg

This was one of Max's 4th birthday presents sent by Aunty S and Uncle P - a plaster dinosaur egg that he had to chip away to find what was inside. Yesterday he persevered with it and proudly "discovered" the little dinosaur skeleton inside!

Shanghainese

Chinese people from Shanghai are unique in many ways - and a Shanghainese man is known for his handbag. Not his though! So the story goes, Shanghainese men happily carrying their wives handbags while out shopping. Here's one happy couple.

Rice

Continuing on my theme of "oh great gat... can you believe that is on the back of a motorbike", here is a guy carrying sacks of rice on a low-torque electric bike. The poor bike was struggling.

Happy birthday Max

http://youtu.be/lCT8EE8v-iM

Birthday cakes

Max turns 4 tomorrow. He wanted a Spider-Man cake. Neither of us was clever enough but in true Chinese style we were able to find a bakery that did Spider-Man cupcakes.

Party table

Zara has had fun recently setting up tables for little parties. Complete with tablecloth, cushions, candle and fridge-cooled rolled-up face towels, for those sweaty Shanghai days!

Strange things

We see some strange things in China. Today a large statue of a Baileys bottle right outside my office building took the cake.

Trampoline

A new and very welcome addition to our compound over the weekend!

Pink hair

The photos don't really show how bright this mop of fairy floss was to our eyes.

Sunday

To market, to market

Spotted a side of pork while cycling this morning.

What we have been up to in Thailand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=034kgxamhec

Guess where

New baby

We have all been lucky enough this week to nurse little baby Dominic - Dana and Gilles' newborn. A handsome little guy, the kids love him!

Zara is 6!

Delivery man

Washing machine on a motor bike. Is there nothing that can't be strapped to two wheels?

ANZAC day Shanghai

This morning a dawn service was held at the Consul-General's residence in Shanghai, marking the 98th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing. Two school children, an Australian and a New Zealander were chosen to raise the respective flags during the playing of the Rouse. I had the job of looking after the school kids, so got a birds eye view of the service. This pic was snapped after the service had concluded.

Copy cat

There has been a quite a bit of imitating going on lately - always Max copying Zara, never the other way round. These pictures represent just a small sample of the goings-on. It often goes like this: Zara needs something, Max immediately also needs the same thing. Zara has a sore toe, magically Max also has a sore toe. Tonight Zara had to go to the toilet, 2 seconds later Max announced that he also needed to go. Without fail. Wherever she is, or whatever she is doing, little brother is just a few steps behind. It's really adorable and I wish I could pause time.

Travelling tip #1

Not cool to take photos with an iPad.

Spring

Spring appears to have arrived in Shanghai now - a temp of 31 degrees recorded around lunchtime today. Away with the jackets!

Baby on back

Look closely...