Two Aussies, a Scotsman and a Chinaman went up a Mountain

Matt, Luke, A-Jing and myself went to: Guangdong Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park, located in Zhangmutou Town of Dongguan City.

Breakfast in the Club

At this time there are very few guests staying here so I took the opportunity to take a few pictures around the club: …

Last supplier visit of the Year of the Dragon

We arranged to meet with Jane to review changes and additional details on some retail packaging.  …  After a great lunch .. Jane was off the Beijing for the festivities.

Matt .. Jane .. Betty

Tea and More

A second visit to see Mrs. Yang and family.  On this visit her son-in-law was our; Tea Host.

A-Jing, .. Luke, .. Matt

A VERY British Conundrum

After a few hours of being pampered by Cathay Pacific’s finest at 35k feet, plus a pleasant drive through; early morning Hong Kong, and having an all meaningful nod with China immigration it was on to Song Shan Lake.

Settling in to wash away the long hours of travel, my mind locked on the old problem of: “Who gets the Tap-End”

Looks like this one has been put to bed:…………….

Off to China

Robbie just got back from a month in the Philippines.  Big party this Sunday, Super Bowl and Baby Shower for Sara and Sean.

Thursday 31st. I’m off to China for some 26 days. My first trip of 2013.  New business ventures are afoot.

I’ll straddle Chinese New Year, best to get in before the “Mad Rush” and depart well after folks have returned from the family home. Some of my friends are back in Taiwan and various other mainland providences.

New Year finds- Coasters 杯垫 Bei Dian

Sorting through stuff .. these four coasters came to light ..  forgotten “K-Mart” promo for video game coupon  .. Thx Andrew, adding to an already eclectic collection:..Promotional advertisement from 2010”Bethesda has something strange going on with retailer Kmart. With a $5 purchase of the Fallout coaster set seen above, you will get a $15 Video Game Savings coupon that will be redeemable the week of the Fallout: New Vegas release. It's like a strangely worded pre-order offer with bonus gift. Who cares how it goes down, though. It's Fallout coasters! “ “Quantities are limited and there is a one-per-customer.”

One–One and all's well

Robbie is packed and ready to start her first trip of 2013  (more are on the drawing board)  …  The 9:10pm flight from LAX to Manila. Then on to her favorite Philippines dive location; Anilao, for a month of underwater photography. Sean and Sara are under orders: “No Baby until I return “

Heather is enjoying some seasonal downtime, Jake is out on a 2 day charter.

Here on the mainland, Andrew is home, back from San Diego,  his new assignment in RSM starts in about 3 weeks. Trevor started a new job yesterday. Cameron came by at Xmas and he is doing well.

Sara and Sean have long list of carpentry projects lined up for yours-truly.

Matt, returns to China 1/7 .. With all those unploughed fields ahead…. New business ventures await …

Busy, Busy, Busy .. all too busy

The past few months lasted only a few Pico Seconds.  We all have our daily fill .. but we managed to add in two November weddings. Heather and Jake tied the knot in Hawaii.  Robbie sacrificed to spend 3 weeks in Hawaii, the rest of us, only managed an all too short week.   Heather’s unique approach to her bridesmaids:  Three of her best friends from the mainland were with us .. but .. Three of Heather’s brothers, all in Kilts, were her bridesmaids.

Sean proposed to Sara  in Lahui  .. two weeks later they both said: “ I do.”  Christmas was great; family, friends, good and plentiful sustenance abound.   Between Xmas and now Sean and Sara closed escrow and have (mostly) move in to their new house. Making a home for themselves and Jean (when she arrives .. soon)

Our friend Frank (center with the hair) came back to So. Cal. for a few days climbing in Joshua Tree.  Perfect excuse to visit our favorite Taiwan noodle house.

Robbie is off on a SCUBA Safari on 1/1/13. So 2012 is almost in the books, and 2013 is starting with a full agenda.

Our very close family friend, Matt, literally “Flew the Coop”  He left ShenZhen-Hong Kong, heading to Germany and a Grand European winter holiday extravaganza.

 A note from Matt:           Hey John, Here's a few photos of our trip...

Photo 1: Ischgl Austria, Photo 2: Zurich, 3: Rome,4: Rome, 5: Vatican

In Krakow Poland right now. Went to see Schindler's factory today from WW2 along with some other places (synagogues etc) - going to see the concentration camps tomorrow. Then party tomorrow night for New Year.

Michel’s 6 hour race .. In France

A very cold day in France

From: Schaal, Michel
Subject: Race on the weekend.

