Well, thanks to Virgin Atlantic's ticket promotion, we all managed to get a few weeks back in Blighty this summer.
Pip & the kids ended up being there for 9 weeks as we had to move their return flights (only available ones were 5 weeks later) and I managed to go over for 3 weeks. Whilst they were over there I also fitted in 2 weeks in the USA and 3 days in Japan. To think I took this job to reduce the amount of travel I was doing !

Quite a shock coming back to the heat of Shanghai. It was just pushing 40 deg. C when I left for home and is still well above 30 deg C now. Bit different to the 16 degrees we left in London. Humidity is about the same, 'though in England it comes in larger drops !

 During early July there was a tremendous racket going on here in the compound. A very loud buzzing / chirping noise coming from the trees. It was so loud that I literally had to walk about with fingers in my ears !
After investigation, I eventually managed to spot one of the little critters responsible. It's a sort of beetle, about the size of a big 'roach and it makes the noise by lifting its wings and vibrating its carapace (if that's the right word). I've pasted a picture of one opposite.
No idea why they make such unholy row. It can't be mating as they've been doing it for nearly two months now - unless the females are very, very resistive !

Anyway, everything's beginning to settle back to normal again. Alex is back at school, I'm back at work and Pip's getting to know some of the new families who've arrived over the summer.
There was a "welcome back" barbeque here on Saturday which both we and the kids thoroughly enjoyed. Good to meet up with everyone again. Shame about the jet lag.