I have spent most of today indoors, doing what I usually do when nothing propels me out.   I knit for a bit – having started the Talbot Trail Shawl at the airport in Seattle.  It was a delightful afternoon, sipping the local coffees – Starbucks and Seattle’s Best.  Seattle’s Best won out, because they made it hot as I’d asked.  Starbucks failed in that department.  Oh well, I’ll be back there in July and they can try again!  If you’re ever in the St. Thomas, Ontario area, there’s a lovely yarn shop called The Little Red Mitten  which is where I purchased both the yarn and the pattern.  The pattern is nice for travelling and I’ve enjoyed knitting on the long subway rides here in Beijing – once I get a seat that is.

Riding the subway here is not for sissies – and I can’t list it among my favourite things to do, but I love “chatting” with strangers who are intrigued with this particular passtime.  I also did a bit of knitting in Tianan’men Square last week.  It was a glorious day, but the Square was full of people and I was a little overwhelmed by the long history this place represents and the events that  have taken place there.

There are so many things to share – and now that I’ve figured this all out, I will do that – but today I was reflecting on the “ordinariness” of my life here.  I get up, wash dishes, deal with laundry, go fill up my water jug, debate the 90 minute train ride to church (sore feet kept me home today) read books on my Ipad, and there is not a lot that is different.  Well – reading books on my I-pad is very new for me, having acquired it just before I left and struggling to get the Kindle app to work.  I have caught myself several times trying to flip the page on the bottom corner!

I guess the point of this post is pretty simple, although I’ve taken a while to get to it.  Leaving home as a way to “start over” doesn’t really work.  There were several things I wanted to build into a life-routine now that I have regular  hours and no distractions.  Distractions come – nicely wrapped up in our technology.  The plus side is that I can see them more clearly and deal with them.

I do hope that I can post more frequently and catch you all up on the adventure thus far.  I’m enjoying it immensely – especially the Facetime and Skype visits with my family!

Have a great day everyone!

Marcia