Wow!!!

Apologies that some of you may well have spent some fruitless time on here trying to get an update, only to find that the Chinese Government thwarted me, by point blank blocking access to most things Google, so not even working through a VPN company in Hong Kong was going to enable me to update the site.

So, here I am, back in the UK, after what I can only describe as an awesome experience.  Some remarkable sights, some incredible places, and an amazing country.  It could all have been very much different, but I felt quite relaxed and at ease whilst I was there, which may have been Judy watching over me.  I want to thank the people who I was on the tour with however - we all got on very well, and despite splitting part way through the tour, they really helped to make it the holiday that it was.  My constant companions Jenny and Arthur (who did the Yangtze bit with me), and Sally, Peggy, Lesley and Mike who went a different route part way through, really were special and helped immensely in making the trip everything it was.

Peggy; Sally; Mike; Lesley; oneself; Arthur and Jenny at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the 

Temple of Heaven in Beijing

I'm certainly looking to update the blog in the next few days, so there is every chance you can catch up with what I did and what I saw, and the experiences.  One or two friends in Worcester have suggested that I have a cheese and wine evening at home, or a chinese takeaway and show some of the photos etc.  I took over 3500, but don't worry - many were taken two or three times to ensure I got some great shots.

Just as a taster and a bit of an "ahhhhhh", here's another couple of piccies from Chengdu Panda Sanctuary to keep you going ........