All the world's a stage...

Earlier this month William and Oliver took to the stage in their first proper school production!  It was based on a book about a farm and each class played a different set of animals.  Toucan class were the pigs and had to do a pig jig! 

Oliver and William were both lucky enough to be selected to have a speaking part.  When the teacher asked us if we thought they would be ok doing it we were very relaxed until she informed us that it would be in the Junior School theatre with microphones and proper lighting! 

Weeks of rehearsals followed and finally the day of the performance arrived.  We dropped the boys at school and then went for a coffee to calm our nerves whilst waiting for the performance to start!

The children all filed on to the stage and took up their positions.  Then we were invited to wave to our children so they could see where we were.  Sam and I waved sedately and couldn't believe the reaction from the parents.  They were out of their seats, jumping around and probably would have climbed on the stage if the teachers hadn't been there!

The show was fantastic and William and Oliver delivered their lines perfectly - to my relief! 

They then danced the 'Pig Jig' along with the rest of their class!

We went to the first day's performance and on the second day when dropping them at school the Deputy Head and a few other member's of staff asked if I was going again.  When I said no the look on their faces and the boy's faces convinced me that I was committing some parental crime so I sat through it a second time!  It was just as good and I was glad I had gone again. 

Return of the Nain!

A few days after the Smiths departed Sam's mother landed in Shanghai for her second visit.  The first time Sue visited we were still discovering Shanghai ourselves.  This time we feel more in the swing of things and have discovered more to share with her. 

After a couple of days relaxing and recovering from the flight we hit the ground running with a return to one of Sue's favourite haunts: the fakes market!  We spent time at the jewellery section and the bag section and for someone who didn't need much got a fair amount!  I even made some purchases!

Over the last year Sam and I have tried out several tailors and have hit upon some favourites.  I was keen to take Sue so we went to the large fabric markets over the river.  They are amazing places crammed full of tailors making anyting from leather jackets to fancy dress constumes at a fraction of the price at home.  For example, a pair of trousers that cost £45 in White Stuff can be copied for £15 and the quality is fantastic.

Sue got in to the swing of things quickly and I left her looking at material while I spoke to a friend.  When I turned back she was being measured for a couple of dresses, a pair of trousers and a shirt!!

At the end of her first week Ruth and Mike were back in town for a visit so Sue kindly babysat while we had a night on the town.  It was great to be able to go out early and meet Sam from work for pre dinner cocktails!



 Sue then set of on a five day tour of Beijing and Xian while her clothes were being made!

Following Sue's return we had a hectic couple of weeks collecting all of the clothes, having some more made and making a return trip to the fakes market.  We also did some more sightseeing around the old part of Shanghai.  We also made sure that we tried out some dumplings!

One day we walked to a temple near our house and had a look around and then walked through a migrant village to the wet market.  A migrant village is a purpose built village to house workers who come from all over China to work in Shanghai as road sweepers, Ayis, gatemen etc.  The housing is not particularly well built or sanitised.  It is rather like some of the housing that existed in London and other growing cities in the UK during the industrial revolution.  Whilst walking through the village we came accross a noodle 'restaurant'.  We had noodles for 20p each!  We then had a pancake for a further 10p!

 After stocking up on fruit and veg we decided to walk home.  The walk home was a lot tougher laden with bags in about 30 degrees.  We managed to get as far as Big Bamboo, our local, and collapsed in the air conditioned bar for a beer to recover.



During the last week we managed to go out for a meal and sat outside for a drink which felt like we were on holiday! 

We also managed a cocktail at the highest outdoor bar in the world (something that is becomming a bit of a habit for me and Sam). 

It was sad saying goodbye at the end of Sue's trip but we are all now excited about seeing each other again in a few months in the UK.