Hello John,  I arrived 6th over 85 runners and ran 61,440km in 6 hours.

It was very cold in the morning (about 0°C) and the two first hours were difficult for my hands, even with two pairs of gloves.

I also had a problem with one of my foot (I don’t know the name in English, it’s like a bubble of water) after about 4 hours of run; but I was able to solve this by myself,  but loose about 10’.

So globally, the result is quite good.

See the attached pictures from my arrival and a few minutes after with another runner from my team who did 55,6km.Regards.

Life's a Beach Dive .. Under the Sea

One of the locals greets Robbie, as she descends into the deep, off Kauai’s south shore.

Simon Leach Cha Wan … 100% happy with it.

I chatted with Simon a couple of weeks back and arranged to get this new cha wan after he returned from the UK.  Link to previous posting:

http://chawu.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-new-tea-bowl.html

Just arrived, taking its place ready for a fill of Pu-Erh.A little late for good lighting .. better pics later. The tea bowl has a calming visual presence and satisfying tactile feedbackJust a visit with some friends .. it will be on the Cha Ji working for a living.

Heading out for fun with friends: Halloween evening

Sean, Sara and Jean, all dressed up, places to go and people to see.

Robbie in Kauai

Only a few days until the wedding .. 10-Nov-12.  Robbie makes off into deep blue.

On to the Trimaran .. after a few days of tropical rain .. a beautiful vista Note to self .. not a good angle for an iPhone self portrait  

Seeing double in So.Cal

Sun-setting .. time to spin and weave a fly catcher

Fast setting sun.  Fast Spin and Weave. No Fast food   Outside our front porch:

Two new Cordless & Wireless Readers (+ update)

Mid Saturday morning, hand delivered, courtesy of the almighty US Postal Service these new readers arrived.

Saving this for another day: I’ll fully charge the carbon batteries before weighing anchor and setting course., as its Dangerous Work afoot.Thumbing through the unread pages with anticipation, we see a replication of Doyle’s original dairy.A decidedly more prosaic yarn achieves its goal of removing cash from the easy marks.  Much touted and marketed in the British press .. lets see how fellow Scot lays out her first “Adult Book” .. only fueled by Pu-Erh .. mastication gum for the mind(less)

Update:     Saturday evening 236 pages into the 503 page novel .. “The Casual Vacancy” remains unfilled.   If Robbie passes on it. I’ll donate it Monday to our office book pool.

Changes in Brewing Style .. For the VERY best reason

Among the various tea Blogs, certain terms pop up .. One that now resonates with me is: “Grandpa-Style”: http://www.marshaln.com/whats-grandpa-style/

Henceforth anytime I brew and drink tea it will be: “Grandpa Style”, thanks to Sara and Sean,  Robbie and I are about to become grandparents. 

Picture from an office celebration party with family, friends and colleagues:   No more “Gong Fu Cha” its “爷爷-Ye Ye Cha.  Soon we’ll transition to: Granddaughter style tea.  I look forward to brewing: SunNu Cha.

A new Tea Bowl

The Leach family: a veritable institution in world of; Potters. (info below picture)

Chatted with Simon just as he was leaving on a trip back to the UK.,  I purchased this Tea Bowl, anticipating delivery in approx.  3 weeks.

ChaWan, 3 1/2” x 3”

I would highly recommend a foray into Youtube: Simon has over 800 postings.  I enjoy the early ones when he visits family.

•  http://www.youtube.com/user/sleachpots?feature=CAQQwRs%3D
•  http://www.simonleachpottery.com/index.html 
• Elder brother John, in the UK:    http://www.johnleachpottery.co.uk/

From the Leach Pottery web site:    www.leachpottery.com

Bernard Leach (1887-1979)
Widely considered the most important and influential artist-potter of the 20th century, Bernard Leach pioneered the revival of the English studio pottery movement, setting up the St Ives pottery, with the help of his friend Shoji Hamada, in 1920.
Having trained in Japan under the master potter Kenzan, Bernard Leach brought to the pottery a heady mixture of idealism, aesthetics and a radical workshop concept resulting in a continuing struggle for survival.

David Leach (1911-2005)
It was Bernard's elder son David who gave stability to the pottery by introducing a range of hand-thrown standard ware. He also engaged students and apprentices who helped to produce the range. Amongst them was John, Bernard's eldest grandson who was an apprentice from 1960-1963.
David and his brother Michael both worked with their father until 1955 when they left to set up their own potteries in Devon.

Lowerdown Pottery:  http://www.studiopottery.com/

I hope this is a cruel joke

The Scottish national rugby team kit:  Baby Bibs !!!!