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Gulangyu Island – First Encounters

March 2nd, 2012

Had a VERY busy day yesterday and was lucky to have met some lovely people – the star of which was Liping Cai, an 80-year-old lady, who plays in the local church – she can play EVERY hymn in the book and has had the most incredible life and has never stopped learning new things READ MORE




Xiamen Wanderings – 27/02/12

February 29th, 2012

My first efforts with the video camera to try and capture some glimpses of daily life in Xiamen before I get sidetracked by Gulangyu island and other piano-based activities in the next few days. ‘First efforts’ must be emphasised – I’m a neophyte and am certainly no Alain Resnais or Claudia Marschal but the camera READ MORE




Xiamen: Arrival

February 25th, 2012

…Ni hao! So, the journey begins… I am struggling to stay awake but I’m determined to go to bed at the proper time, forcing my circadian rhythm into another place after yesterday’s flight. So far today (on 23/24 Feb), I have eaten in one of the most incredible fish restaurants overlooking the bay, where every READ MORE




Upcoming Residency in China: some pre-departure thoughts…

February 7th, 2012

I know I promised that that my next blog would be about my European motorcycle trip during September 2011 – it’s coming soon, though…   As the leaving date of February 23rd grows ever-nearer, the usual feelings of excitement, apprehension and uncertainty have surfaced (as they often do at the initial stages of the undertaking of READ MORE