HAPPY NEW YEAR OF THE GOLDEN PIG!!

Bei Wu has justed started to sound a little less like a war zone as the fireworks continue to calm down from Saturday night's festivities. We celebrated in style with a firework display at HFH put on by Rob for the foster home staff and their children. Then waited for Midnight to take in the full scale of the celebrations. It was incredible to stand on the mound outside the home and literally see the sky ablaze with fireworks. An unforgettable experience that the shaky photos below do no justice to!

Some, however, remained oblivious to what was going on around them!

After you. No! I insist, after you!

Check out this link for an interesting insight into one of Beijing's plans to get ready for the Olympics. And just as I'd shrugged off my english politeness and got used to using my elbows to squeeze my way through a crowd...

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/07022007/80-132/beijing-institutes-queuing-day.html

I had the most fantastic start to my day by receiving a phone call from the US. Guo Fu's mum called to give us news of how he is doing. You may remember that Guo Fu was my star student in preschool, and he has been greatly missed in the two months since he left. It was wonderful to hear that he has settled well with his family. Our most sincere prayer is that the children in our care will one day have families and it is a great joy to know that he is in a place where he is loved and already stealing hearts with his gentle nature and cute smile!

Not long after the phone call I also received some photos. Doesn't he look great?

Beijing Winter













We've been taking time this year to enjoy some of the activities that Beijing has to offer in the wintertime. Firstly, it makes a huge difference to get a snow fall that is actually worthy of enjoying and so we took full advantage just before new year by sledging with one of the families from our church.






The only hills we could find were at the local skateboarding park! We also found a friendly neighbourhood Snowman. A prize for the first person who can translate what it says on his belly.



Our second outing was a couple of weeks later where we ventured to Ho Hai lake, a popular place in the summer due to its restaurants and bars, the local Hutongs (old style Beijing housing) and opportunity to boat on the lake, swim (hmmm..) or watch the beijingers themselves playing Ma Jong. However, in the winter it takes on a whole new atmosphere as people flock to skate on the frozen lake. There are some wonderful contraptions for those who don't fancy skating, including a chair that you can propel yourself around on using ski poles. We went for the Bicycle option and had a thoroughly enjoyable time cruising around the lake.










It's hard to believe that even in these temperatures, there are those people/polar bears who still enjoy a dip in the lake, hence this part seen above that is sectioned off for those willing to take the plunge.


Our latest exploration was last weekend to Long Qing Lake. Not being able to make it to the renowned Ice Festival in Harbin, we thought we'd visit the Beijing version to get a small glimpse of the sculptures that so many talk of.