Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

Gotta love the Chinese Immigration! The first time I arrived in Shanghai was exactly thirty years ago and I just loved this city. In fact, I have always wanted to live in Shanghai. I love its cosmopolitan feel, its energy, its architecture, its vibe.  I remember once saying OK four years in Melbourne and then Shanghai... well that idea never flew, the global financial crisis hit, the kids had important exams and life moved on! So here I am ten years after my  last visit to China, to get eat, drink and get married, a whole other story, standing in front of a Bangkok Chinese Immigration official, who wants to know why in 2007 I had a double entry visa to China and only went once? Ummmmm well... Oh gosh, do you remember what you were doing ten years ago? I'm sensing this unintentional blot on my copybook could be stopping me from getting my visa to Shanghai. Or maybe it was something else? I thought I'd been care...

When Daughter No 2 left to see the big wide world in 2015 she was replaced on the soccer team by a  Canadian International football player.  Naturally we, Mum's Youth Hostel is always open, offered to host this star player. Ms Canada  moved into my daughter's room; took her place in the squad,  replaced her as U16's coach and became a wonderful member of our family.  Miss Canada has long gone back home, but happily  we met for a day in Oxford  whilst she was en-route to the Euro2016 Football tournament. Here are some of the photos from our day and because others have asked me for my Oxford sightseeing tips, I have given the details. Exam time! All Oxford University students must wear gowns to sit their exams. We met at Gloucester Green Bus Station, Oxford.  It is a ninety minute trip from London on the XC90 coach.  From here it's an easy stroll down Broad Street, passing the Tourist Information Centre to pick...

I’M READY TO FLY THE NEST… Three months in Europe with a stop over in Singapore. Here I come! I think I have remembered to pack everything. Certainly anything remaining has been  washed, polished and tidied away. Well, maybe not in the study...  I am not Wonder Women!  I’ve been busy. The house is clean,  and all the sheets changed. Car was washed,  and I even vacuumed the soccer muddy car mats. My yoga mat is rolled and stored Surely I will be Zen enough, without yoga for the duration… I have had appointments galore from the hairdresser, to my mammogram. I’m fit to leave! The dog’s also had the right royal treatment. He's been clipped, scrubbed  and had his nails done. Snap! Me too!  Well if the Crazy Poodle gets a pedicure,  then so do I… He’s got a shiny new bling bone dog tag  with new contact phone numbers and al...

Bangkok here we come! I had an e-mail from a friend who said at the start of June  “ you’re not doing much for Aussie tourism,  by bemoaning the fact  that you are in Australia all month!”  Oopsie!   It’s not that I don’t love Australia...  It’s just that I love to travel!   I get cabin fever if I stay put for too long… Have you ever done any of those psychometric tests  before a big job interview?  You know the ones that ask all manner  of weird and wonderful questions?  Well I'm off the scale in terms of new ideas,  and happiness with change,  but my completer - finisher profile is poor!!  I get bored and move on. Literally.  Luckily I’ve had a husband whose global job  required frequent moves.  Well actually... I’ve always said, he is lucky to have me!  Because glamorous as it sounds, not many partners would put up with it… W...

Who I Am.... Hi everyone, and welcome to any newcomers to my blog. I am especially pleased to meet you through  Grow my Blog 2014 I'm Wren and I'm a blog addict! There it's out,  and as many suspected... Here I am,  doing my Princess Diana impersonation,  as in all alone. No silly, of course it's not at the Taj Mahal,  although thinking about it, I do have that photo! I'm at Liverpool Football Club.  Where the Club motto is   'You'll never walk alone'...  trust me to manage it! Wren at Liverpool FC Jan 2013 I am a travel blog gone awry, I wear many hats,  but don't often carry my suitcase these days!  Instead I like to bring you my everyday Aussie life . Sometimes I'm  Crazy Soccer Mum   most recently  I've been Crazy Tennis Mum .  My aim in life is to be  Zen Yoga Wren ! The following photos  give an idea of some of my recent posts. My all time most pop...