LITCHI time...

One of the many things I will miss when I return to Sweden is all the different fruit You find here in China.

Now it is the season for one of my favorites - lichi!















The lichi is of a size as a walnut, with a thin, frail shell and a transparent flesh that is fresh and acid. Inside there is a hard, black seed that You not eat.

Have been grown in China for many thousand years. For a long time it was forbidden for common people and only the emperor and his family was allowed to eat it. One of the emperors mistresses requested that lichi should be transported thousand of kilometers across China just to please her. Since that, the lichi is considered as a symbol for romance and family happiness.

Another of my favorites is yangmei (Chinese Bayberry). This is a subtropical tree grown for its sweet, crimson to dark purple-red, edable fruit.
In China mostly growing south of the Yangtze River.
The fruit is spherical, 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, with a knobby surface. The flesh color is similar to surface color, or somewhat lighter. It is sweet and very tart.

Happy Birthday - to me!

Happy Birthday to me.....
Yesterday I celebrated my 60th birthday and it was exactly the way I wanted it. No big party - just a nice dinner with some good Swedish and Chinese friends.
Was "kidnapped" by my colleague Sara and her husband Per and we went to a Chinese restaurant where Annie, Jennie and Yanmei was waiting. A very nice surprise and we had a very good birthday dinner together.

Annie, Pehr and Sara Sara - Jennie and Yanmei

Birthday cake - Yanmei and Shi Zhiting


They also gave me a really nice present - a "Happy Buddha". Looks very much like me and I hope it will bring me luck in my future life.

Thank You all for a very nice birthday
that I will remember long time!

Back to Sweden

During the week I had meeting in Lund but also have time to have lunches and dinner with my friends. During the Easter Holidays I met my children and my mother.

















For the first time in 1,5 year I also stayed in my apartment when i was in Lund. Before it was rented out but now empty. A little strange feeling staying here - not spent many nights here since I bought it 2 years ago...

When I returned from Lund I was told I got a new manager and been transferred to a new department. It also "looked good" for staying in China for at least another year. But, two days later all was changed again and I got the information to move back to Sweden when my contract expire end of July.
I had hoped to stay another period in China but this is "business-life" nowadays.
Will miss life in China but will sure be back a few times a year since we have my wife's family here.

Since I have several days saved vacation we will do a lot of travelling during the two months that are remaining. My "dream trip" to Tibet and Lhasa will be the first coming up.....

"Flying is getting close to heaven..."

Flying back to Sweden for some meetings and discussion about "the future". Use my SAS points to upgrade to Business and this is always a nice experience - this time I think the best ever...
Just 14 people in Business Class and a very nice and service minded crew. If You never tried Business Class before I can tell You what is it like:

- First Champagne before take-off.
- Later Champagne again - together with snack (salami, pickled cauliflower and sun-dried tomato skewer).

The dinner:
- Green leaf salad and beef tenderlion with aspargus, mixed peppers, spinach and chilli sauce as starter.
- Main course (you can choose from four different): Chicken breast filled with mushroom in red wine sauce, served with sweet potatoes and roasted vegetables. To this some Tim Adams Shiraz red wine.
- Emmentaler and Brie cheese with fig marmaled served with a glass of Cockburn's Port Wine.
- Lemon tart and fresh fruit.
- Rounded off with coffe and a glass of Calvados Daron.

After a dinner like that You sleep very good.

Thank's SAS and the crew on SK996 - this time you really made "flying close to heaven".....

Spring in Beijing

A lonely grave just behind the fence in the park nearby

Todays starts the Qiing Ming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day). This is a day to remember and honor your relatives at grave sites. Families pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks and other things. The rites are very important to most Chinese, especially farmers.

Some people put willow branches on their gates and/or front doors. They think that this will help ward off the evil ghosts that wander on Qing Ming. Now people also start the spring plowing, sing, dance, and Qingming is a time where young couples start courting.















Another popular thing to do is fly kites (in shapes of animals, or characters from Chinese opera).

Today the spring really came to Beijing - almost clear sky, sunny and +20. Let us hope it stays like this until Tuesday when the festival and holidays are over and it is time to go back to work.















Spring fishing in Hong Ling Jin Park - just across the street