Arrived

A bit of struggle to get the blog going with the Chinese web site blocking. Hopefully this will look as intended when you see it:

Arrived in Shanghai after an easy but cramped Virgin Atlantic flight. I am sure their seats are getting closer together. Met by Oliver which was lovely.

We were installed in our shared apartment in the French Concession area where there are almost more foreigners than Chinese (the area not the apartment).  The apartment is spacious apart from the kitchen, but we expect to eat out quite a lot anyway. It is a bit dusty due to the inevitable building work nearby. We will meet Alex, the owner, tomorrow.

We went to Olivers apartment and saw Sasa with her big baby bump and looking very well. She was just knocking up a lunch for nine since her family were about to arrive. Her mother and aunt may be staying for a month or two. A recent surprise was that the two year old nephew Sasa's mother looks after would be staying too! They came with Sasas brother and cousin to help carry the supplies - whole legs of pork, pots of pork fat, sack of their own mandarin oranges, rice and lots of other stuff. The meal was the usual magical Chinese affair with at least 6 dishes rapidly produced from their tiny kitchen plus rice from the rice cooker.