Dearest Rose & Matt, I have just been transported by your wonderful tales and adventures into another land. You write beautifully, with great descriptions. My goodness, what an adventure you have both had. We are so looking forward to your return. Not long now. With so many stories to tell us. What wonderful places you have seen and experienced, as well as all the other strange cultural differences!!! Love you loads and cannot wait for your return. Much love Aunty Rands xxx

Every time I read one of your entries I just feel I could carry on reading for an entire day Rose! When you come home you should (in all seriousness) consider some sort of work to do with English, I love love love your writing style and envy your skill. Teach me when you come home x x x I love you my big sister hope you and Matt are well and safe, soak up the sunshine if you can and see you in a few months!

Hi darling. Just refound this site thanks to your link. It sounds like christmas was quite stressful! It's very exhausting living in the middle of a different culture for any length of time isn't it. It must be about break time for you - I couldn't sleep so am catching up on facebook etc. The weather has suddenly got very cold here - we're meant to be getting lots of snow tonight, but so far it hasn't appeared. My choirs are going really well. I'm going to be conducting a joint choir of about 70 singers in a concert in April - just a bit scarey, but exciting too. Skype soon xxx

Dearest, dearest Rosie,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I hope you are having a brilliant one. Not sure if you are still away? So sorry I've not been in touch until now. So cold here and particularly in this room, and rather smokey from the fire so will write more in the morning. I hope you are in the sunshine?!!! Can't waite to hear your adventures. From the news I get it sounds like you have been having a good time. Not long now until you come home. Miss you, miss you. All my love to both of you, Randa xxxx

Rokie, a very happy Christmas to you and Matt. Miss you very much and will try to catch up with you on Skype darling. Cak xxx

I miss you so much Rosie xxx

Rose you are so brave if I saw a dead dog's head for sale..as food!! i would be out of there like a shot. Sounds like you are having fun though, dont totally dismiss the chicken legs / pigs ears they might be munch! xxx

don't eat the dogs rose, no matter how hungry you get. very jealous of your adventures. glad you're loving it! lots of love xx

Jeez, poor doggy. Look out for a package from muma coming your way. MIss you loads and there has been lots of fireworks around my house. Make sure you read that help, and lets talk propers on Skype xxx

Aunty Randa, Check your skype! I want to talk with you!! To answer your questions, we got to Leiyang by Overnight train. Some people do swim in the river, but we are told it is very dirty, I assume that sewage goes into it! Matt and I are cooking for ourselves alot, we take trips to the local supermarket every other day and buy fresh food. Yes the kids are well behaved, although they become very excitable during our classes, there are some cheeky ones, but the more talkative the students are, the better the lesson!

Hope the autumn weather is not depressing you too much and you have done your garden nicely :) Love to Ayesha Eliot Molly and Jack xxxx

PS: Have just looked at the map. How did you travel to your new destination? It looks a long way. I see that there are some lakes close by, or fairly close by. Can you swim in them? Your teacher sounds great and I am glad you have a Chinese friend keeping an eye out for you. Also pleased to hear that you are getting on with the food OK. Do you eat out mostly or can you cook your own? I look forward to some new Chinese recipes!! How kind of that taxi driver to welcome you. That would NOT happen here I suspect!! Are the kids well behaved? How many in your class? Much love Aunty Randa xxxxx

Hi Rose, Just sent a message but think I didn't do it properly, so will try again! So good to read your blogs. My goodness it sounds like you have been thrown in at the deep end, but what an adventure. Something that you will remember the rest of your lives. The Chinese people sound lovely and very welcoming. The driving sounds very similar to Indian driving. Very scary!!!! Cannot waite to hear how your first day of teaching your new class goes. I wish you all the best of luck. How amazing to visit the Great Wall too. All good here. Carrie just back from Greece, myself just back from Granny duty and now I must go and clear up my garden. The first tendrils of Autumn are in the air here and I am trying not to let it depress me! Miss you loads and thinking of you. Glad to hear your Jade is keeping you safe! Look forward to the next blog. Much love Aunty Randa xxxxxx