Why No Blog Post?

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This is why:

It is well known that you can not disturb a cat when he looks this comfy and cosy!  As soon as I get my workspace back writing will recommence.

Currently In ... May

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I thought I would just sneak this in here while I'm preparing the next installment of China Adventures!

Reading: I'm still reading Beowulf, I took an enforced break from it while someone else had the copy requested and checked out.  It's such a chore though, but I'm determined to get through it!  I'm also reading Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin but I'm feeling the need for some light, fluffy, fiction - any recommendations?

Watching: Just finished Jessica Jones season 2 then I caught the first 2 episodes of Cobra Kai and I'm on the second season of The Expanse.

Feeling: Brain Drain!

Thinking: I'm doing really well with my focus on weight loss, running and health in general.

Anticipating: My choirs concert at the end of the month.  It'll be bitter sweet though because the choir leader is moving away so it will be the last time singing with these wonderful people.

Listening to: Headspace and meditating about 4 times a week.

Planning: All the running plans, schedules and workouts in preparation for the half marathon at the end of October.

Working: I'm stripping wall paper in the little room that will be our gym area.

Wanting: A large bock of time where I can do nothing but read easy fiction and play video games.

Needing: A running backpack.  I used to have a camelbak, but I seem to have lost it :( I've been researching running backpacks but I'm stuck on trying to make the right choice.  Any recommendations?

Grateful: So grateful for my beautiful life.  Just the other day, after Kane and I had arrived home for the day and as I was turning the key to my house, I was swallowed up by the beautiful feeling of luck and gratitude for all that I have.

Wishing: I was back on holiday in China!
 

China Anniversary Trip: Day 1

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We flew from Auckland, NZ to Sydney, Australia and then had a long wait at the airport for our flight to Beijing, China but we kept ourselves entertained.  I didn't quite realise how long the flight to China would be, anything less than the 30 hour journeys to visit family in Scotland seems short!  I also didn't realise just how big Australia is, it took hours to fly over it.

We arrived at Beijing airport quite late at night and the trains stop running about 11pm but we had planned to get a taxi anyway.  Happily the signs were in English as well as Chinese so we followed the directions to get the official taxi ranks.  We had the name of the hotel written down in Chinese so we could show the driver and we were able to just relax and enjoy our midnight ride into Beijing CBD.
Our hotel was amazing and modernly fancy with big LCD screens in lobby.  This was definitely a very special vacation.

The next day, feeling refreshed and ready to start our adventure, we decided to take a walk around and get to know our surroundings a bit better.

Our hotel is part of the World Trade Centre, with a fancy shopping mall underneath and lots of nice restaurants and eateries.  And right outside is the CCTV building.
We came across a figure skating competition happening in the ice rink that was in the mall.  The kids were so cute and Kane and I were reminded of our own ice skating lessons.
People (family members, I presume) would through teddy bears and other stuffed toys onto the ice as the skater took their bows.

We found a grocery store and picked up some breakfast and light meal supplies then after dropping them off in our room we went to the Temple of the Sun Park.

The road along to the Temple of the Sun houses lots and lots of embassies and Kane and I had fun identifying all the flags.
Turns out you're not supposed to take pictures.

Being here made me so happy; listening to the sounds of music and watching people having fun.
 

  I found out that this bird is a type of magpie and I just loved its colours.
 
The park was full of different activities, from these ladies dancing, to people singing to playing mahjong, cards, chess, table tennis to using the exercise equipment and climbing wall.



After wandering around fully soaking up the sights and sounds we headed back to our hotel and the pub to have a nice beer and get ready for our first tour the following day.




20th Wedding Anniversary

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It was our 20th wedding anniversary on the 4th of April and we wanted to mark the occasion in a special way.  I looked up what the traditional gift for this anniversary is and it turns out it is china.  I'm pretty happy with my crockery, however it's been a long time dream of mine to visit the Great Wall of China and for the whole time I've known Kane he has always had a love of Chinese historical culture, martial arts and of course food!  It was the perfect gift to give ourselves!

We were there for 11 days, and we had the best holiday.  I still can't believe how great it was and I'm grateful to have those wonderful memories.

Be prepared for an onslaught of photos in the next post!

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