
WoAi enjoying a 99 Flake and a bit of shopping in the London sunshine.
Sorry I haven’t been posting. I’m only in London for a week and the weather has been fantastic - 32 degrees, blue skies and sunshine. I haven’t felt the sun burning my skin like this since I was in Thailand in February. The only problem is, this kind of temperature is rare in the UK, so most people in England including my parents, don’t have air conditioning which makes the nights pretty hot and sticky.

WoAi left holding baby Caitlin at Bicester outlet shopping mall, Oxfordshire.
I have to say, coming back in this glorious weather makes me wonder why I am still living in Shanghai after 13 years away from my family. The air is clear and it’s nice and peaceful. Listening to kids playing outside brings back memories. The sound of kids playing isn’t actually much different in China but the difference is that in China, the sound is usually drowned out by other sounds like construction, cars honking their horns and adults shouting in to mobile phones.

Tate (aged 4) with his younger sister Caitlin (8 months), photographed by their uncle WoAi.
Apart from the peace and quiet, hanging out with the family has been really nice. The kids are growing so quickly I feel I’m missing it all. And my parents are getting older and I’m not getting much quality time with them these days. But what can you do.

Caitlin models for her uncle WoAi.
I’ve tried my best to keep the shopping down to a minimum, although my bank called me on day two to say that I’d spent 1,000 pounds in two days and they wanted to check that the purchases were genuine. That’s another problem living away from home. I only get a week or two a year to get everything I need, so I often overcompensate and buy more than I need. I still have 6 bottles of Molton Brown shower gel back in Shanghai from a few trips ago!
Altogether then, it’s been a great week. Just one more day to go before I head back to Shanghai. I know I’m going to feel down for a few days, missing London, but it never lasts. A few good nights out will sort that out!














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