I'm Pippa and head of this household ( at least I think I am!), Andrew may have a different view (but I'm sure I can tell him his opinion on that!).

So, I'm out here in China living a completely new life.  Everything is very different to the U.K. and the food wriggles more.  

I've employed an Ayi (literally translate "Auntie") who takes care of all domestic duties, leaving me free to concentrate on the children.  She adores all the children, which just shows she doesn't know them properly, yet.  The children adore her back, especially when she takes them for a ride on her electric scooter (not Francesca, she can't reach the footrests).

I've made two really good friends since coming here.  One is from Birmingham (U.K.) and the other originates from Malaysia although she has been an expat for many years.  My Malay friend's husband is from Belgium which as Andrew points out is closer to his home town than Birmingham.  We spend a lot of time together shopping, not just for reproduction goods but mostly for luxury items such as cheese and oxo cubes!  Both of which are hard to come by along with many other western items.  American brands are easier to find than European but you can find anything if you look hard enough and are willing to pay for it (except Robinson's squash!).

To be able to complete a weeks worth of food shopping you have to be willing to traverse the city of Shanghai and visit several shops, supermarkets and "wet" markets.  A wet market is like a fishmonger (with live fish as well), butcher (or livestock market), greengrocer and dairy (but with less cows) and it stinks.  Their concept of health and hygiene is somewhat different to the U.K.   Ben's not too keen on the wet market, mostly because of the attention he draws being male, blond, blue eyed and a child. 

The local supermarket is fairly normal except in the U.K. you don't find live frogs, fish, turtles etc. Basically anything that has a spine pointing towards the sky is considered edible.  Andrew says that if it moves the Chinese will either eat it or bet on it.