After months of sadness I pulled myself together and organised a trip. I asked the local travel agent how much it would cost to visit friends in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. They thought I was mad but organised it anyway. (cue - Dick Barton Special Agent music)
My trip began in June 2003. My first stop was S.A. the less said about that the better. My second stop was in Australia and I had a great time with an ex-colleague and learned to love Aussie Rules Football!! My third and most interesting stop was NZ where I went to stay with friends I made whilst teaching their children at primary school.
They encouraged me to go on various trips; and one momentous day I stepped aboard a tour boat and sat down opposite a Chinese lady and her son. (cue - Oriental music) we began to talk and I told her my dream was to visit China. We swapped e-mail addresses and said goodbye, three weeks later I was winging my way to the US of A for the last leg of my trip. On my arrival back in Britain I found that my broken heart had mended tolerably well. (brief reprise of Hearts and Flowers)
Imagine my surprise when three months later I received an e-mail from the lady I had met on the boat trip inviting me to teach at her university in Chengdu. (reprise of Oriental music) With nothing to stop me I accepted immediately, much to the shock and amazement of my family.
Another eight months found me on the Trans-Siberian Express bound for Beijing. (cue - From Russia with Love) As we wound our way through Russia, Mongolia and north China I had plenty of time to reflect on my snap decision.
I arrived in Chengdu on 14th August 2004 and haven't looked back. The welcome I received, the help I have had, the wonderful students I have been privileged to teach have given me new life. Despite being 64 I feel 17 - I have bought my own property here in Honghe and hope to stay in China for as long as they are prepared to have me. (cue - Ni kuai huei lai)
One thing I must comment on is the fact that China is changing so rapidly, even here in the least developed area of China we can see the difference. I love China the way it is and would hate to see it just an Oriental version of the West. I love the people, the dirt, the smells, the noise and the way of life.
It just remains for me to say, "thank you John, for running off with Debbie, I had no idea how rewarding it would be!" (cue - I did it my way) | 
