Back in Shanghai

Although there is more to tell about Vietnam, we have now been back in Shanghai for some days and it is time for an update. The Vietnam postings have got a bit delayed, not least because my tablet was stolen at Hanoi railway station in a scrum of taxi drivers trying to get us into their cabs. One of them clearly wasn't a taxi driver! In all the pushing for us to take a taxi to a hotel my bag was tugged on and although i didnt let go, someone managed to get their hand in and take the tablet. It is quite a loss as I gradually realise all the data or photos I saved on the tablet over the last 2 years. Fortunately much of it is backed up or available on line, but not all :-(  There are also the security issues. You cant be sure whether all the various passwords they might hack are sufficiently secure or what accounts have been left open. Our hotel manager tried to assure us that in Vietnam the data would be quickly wiped and the hardware sold on, so not to worry. These mobile devices are rather easy to trace these days if used on line, so I mostly believe him that they would not try anything. It does mean I cannot so easily work on the blog, although we now have occasional access to other people's laptops. I hope to replace it with something while we are still in Shanghai.

Back in Shanghai we immediately met up with Isabelle. Having been in Beijing for a few days visiting her friend there, she arrived by train  right by the airport where we arrived back from Vietnam and conveniently at the same time. Lovely to see her again. She was loaded with an enormous back pack in preparation for several months of volunteering in South India after she leaves Shanghai.

We spent a few days in a hotel near Oliver's apartment before taking up our next long term 'AirBnB' apartment rental for the Christmas period. It was great to see how Theo had changed. Now twice as old as when we left. Very much more awake and hungry! He has been keeping Sasa and Oliver busy. Sometimes allowing them to sleep and giving lots of smiles. He is very jolly when his various baby needs have been satisfied and enjoys 'talking' to his relatives it seems.

We moved into the Christmas apartment on 14th December. It is on the 16th floor of a high rise block and is very luxurious. Room for 6 people and has a large living room and kitchen. Even a Christmas tree. There is a good view over the 'French Concession' area of the city, which is where our first apartment was. Oliver, Sasa and Theo came to visit and all stayed the night, since we now had so much space.

Phoebe arrived on 15th with her friend Catherine from Cambridge and they joined us for one night before they went off to visit Beijing for a few days and see a friend of theirs who lives there.

So now - keeping up with Theo and family, picking up a few treats from the shops to stock up for Christmas and looking around for suitable entertainment. It is very difficult to think of it as Christmas, even though the weather is quite like a British winter - changing daily in temperature and now raining - but lovely to catch up with the whole family again and for them all to have met Theo.

Theo enjoying a joke

View from our Christmas apartment

Apartment living room