Week 20 - The Bund

Mike and I went out for lunch at Lost Heaven on the Bund, and then thought we'd go home via the Bund to Nanjing Dong Lu station, thinking there would be very few people because of the weather... How wrong were we? The crowds were still there, just under umbrellas. I love the sea of umbrellas crossing the road and up on the riverside promenade, where there is no shelter at all. I also love the misty view across to Pudong.

Week 19 - Thumb Plaza, Lianyang

Mike and I were out celebrating the end of the school year with his colleagues, and decided to walk home. It had been raining while we were there, and the lights were looking beautiful in the puddles. Mike took this long exposure shot, and I walked through it. So did a lady wearing elegant high heels... Sort of eerie.

Week 18 - Duolun Road

Our last ditch tourist outing for Mum and Dad's trip was to Duolun Road Cultural Street, in the Hongkou district. It's full of sculptures of writers, and there is a Modern Art museum, and loads of little trinket shops, one of which reportedly has the largest collection of Mao Badges. We went while Ellie was at school, and it was just a morning outing. We had coffee and cake in this building, the Old Film Cafe, but these girls, and also some very well dressed men were doing a model shoot and we kept seeing them as we walked along the street. I thought their qipaos were beautiful, and they looked so elegant in their various poses.

Week 17 - M on the Bund

I have wanted to go to this restaurant since arriving in Shanghai (almost). It is run by Michelle Garnaut, an Australian chef and Kylie Kwong visited the restaurant in one of her TV series. Anyway, with Mum and Dad visiting, I finally got to go!! We left the kids at home, and Mike was working and the three of us went out for lunch... the table setting was exquisite, and the view fantastic. We were sitting out on the terrace with phenomenal views down the Bund and across to Lujiazui. Lunch was delicious!!! This photo of course is of the view, through our glasses of Taittinger - what else would you drink?

Week 16 - Womende jiating

Womende jiating means our family in Mandarin. This is my family - my mum and dad, my sister, my husband, my kids and me.

We were all together for one week in Shanghai - Marnie flew in from London to see us while Mum and Dad were visiting too. Our house was full, but it was so good to have everyone here! Of course we talked about arranging a full family photo a number of times during the week, but this was taken just before we called a cab to take Marnie to the airport to fly home again!

Week 15 - Expo

This week I went to Expo for the first time! It is on here in Shanghai for 6 months until the end of October. Shanghai has been getting ready for Expo since we arrived, and is now blooming and beautiful as all construction has finished and they are ready to welcome millions of people as guests of the city. These are the flags of all the participating countries in Expo.

Week 14 - Welcome to Shanghai

I have never seen Ellie run so fast as she did when we met Mum and Dad at Pudong Airport, and truly leap into my Bob's arms. I don't think I have ever seen a smile as big as my Dad's when he caught her! They are here for 4 weeks, and loving being hands on grandparents again!

Week 13 - Wake up Jamie

So, it's been a bit of a slow week... so how cute is Jamie waking up?? It's rare that I get into his room at the same time as him waking, usually I go in after I hear the screams... so it was lovely to watch him wake up this time, and fortuitous that the camera was handy!

Week 12 - The Bund

The Shanghai government gave Shanghai residents a bonus two days holiday on each side of the Labour Day May holiday to celebrate the start of Expo 2010. We stayed in Shanghai, and against all advice decided to make the trip down to the newly opened Bund to have a wander alongside the river. It was a glorious day, and everyone was happy, and pleasingly it was actually not too crowded. The Bund is stunning, and ready to take on the masses of tourists expected to converge on the city over the next 6 months. I like this one with glimpses of the SWFC and the Pearl Tower in the flash of sky, and the pretty pink sun umbrella on the left.

Week 11 - Anzac Day

Early in the morning, but fortunately not dawn early, Ellie, Jamie and I went to the Anzac Day service at the Australian Consulate General's house in Puxi. The service was nice, it was a beautiful day, and we were proud to be Australian! Thanks to all the Australian Servicemen and women who have looked after our country. They also had the best ever lamingtons at the morning tea afterwards.