Back home and trying to recover!

I've been back in Australia for just over a week - and I'm still trying to "recover". Coming from -6 degrees to 30+ degrees seems not to have agreed with this old body and I've found it all very tiring. I have had a few "power" naps, and very early nights.

Leaving Yuexiu was quite emotional. I've had such an amazing time, and made some great friends, it was such a wrench to go, although the cold was something that I no longer wish to experience.

But I'm coming good. I decided to "lay low" for the week - but managed to get my glasses fixed (why didn't the Chinese optometrist notice that a screw was missing? - he tried to convince me I needed new glasses), a visit to the podiatrist to see why my feet were aching (my feet have turned slightly inwards - perhaps because of the hard surfaces I walked on in China), and I have had my hair cut (in Australia a hair dresser does not refuse to cut hair because "it is already short.") I've had a pedicure, and a massage (full body - oh, how wonderful), and a day sailing on Moreton Bay on the South Passage.

Bit by bit - I am coming good. Today I am taking two grandchildren into "the Valley" to see Chinese New Year celebrations, and tomorrow will be declared another "rest day" before we embark on great celebrations for Australia Day on Monday 26th. On Tuesday I fly to Adelaide.

I've added the last of my Chinese photos to the photo gallery and within the next day or so, will add further posts here.

Slowly, surely, I am coming good.

Scary visit to the hair dressers.

I had already had my hair cut here in Shaoxing. Some weeks ago I went to a small recommended hair salon down a little lane. It cost 10 Yuan for my shampoo and cut, but I wasn't impressed. It wasn't cut to my satisfaction and the place was not as clean as I would have liked.

So yesterday, I went to another place recommended by another Australian English Teacher. It was a bigger salon with many staff, two of whom greeted me at the door, with the few words of English that they knew.

I was taken to a chair, and using my fingers to show "cutting hair" as no one spoke English, I sat back and waited to see what happened. I reasoned that if they made a mess of my hair I would only have to wait 5 or so weeks before I left Shaoxing anyway.

The shampoo was done at the table - using a small plastic bottle with a spout water was dripped on my head and shampoo added and a lather was created. Then I was taken to another room where I lay and the shampoo was rinsed out and I had an amazing head massage, before returning to the first room. Here my head, shoulders, arms and hands experienced an amazing massage routine. Bliss. Then the weird part - my ears were gently cleaned out! How bizarre!!!

After that I was taken to another room where a delightful young man with interesting hands - complete with french manicure, cut my hair. Remember no English was spoken during this whole period. Sign language sufficed.

When he had cut my hair, I was taken to yet another room for a further wash of my hair, before returning to my hair cutter/stylist who used the blow dryer and strange (well, I had not seen them before) brush strokes to create a new hair style for me.

It cost 55 Yuan but was well worth it! I have no idea of the name of the salon (cannot read Chinese), but I will go back before I leave here.

What a wonderful experience. And I love my new hair style - though no doubt my curls will reappear and I will look something like I used to!