Hi there
Lina. Thanks so much for your e-mail - lovely to hear from you. I apologise for taking so long to reply. I practically have to make an appointment to use the internet here - my daughter is ALWAYS on the phone!!
(We have only one phone line)
Glad to hear you had a nice break with your family - I, as always, am looking forward to my next break, which is at Christmas. More holidays - yippee.
Lina, thanks heaps for taking the time to come and say 'hello' personally in Guilin. You really did a fabulous job organising everything for me so quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in China - your guides were all great and extremely knowledgeable - astoundingly so. I found the amount of history they knew nothing short of amazing (particularly in Beijing and Ivy in Xian). No complaints on accommodations - there was a problem with hot water in Yangshao - but apart from that, it was all good. A big hello and my warmest regards to Cici - she was truly wonderful and an absolute pleasure to be around.
Life has quickly settled back into normal routine here with the usual work and school commitments taking up most of my time. We have finally had some rain at long last which is a welcome relief. Our water restrictions are still in place but at least things are looking a little greener and the sky isn't filled with smoke from surrounding bushfires. Christmas, which is always insanely busy, is looming alarmingly close on the horizon. I don't have any big plans this year. We will go to my sister's house on Christmas Day - they have a swimming pool - which is exactly what you need in the heat of the Australian summer!
Anyway I must go - time to prepare dinner. Hope all is fantastic with you.