Welcome to our new blog home!

Congratulations on finding our new blog site. Actually, because Google have a base in China, it’s easier for us to upload to than to AOL. Do let us know how it is for you.

We are just getting ready to travel to Dali. One of Judy’s colleague’s recommended the Tibetan Lodge, a hostel much used by backpackers, although the internet reviews had a few horror stories about creatures living under the beds and in the roof, even if the food is good. So we were very grateful when Stephen, Peter’s Chinese language teacher and a former Dali tour guide, arranged for us to stay at a guesthouse run by a friend. Stephen phoned us to confirm the booking while his wife was in labour with their first child. He rang us back a couple of hours later with the news that mother and son were doing well!

There are two Sunday morning international meetings in Kunming and this week we visited the one which is further away from us (about an hour’s journey). Also visiting were a group of Peruvians from the Amazon jungle who sang and danced for us. All very surreal. Judy was particularly impressed by the Philippino tambourine players, who danced while they played and switched to silent tambourines for the quieter songs.

Andrew has now worked out how to drive the water purifiers from a bicycle. Much easier than hand-cranking and no need to back drive worm-drives. (The Royal Society for the Protection of Worms approves!) There are plenty of bikes in Myanmar and all that is needed are some pieces of bamboo and a few easily obtained, low cost components. The next stage is to set up an endurance trial to make sure that the bike rig will last for at least 48 hours continuous running. The pedals will be turned by an electric motor, not a team of willing volunteers.

Judy continues to come to terms with local commodities. She has managed a successful pizza topping with the tiny tomatoes, but is having trouble thinking of new and exciting recipes containing giant radishes!
Any suggestions ........?