All The Trees in China...

One thing that we have observed during our time here in Shanghai is the speed with which buildings and compounds go up. Over seven weeks of the summer a further 21 floors were added to the new tower that is being built by the river, which when finished will be the tallest in Asia.

 

When we moved in to our house there was an empty block behind us which is now a pretty much complete new compound.  It is amazing how, in a matter of days a completed compound can go from looking just finished to as if it has been there for years.  The way that this is achieved is through the landscaping.  When the gardens and common areas are landscaped only mature shrubs and trees are used.  We have often speculated on where these mature trees come from as they would have needed years of growth to reach the heights they are.

On Tueday, Sam and I left our compound to go and collect William and Oliver.  Our walk to school is along a tree lined road, like many of the roads in this area.  However, one unusual feature of the stretch of road outside our compound is that the trees are double planted with maple and palm trees.  As we walked we came across a team of men digging up the palm trees.  It is now clear that when this road was built over 10 years ago they must have put extra trees in ready for use in the compounds of the future!

As is often the way in Shanghai and China health and safety took a back seat.  We were able to walk right past where they were pulling a tree up, in fact, when we were spotted one man held the tree up to let us past! 

So engrossed in taking the photos of the disreguard for health and safety that we barely noticed a digger drive right up behind us and it was only when the bucket clanged down that we saw it!

After collecting the boys we suggested that we should perhaps walk on the other side of the road to avoid the danger but Oliver and William were keen to see the digger and the holes, when in China...

On the return journey all the workers had gone for the day but left their tools on the pavement by the holes and we noticed lots of barriers stacked up at the side, so we assumed they  had given some thought to health and safety but just not had time to apply it. 

However, the next day we discovered that the barriers were for protecting the fresh concrete in the holes! 

Sunshine, picnics and Little Britain!

In China everyone usually gets a day off in September for the mid-autumn festival and then a few days in October for the National Day.  This year the mid-autumn festival fell at the end of September and was combined with the other holiday to give everyone a week off. 

The weather was in the high 20s all week and we decided not to go away but to stay in Shanghai and do some local sightseeing and general playing in the garden, riding bikes and going for coffee and lunch!

 

Some locals didn't even bother getting off their bikes to have lunch!






The first Saturday we had a family trip to Ikea! Luckily it was not too crowded and we stayed to have meatballs for lunch.  We discovered that we can no longer get away with the boys sharing an adult portion - they both manage 10 meatballs and trimmings each!  Fortunately it is still pretty cheap!

William and Oliver made a boat out of the Ikea box

At the beginning of the week we went with the Hughes family and had a picnic in Century Park.  It was actually on the official National Day.  The park was crowded but we managed to find a quiet spot for a picnic. 

Oliver, William, Henry and Charlie enjoyed playing in the mud and climbing trees!

Post picnic entertainment!

One day we were joined by William's classmate Ellie and her brother Jamie so that their parents could take friends sightseeing.  All four children had a great day playing, going to the park and for ice cream, making heart shaped pizza, having a bath together and playing table football.  Sam and I were exhausted and cracked open a bottle at the end of the day!

 

The local government have built nine satalite towns around Shanghai and have modelled them all on different countries.  Among others there is a Swiss one, and a German one and a British one - Thames Town!  We decided to have a day out there at the end of the week.  The town hasn't taken off as a residential area and many of the buildings are empty.  However, because it looks British and has a church it has become a popular venue for wedding photos. 

The attention to detail is excellent right down to the road signs and the names!  We took a picnic and ended up having it on the Isle of Arran! 



The weather was fab and we had a lovely day wandering the British looking streets, spotting signs with British names and watching many couples have wedding photos taken.

 

One of the many wedding photo shoots going on in the town

 



 

On our way out of the town Oliver and William posed for photos with a couple of famous Brits!  It seems that some Chinese people think James Bond is a real person - great for Britain's international reputation!

 

 

 

The week was completed with a trip to the Urban Planning Museum in Shanghai.  The highlight of this museum is the model of the city centre which lights up. 

 

Oliver and William took great delight in spotting different buildings.  The model is representing the plans for expansion and development over the next few years.  As we looked we could see that some buildings where our friends live were no longer there and had been replaced with other structures, hopefully they will give people plenty of notice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing Mr and Mrs Jarman!

All hopes of a lie in on the 1 September were dashed as Anna burst in to check if I was awake!  Before long the hairdresser had arrived and wedding preparations were underway.  Champagne was sipped and a few tears shed over a lovely card from Antony to Anna. 

After a fairly relaxed morning getting ready and lining our stomachs suddenly it was time to get our dresses on and go.  The cars arrived, and after a few photos with some neighbours we were off. 

Mum, Ellie and I arrived at the venue first and were greeted by Oliver and William looking gorgeous in their tailor made suits!

