MAY 30 - MY 68TH BIRTHDAY

Thanks for all the lovely greetings reminding me to be thankful to be here today! Emails, Facebook, phone. We are blessed with all manner of keeping in touch around the world now.

  Today my calendar says:

"I have not been everywhere but it's on my list." (Susan Sontag - wish I'd said that...)

  How appropriate! 

BEIJING - BLOCKED - BUT EXCITING TO BE BACK

I tried to post from Beijing but as Google and Facebook are not acceptable there, it was blocked. Michael and I had a wonderful time, if suer busy, there. After the 

  Since coming back I've taken a long time to get over jet lag. they say a day for every hour removed, so I'm allowed two weeks officially and I seem to be taking that.

  Beijing is an amaing city, moving at a fast pace towards being not a third world country. Theirdevelopment  proceeds apace, a stunning change from 8 years ago when I was last there. It is a vital, happening place, but parts of old history, wandering the hutongs )traditional living spaces built around communal courtyards, remain. Michael and I enjoyed a morning Saturday walking thorugh a very old one, due for dismantling juding b the posters pasted on doors, etc. Great photograph opportunities. 

  Saturdays are a huge draw for the ordinary peole and families to visit the parks. The Temple of Heaven park is no exception. Gorgeous temples and marble edifices repainted and decorated for the Olympics are a marvel to see. Surrounded by trees, grassy paths and meandering small roads lead to new vistas everywhere. Apart from the constant traffic hum, you don't think you are in a city at all! Groups of choirs dancers, young taichi groups abound. One of my favourite places in Beijing for sure.

  Michael is the composite tourist, enquiring, chatting, talking to everyone in his minimum Mandarin and our broken pidginl! We make many new friends. Both at the conference and on the street. We observe bike lockups for pick up and use and drop off somewhere else. The weekend is less polluted on the city roads, and the smell of roses everywhere is intoxicating, something you don't expect in Beijing. Along all the main highways, e.g. to the airport, huge varegated roses bloom. Also tree blossoms this time of year, my favourite time to be in China.

  Just outside the east gate is shoppers paradise, the Hong Shu? Peal Market. the lower floor is fruit and veg and regular food items. the main floor electronics and touris trinkets galore, bargaining is king. We resist. Next floor up, clothing, luggage, bags, etc. I bargain ahrd for a new suitase, so durabhle the girl stands on top of it! It has built in locks, and I pay a lot less than in Calgary. We have accumulated gifts to bring back, including the new China Encyclopedia. I weight it on my bathroom scale. 3.3kilos. Also Consul Deng's wedding souvenirs from his wedding for his fellow consular staff back in Calgary - probably another 3 lbs. Having brought a large, well-packed Eskimo carving as our 60th Anniversary gift, I have capacity. Also traveling in busienss I can take 2 suitcases back. 

  Of course, no visit to the park market is complete without a visit to the classy 4th floors, home of the top end icons and Cathie's Jewelry, where a new string of black pearls joins my collection. I haven't been there for 8 years but Cathie remembers me! And we do a good deal. I know I've not udnerpaid when she throws in a pearl bracelet gift!

MAY 13 - MEET THE PARTY

   My fellow delegate, Mchael Copeland, Toronto president and long-time official of our federation, arranged  a meeting with the Communist Party Central Committee's International Division and the North American bureau. What was supposed to be a meeting of a couple of them with us and Michael's fellow prof emeritus from YorkU Bernie Frolic. It turns out to be a big table with about 10 of them and 3 of us. Bernie is writing another book this one about 5 years of Canada/China relations, coming out in the Fall, so they were interested in his opinions too.  It is gorgeous weather here in Beijing and no problem with pollution. A beautiful full moon last night.  I am finally getting over my jet lag a bit. Our plane came in late Monday and we had to be up and out at 8am yesterday for the 10:30 meeting across town in the busy traffic! It was very interesting and their DG hosted us for lunch at the fancy new headquarters in the north part of the city! You would be envious of their social area for staff - gym, bikes, weights, table tennis and shuffleboard tables! Back  to the hotel, I had great ideas of a walk through the hutons  behind us, but in the end after sorting some stuff and geting my wifi , etc running, my bed summoned and my one hour nap from 3pm took me to 5pm, groggy and up to meet Michael at 6pm and walk around the neighborhood to aother differnet restaurant. We thought we ordered a plate of dimsum, it was a huge bowl of mostly tofu and winter melon soup, but good and lots of liquid. No English spoken but we are managing fine.

  Beijing is a lively, vibrant plae, lots of busy young people      

GOODBYE TO SNOWY CALGARY, HELLO BEIJING MAY 11-12

It's up early Sunday and Mark rode me to the airport for a 10am flight to Vancouver then a delayed flight to Beijing. In Vancouver I meet up with my colleague Michael Copeland, Toronto chapter president and long-time federation of Canada-China Friendship organization member. He's a great colleague to travel with with a deep knowledge of China. The plane is packed in the back. I note they have 3-3-3 seating instead of the 2-4-2 we have on the overnight to UK. In the front I have a cosy pod wih a window and am well looked after on the flight, with two meals, really too much food, and good service. We land on time after a fairly uneventful flight, only a couple of bumpy patches over Russia, and glorious views over the Rockies, then N. China.

