On the road again ...

Once you realize that the road is the goal

and that you are always on the road, 

not to reach a goal, 

but to enjoy its beauty and its wisdom, 

life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple, 

in itself an ecstasy.

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, 1897-1981

Today is the last day of April and I have been busy creating a mosaic of my photo a day for April.

Back in February I encouraged my friends to join with me to create a 365 Flickr group and take a photo each day.

With a little bit of trial and error we have managed to surpass our wildest dreams and had such fun on the way.

You can check out our 365 group here

We are spread out in the USA, UK, Thailand, Denmark, China, Vietnam and this is such a great way of staying connected.

I am just in love with my iPhone and the possibilities its brings, but any camera and a Flickr account are all you need to get started.

Because we love to keep it interesting, we have lots of mini themes going on such as : Floating, Fresh and Books we've read are a few of the recent ones.

Here's to enjoying the journey and having a few photos to remind me of where I've been  - because the way my memory is going I'll need this to remember what I did last week!

Technical info:

To make a square mosaic go here

To make the heart or circle go here

Be warned a 365 group is addictive!!

Blooming Beijing

'Loveliest of Trees'

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

A.E Houseman

 

We have waited so long for these small buds to open

Now they have blossomed

These pink beauties are starting to break out

This year has the most amazing magnolias on show

Hope the wind stays away so we can enjoy them a while yet.

Car Boot Sale - Beijing style

 Yesterday we held a car boot sale at school and it is the funniest crowd of shoppers we get- both from the local chinese village next to the school and the expat parents from the school community.

It is a win - win situation since much of the money goes to charities and people get a chance to declutter, whether they are moving or just overloaded!

Ian busy selling...

One happy customer

The easy rider bike was an attraction

600rmb ok?...

Hats were popular 

So were crowns

Looking good in Ted Baker, vintage 1999

Loading up the left overs for the charity store

Happy Easter- chocolate eggs and more

Hoping the sun is shining on you this Easter Sunday.

Today is a day to enjoy a chocolate or two - so with that in mind I thought I would share a couple of quotes to keep your mouth watering.....


There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with CHOCOLATE  Linda Grayson, "The Pickwick Papers" 


Forget love-- I'd rather fall in chocolate!!! 


Man cannot live on chocolate alone; but woman sure can. 


I could give up chocolate but I'm not a quitter.


Thanks to virtual chocolate for the chocolate covered quotes above

And thanks to Ian for bringing back Cadbury's chocolate cream eggs for Alice and me to enjoy today. What a thoughtful husband he is.

A Mosaic for March

Back in February I invited all my friends and family 

to help me form a 365 group on Flickr.

29 brave souls did and now we have a diverse group of people 

who share the photos they have taken. 

Some religiously take one everyday and some just when they remember.

 It doesn't matter which - 

we all have many more photos of our lives than last year 

and we are having so much fun.

At the end of the month we have a tradition now of making a mosaic with all that month's photos. 

Mine is shown above.

Go to mosaic maker to have a try for yourself.

If you want to see more of our month go to

365 - Year of the Tiger 

I cannot imagine life without this group now - totally unadulterated entertainment.

Don't take my word for it - try it with your friends!

Inspiring thoughts for Tuesday

I love inspiring thoughts that lift me up, 

especially on days where I feel weighed down.

Today I thought I would share some that I have personalised with my own photos. 

This is a seagull from Suffolk in England,  

I hope one day I too will be able to call it home

But I realise

that my happiness is here and now

so dreaming is part of the plan.

 Mount Ranier symbolises the peak I am moving towards.

Alice reminds me that lunch is always on the menu!

Remembering a day last summer in Denmark,

when part of our family 

was together from all parts of the globe.

We all need a sense of belonging 

and to help others to feel they belong too.

Thanks for belonging long enough to read through my blog. 

Have a great day.

Treasures from the Dirt Market

Anyone who loves flea markets and things chinese should definitely add a visit to Beijing's Dirt Market as one of the 100 places they shop at before they die.

I must have been there 100 times since I moved to Beijing 

and I hope I will be back a few more times before I leave.

Sometimes visitors to our house wonder at how 

I could find a place for more treasure... 

well nothing like having a problem to help me find a solution!

Yesterday I was back there again.

I love to go with friends who see new things

and cause me to stop in new places and thereby find new treasures, unseen before.

Taking a camera is a good solution for me - as it helps me to snap a shot instead of a 'bargain'!

From the collection above I only purchased 2 categories- clocks and ceramic pots!

I had no problem resisting the wide eyed dragon! But the little red hen alarm clock was very tempting.

I wish I had come home with the Mao plates - but it's good to have something to go back for.

These 'Ming' miniatures were irresistible. Less than 2 inches high and beautifully glazed, I succumbed to buying more than I am willing to admit to in print. 

Maybe they will be there next time but I have learnt that life is ephemeral here in China and never take things for granted!

Pan Jia Yuan, also known as 'The Dirt Market', is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 7am till 4pm. Located on the south east corner of the 3rd Ring Road, it is well known and easy to get to. It is popular with locals and tourists alike and if it's made in China there is likely to be some version of it here. Be prepared for some haggling especially if you are not local. But as long as you don't believe it's an antique and never pay more than you think it's worth - then you are a winner.