I realise some of you may be panicking after seeing no updates for 5 days. I do apologise, I haven’t stopped blogging, but after a 20 hour flight (more on that later), I’ve only just recovered from the jet lag.

So anyway, here I am in Toronto, Canada for a family wedding. That’s the CN Tower behind me which I think the Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai seems to be modelled on. It was up until 2007, the tallest building in the world and is way taller than its Shanghai rival.

I promise to update more regularly from now on, but in the mean time, feel free to chat amongst yourselves.

Whenever Tommy sees light he goes absolutely crazy trying to catch it. This is simply the reflection from the bracelet of my watch (Rolex Submariner if you’re interested – I tried with a Casio but it’s just not as good at reflecting light). I sometimes deliberately reflect the light to the right of the chair so when he jumps for it, he misses the chair when he lands and ends up on the floor. It is HILARIOUS. I haven’t shown it hear as I fear there may be some backlash from animal rights groups. But also, it’s so hilarious I can’t possibly show it for free, it’s got to be worth a few pennies. Perhaps I will offer it on iTunes for 50p.

Watch at the very end, when it’s all over, he looks back briefly towards me as if to say “is that it?” I’m afraid it is Tommy, our readers have better things to do than watch us goof around.

That’s all folks. The Shanghai World Expo still has a couple of months to run before it ends on 31st October but as of now, they’re not selling any more standard day and 3-day tickets. As far as I can gather, it’s because there are still many people who have tickets but have not yet used them and the organisers are concerned they might all just show up at the same time!

WoAi still has a couple of tickets and will therefore be visiting before the Expo ends. I got an email from the British consulate informing me that I can visit the UK pavilion without lining up for 4 hours. Although I’ve heard there’s not much to see inside, the only way to get a decent photograph of the exterior is by standing in the open public space that is within the pavilion area that is surrounded by a wall. So I plan to pick a nice day and then go snap a few shots as well as visiting a few more places I didn’t manage to see on my first visit back in May.

VUE bar at Hyatt on The Bund has for many years been without doubt the bar with the best view of Shanghai by night. In my humble opinion, Flair at the Ritz Carlton in Pudong has inherited that title.

Last night I braved wind and rain from typhoon Kompasu and popped in for a few cocktails with 3 lady friends. As with almost EVERY 5 star hotel in Shanghai, the place itself is spectacular while service is still years behind. When I announced to the hostess I needed a table for 4, she just shook her head apologetically and said they were full.

Back in the days when I was still wet behind the ears, I would have turned around and went somewhere else, but 11 years in China has hardened me. I walked straight passed the hostess and found a place by the bar and invited the ladies to sit down. Within minutes, a table for four had left, leaving the table vacant for us and we moved over before proceeding to cocktails.

Why the hostess seemed determined to turn us away I don’t know. Any competent hostess would have offered us a place at the bar and then offered to seat us when a table became available. It seems the default response is always to convince the customer to go away. But anyway, I won’t let that spoil what was otherwise a lovely evening.

During the Expo, lights on the Bund and Pearl Tower go out at 11.30pm, which is already better than the usual time of 10pm, but it was sad to be plunged in to darkness so abruptly, so I’d advise you to go earlier and enjoy the lights with your drinks.

Drinks are standard 5 star hotel prices, so you’re looking at around 100 rmb per drink with service and it’s worth noting they open at 5pm so don’t show up at lunch time hoping to get a daytime view.

58/F, Ritz-Carlton Pudong,
8 Shiji Da Dao,
near Lujiazui Huan Lu
(right across the street from the Shangri-La Hotel)
Tel : 2020 1778

But hey, better safe than sorry, so take all your plants (and underpants) off the balcony and lock up your children (schools and kindergartens are apparently closed today).

Don’t cancel your evening dates though. The typhoon is predicted to be closest to Shanghai around noon, so whatever happens at lunch time is about as bad as it’ll get. I’ll be out with not one, not two but three gorgeous Shanghainese ladies this evening, so I don’t care if I have to roll up my trouser legs or swim through flooded streets in my business suit, I’m still going out!

I saw this the other day in a shop. I like it because Tommy paws at things in exactly the same way as this cat.

Imagine the telephone conversations : mum, I’m stuck in traffic, might be a few weeks late for dinner.

New readers here may not realise that photography is one of my great passions. Well, it used to be. But between work, partying and keeping this blog thing going, I haven’t had much chance to take many pictures.

From my office window, I am lucky enough to be able to see the unique Pudong skyline, and on a clear day, when the sun sets in the west, the light reflecting off the tall skyscrapers looks amazing. Sadly, Mondays to Fridays, I can’t do much about this as I am stuck at work, so yesterday I decided to brave the hordes of (mostly) Chinese tourists as well as the sweltering summer heat and wandered over to the Bund with my trusty Canon 5D.

Don’t be deceived in to thinking this was a quiet Sunday stroll. The picture doesn’t capture the millions of tourists standing behind me and to my right and left, all trying to take the same impressive skyline shot. I literally had to fight my way through this crowd to get the shot I wanted, so you guys had better be grateful!

You can see a bigger version of the photo here.

He may be over five years old but he’s only just learned how to speak!

I should add that in the 3 hours I was there, he didn’t receive a single phone call! Are those things so ergonomic that you hardly know you’re wearing them? Are there people in England also do this? Ladies do you find this makes a man more attractive?