It's no hassle passsing through visa control and baggage area at this very efficient airport. Much different from in the past when they bused you in from the outposts of the airport. Now a fast underground train whisks you to the baggage terminal, where our bags are waiting when we get there. Calgary, take note, it can be done.

  Beijing Capital Hotel is a government owned hotel where most of the delegates for this event will be housed. Probably not Princess of Tonga, but who knows.

  After the long journey, Michael and  I find our comfortable rooms in different towers but all linked on the main level, we freshen up and take a walk round the block to a small friendly, bustling restaurant. No English spoken here but food is good and cheap. Michael's mandarin is passable. We run into the hotel receptionist who recommended it. Probably that's why our bill for 2 half litre beers, huge plate of made on the spot dumplings, s/sour pork,  comes to 83 yuan (no tipping please) which divided by about 5 is $16, or $8 each!

BIONIC TED - NOT HEAVY METAL NOW

Thursday May 8 - off to hospital to get the staples removed. Nice day for Ted to go out so I got his shorts on him and it was sunny and warm enough from car to clinic and back. This weekend 23cm of rain forecast so no more short just yet I think. Typical of the system, the surgeon is in surgery and fits patients in (5) between surgeries, probably missing lunch! We sat from just before 12 to just before 2 to see him. Talk about mis-management. Of course, there are people from the hospital being wheeled in and out of the cast clinic and emergencies too. 

  One woman broke her shoulder on a cruise May 1 but could not get into a clinic until yesterday. I guess you can't do much for a broken shoulder anyway except a sling.

  Anyway, Ted sat patiently for 2 hours then said goodbye to his staples. He saw the doc for about 60 seconds - the guy took a look, said it looks good, don't drive for 8 weeks, or fly for 3 months, and listen to the physio on when to ditch the crutches, get on a cane, etc. I guess he's a good carpenter with the saw and all, but charm school he missed. Ted has to see him at the 6 weeks point, another sit in his waiting room no doubt. I guess I'll be chauffering for a while yet.

  Ted does bear it all very amicably (mostly) and is doing his exercises faithfully. Serious physio starts Friday. After his hospital trip, we walked to the end of our road and back in the sun. A first for us.

  Wednesday night was a red letter evening. Ted finally got clothes on after 2 weeks in his jogging outfit!

  The occasion was the German Wine Society's last restaurant dinner. We are winding up our club which I've been a member of for about 20 years. I got involved through our German friends Ushi and Dieter Cosandier, so it was fitting that they came to pick us up and take us to the dinner in their SUV, bigger and easier for bionic man to get in and out. Also I could drink with impunity. Sadly, Ted is still on a few painkillers so for the first time ever, he was a non-drinker at the event. He had picked out some lovely wines for us to enjoy with the 6 course dinner at Cravings, who will cater our windup event at our home one afternoon in July.

EASTER PHOTOS...A BIT LATE

We had the pleasure of the whole Petrovich family here for Easter Sunday. Justin & Michelle now have Cohen (4) and Saxon (2), Steve and Taryn have Bronte (nearly 2) and another pink pump due in August!I cooked up a Moroccan storm and they all tucked in very well and played nicely together. I took some amazing photos. Now if I can jut get them from my iPhoto files...

Below: Saxon, Michelle, Justin, Cohen

Above: Steve, Bronte and Taryn

Below: Proud grandparents Mark & Mary and the kids

The first of May, the first of May...

But no - outdoor screwing starts today.....Myrle you will remember the day, I'm sure. 

  But seriously, today was supposed to be a red letter day as my nephew James and wife Terri were expecting their second daughter. She actually obliged and came early on Sunday, so we can now enjoy seeing two wee girls on Fecesbook. Below: Pepper and her new sister Sloane. Awwwwwwww sweet

It was almost a year (May 4) to the day when we went to their lovely wedding in Chelsea. They will have a lot to celebrate on their first anniversary, that's for sure.

  Also this time last year we were celebrating Ted's Aunt Vera's 90th birthday in Devon April 29. Good thing we did it then, he called her yesterday and has a hard time making any conversation at all now, her hearing loss and dementia has really progressed very fast. But she seems happy in her new home.

  Here it is finally Spring, 21 and sunny, but by the weekend we are to have a high of 3 for about 4 days and snow Saturday and Sunday. Will this never end?

  The good news, Ted took his first outdoor jaunt. Mark came by and took him for a walk round the block, tiring but at least fresh air and sun at last. Now he's beat, back icing the knee and dozing off after his exercises. He won't be watching any two hour movies yet.