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We’re in Shanghai now, staying near the French concession.

Just within a few blocks I found a great cafe/book store, an organic tea store that sells all sorts of fragrant oils AND Masterfoods mustard, herbs and spices (yay!!), a little French courtyard cafe and all sorts of other lovely places.

I know where I’ll be coming to stay as often as possible.

We went to Nanjing Lu for dinner and a little shopping, but got tired very quickly of being blatantly and severely ripped off for being so clearly not Chinese.  We are going back with Patrick’s mum tomorrow, our secret shopping weapon!

We are on holidays at the moment, so I have little opportunity to write much.

We stayed in Nanjing for a night, I love that city.  Love, love, love it.   It is the perfect mix of modern and traditional, with huge trees lining all the city streets.  Hopefully we will spend more time there once the new fast train is completed sometime this year.

We are in Suzhou now, staying at the Suzhou Sheraton.  A beautiful old style building surrounded by gardens, (photo at top) I could happily stay here quite a bit longer I think.

We arrived just in time for the last night of their Oktoberfest celebrations, so had a great night full of German beer in enormous mugs, schnapps, German buffet and lots of dancing.  That’s what you’re supposed to do in Suzhou… right?

We visited Tongli ancient village today, as I had heard it has not been long open to tourists so figured it wouldn’t be too touristy.  I was quite wrong in that respect, but it was a great place to spend the day anyway.

Off to Shanghai tomorrow!

My parents asked before they came to Hefei if there was anything I really wanted them to bring.

The little bag they gave me of things from home had me squealing with glee, who would have guessed these items could have made me so happy.

There were lots of books of course, so now I am treating them kind of like I treat a box of chocolate; I am putting them on the shelf, appreciating how lovely they are and swearing to savour them and make them last, then finishing them off all at once.

There was also a tub of body butter that I reluctantly left behind when we had no luggage space on the way to Tokyo. It is Jasmine Tea (flavour?) by MOR, their products are beautifully packaged and all smell wonderful. I have missed it so much every time I have had a bath or wanted to pamper myself just a little.

There were two bags of Clinique samples, I am going to have so much fun playing with them all! They will all look lovely in the compartments of my bedroom table.

There was a packet of Blu Tac, one of the most useful inventions in the universe, yet to be known in China apparently. Sticky tape just doesn’t cut it.

Most exciting of all, there was a bottle of Jif!! Yay!! I was so desperate for some decent cleaning products, the ones here are all completely useless.

Also included was my favourite pair of sock-slippers, which are going to be so nice in winter. Unfortunately, they must still smell a little of cat, as Chandler tries to eat them off my feet each time I wear them.

I can’t wait now until I have a few free hours. I’m going to scrub the bathroom, stick the bottoms of all our picture frames to the wall so they stay straight, rearrange the compartments in my bedroom table, have a shower then cover myself in Jasmine Tea body butter, put my slippers on, and read a book.

Ha! This is the life.

I haven’t had much time to write this week, and now I have some time, I’ve so much to write I don’t know where to begin.

Our wedding was yesterday.  It was, as I said, a bloody good party.

As some may have gathered, I have never been one to dream of my future wedding, and generally really dislike the whole idea full stop.

I have changed my mind now, I just don’t like western style weddings.  Chinese weddings are really cool.

The first part of this wedding that made it rather more bearable for me was the fact that my only input was choosing a dress and turning up to get measured for it a couple of times.

This being the case, the whole thing was like a great big surprise party.  I had been a bit concerned that my Australian family and I would be left bumbling about like idiots as we had no idea what was expected of us or what was going to happen, but all went perfectly.

I don’t think anything could have been done better, it wasn’t stressful for a moment and everyone seemed to have a fantastic time… I want to do it all again!

I was kicked out of the house for a couple of nights so as we could go through the routine of Patrick coming to collect me from my parents and taking me home, so I enjoyed another few nights at my home away from home in our local hotel with the excellent buffet breakfast.  Thankfully it was only two nights, as I think the dresses would have required some altering if it had been any longer.

While I was away, the wedding planner and Patrick’s parents came in with their team of helpers and completely transformed our apartment.  It was such a lovely surprise to come home and find the place decorated.

I am now typing this surrounded by flowers and red lanterns and double happiness characters on every window, such a cheerful atmosphere.  There are even rose petals all over the floor of our bedroom… I might have to pick them up before I vacuum then scatter them again afterwards, I am quite liking them there.

The celebrations were concluded with a Xinjiang style BBQ party in the park this evening, complete with blue fairy lights in all the trees, tables set up alongside the lake, and fireworks along the path behind us.

I don’t have any photos as yet, but will post some soon and write more about our very full two days.

I uploaded some photos to Flickr this evening.

And… I could SEE them!

It appears the ban on the site within this lovely country we call home may have been lifted, and if all goes well, I can use Flickr again just like I used to.

Happy!