We have already started a new year, so here is a hope that for the one we have just left, you can say that it was a good year for you. Despite all the problems faced by other countries there is still a lot of good will and cheer in the world, proof of which, is in the number of presents and Christmas cards that come home every year. It is nice to know that someone still remembers to do that, which is always appreciated. Whatever experiences you had in the old year hopefully the new year will bring you better ones, happier ones and more exciting ones and you will always have something happy to look forward to.

One of the exciting experiences last year was a stay in the Shaolin Temple with the Buddhist Monks and the Kung Fu students. Many people will know something about the Shaolin Temple and kung fu through watching "Bruce Lee" or "Jackie Chan" films in the cinema or on television. Although there had been the "Shaolin Temple Warrior Monk" staying with me earlier in the year, I was still not prepared for what was awaiting me on arrival at the Songshan Mountains.

The next stop on this visit to China was Nanning where there had been so many changes during the past 10 years, it was quite unrecognisable. On to Longzhou and the Chinese-Vietnamese border to meet up again with old friends and particularly "Grandma" now aged 92 years, then back to Nanning before paying a visit to the scenic mountains of Guilin. Here again new roads, blocks of flats and office buildings presented a different Guilin to the one remembered from a previous visit. There was a temperature change of 23 degrees during the flight from Guilin back to Beijing; +20C in Guilin to -3C at Beijing in 2hrs 30mins!

On Boxing Day there was another flight, but this time to Paris to attend a Vietnamese Wedding in Troyes. By car from Paris on a 3 hour journey to the Champagne region of France, to meet old friends and to make new ones. Discover new customs and taste new dishes. Two happy days, very long, and two peaceful nights, very short. How do people manage with so little sleep? It was certainly a happy and memorable event to end the year.