A thought occurred to me when I was walking along Fuxing Lu today. I looked up and saw this dirty giant yellow truck with two hatches from which two men were peering. What is this truck? I couldn’t work it out. Why are their men inside looking out of the hatches. Nobody else seemed concerned… Read More »
This man and his fascinating contraption has been hanging around Nanchang Lu for a few weeks. When I first saw him I couldn’t work out what was happening. There was clearly something in the black cast iron oven being turned quickly over the fire but it wasn’t popcorn. Then after a few minutes he got… Read More »
They make my life hell those Post Office employees. They opened all my nicely packaged presents I was sending home for Christmas and rejected 2 bluetooth speakers and a penknife. I managed to throw the penknife back into the box when he wasn’t looking but really I think these people are too keen to say… Read More »
Rain was forecast but our spirit was not dampened. The showers came but we played on. Umbrellas were put up and still the students smiled and ran and jumped and kicked and clapped. I arrived too late to see the opening ceremony which I am reliably informed was a miraculous thing to behold. They came… Read More »
I was inspired by Sue Anne Tay’s wonderful blog Shanghai Street Stories, to go out with my big camera around the old lanes near where I live in the Former French Concession. I headed down South Shaan Xi Lu towards Zhaojiabang Lu and soon there were lanes all around me (and foreign photographers too). Fortunately… Read More »
My neighbours are building a new bathroom at the front of their building. I am sure sure who the front of the building belongs to because there are many families living in the building. I suppose they must have had permission before they started the work (who knows). Anyway the bathroom is looking pretty nice… Read More »
Like lots of children, I was dragged around lots of museums by my parents. History museums were my least favourite – lots of pictures of events which meant nothing to me – World War I, World War II, ration books, photos of The Beatles, countless things I had no interest in. Imagine then… Read More »
I love old industrial buildings. Maybe it’s connected to my interest in the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the UK I live in the heart of the Industrial Revolution near Ironbridge. Now of course things have moved on and we no longer need these huge cavernous brick buildings consuming… Read More »
We’re on a count down to the National Day holiday – the Golden Week as it’s called here. This is a week when it is best advised not to go anywhere further than your front door. Certainly you should avoid going outside and to venture anywhere near YuYuan Gardens, Nanjing Road or the Bund unless… Read More »
I decided to invite some of my colleagues round to my flat for a few drinks and some finger food. The Chinese girls told me they didn’t drink alcohol so I bought some very nice and expensive juices for them. However, on arrival they said they would like to try a… Read More »