Anna and Dad arrived and we went in to meet with the registrar.  Some people feel that a civil ceremony can lack the personal touch of being married in a family church with a family vicar.  However,  Sam and I, Ellie and Dan and now Anna and Antony have all been very lucky to have all been married by the same registrars who also know my parents.  It has given each of our weddings a special, personal touch.  Also Sam is rather pleased that he is up there with my father as having accompanied all three of the Smith girls up the aslie!  Albeit as a wheelchair pusher on the second and third occassions!

Anna looked gorgeous and Ant scrubbed up pretty well too!

Anna and Antony's ceremony was lovely.  William and Oliver enjoyed walking Ellie and I down the aisle and the readings and service were perfect.  Following the ceremony we had photos in the grounds and I did my speech.  John and Jo then arrived to take William and Oliver home and for Sam and I the party began!

The speeches, food, quirky Swedish traditions (all the guests had to kiss the Bride when the Groom was absent and vice versa) and the dancing were all brilliant.  Anna, Ellie and I certainly enjoyed ourselves as is evidenced by the fact that Anna didn't mind when the taxi driver shut her dress in the door, Ellie spent the whole journey home focussing on not being ill and I fell asleep on the sofa!

 (more photos to follow)

Friends and Family

We headed back to Guildford for our last week in the UK to see some more friends and to help with the preparations for Anna and Antony's wedding. 

Most of the week was spent getting essentials to take back to Shanghai and popping in to town for last minute wedding bits.

However, on one day we headed up to London for the day to meet up with Hannah and Mike.  We had a great day at the Tower of London and there was no queue for the Crown Jewels!

One afternoon was spent with the Rowland's family.  The children all got on well despite not having seen each other for a year and even jumped in the bath together.  Sam and I then took the boys home to bed and went back for a more grown up evening with Phil and Caroline.  Although Phil showed that he can't be grown up when it comes to barbeques!

On the day before the wedding Sam took William and Oliver swimming with the Grant's then over to Kent before heading to Kingston to spend the night with Ant, Dan and Hadley.

Anna, Ellie and I went for a two hour session in Chanmpney's Day Spa and last minute underwear shopping (a bit of a pre-wedding tradition in the Smith family!).  We then met Mum in a bar in town for a quick drink but before we knew it we were two bottles of prossecco down! 

We headed home to spend the evening with Dad.  We had a fab evening taking a trip down the musical memory lane of the Smith family.  Featuring were the Mermaids soundtrack, Glen Mederos, Chris de Burgh and Queen among many others!

After a curry and a few drinks we all headed off to bed to get our beauty sleep.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The road trip continued with a quick dash across London to Sue and Suresh's in East Finchley.  The first afternoon was spent in a local park with Robin where we played and took in some more wildlife. 

On our second day we decided to head up to London to cross the river on the cable car that had been built for the Olympics.  We set off from East Finchley on the underground and headed for the DLR where the trains are driverless.  Here, in true Chinese style, we got ourselves to the front of the train and appointed Oliver and William as our drivers.  They took to the role with great gusto much to the annoyance of a man in our carridge!

The cable car is run by Emirates and feels rather like boarding an aeroplane for a short flight over the Thames!  The views and expericence were brilliant and this is bound to become as popular an attraction as the London Eye.

 

After a quick lunch by the Dome (in Costa Coffee!!!) we continued our journey by jumping on a river taxi.  It is a great way to see the sights and William and Oliver especially enjoyed seeing Tower Bridge and the HMS Belfast. 


We also got to see the huge aircraft carrier that has been moored in the Thames for the duration of the Olympics.  I was also pleased to see the Cutty Sark fully restored again.

After the boat trip we headed home using a variety of methods of transport.  At London Bridge we went on an overland train to Charring Cross where we picked up the underground to East Finchley.  As we stepped out of the station we were welcomed by a huge thunder storm which resulted in us jumping on a bus up the high street!

The following day, continuing the transport theme we went to the RAF museum at Hendon.  It is free and is a fantastic day out.   There are so many different types of aircraft from the first planes to stealth bombers.  Sam, Sue and the boys enjoyed the flight simulator - I declined in case I got travel sick! 

Oliver and William also enjoyed the interactive room.

Sue and Suresh kindly offered to babysit for us so that we could go out and celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary again! We had always wanted to eat at Jamie Oliver's restaurant, Fifteen, after watching the television series on it. So we booked a table and headed off to begin our evening out at the 'longest champagne bar in the world' at St Pancras station.

The setting doesn't sound particularly glamarous as the bar is up next to the international departures! However, the restoration of the station is amazing and it was actually a great place for a glass of bubbly or two!

When we got to the reataurant we discovered that they are also celebrating their tenth anniversary this year! We were seated at a good table and had a fantastic meal.