“Here?  Here?  HERE?”

The two Virgin Atlantic chauffeurs seems a little concerned about our choice of destination, unwilling as they were to proceed any further down the narrow lane leading to our Shanghai house.  Unloading 7 suitcases, 1 guitar, 4 bits of hand luggage (plus a little duty free) and lugging them down the lane was always going to be a challenge – many thanks to the workmen currently finishing off work in the house for helping to carry them up three flights of stairs (and no thanks to the Virgin Atlantic drivers).

The sheer amount of luggage was always going to be a bit of a challenge – from grabbing the suitcases as they arrived in the airport (although a genius idea from Bronwen to put colour-coded luggage straps around each one eased the task somewhat) to watching the Virgin drivers struggle to load them all into two saloon cars.  Rhian had suggested we may look like royalty arriving with so many suitcases – although it’s probably normal for royalty to have co-ordinated, matching suitcases, rather than 7 completely different ones.  And fortunately, the lovely customs officials decided we were struggling enough without having to place them through the scanner upon arrival.

So one housecheck later (locks on front door – yes please, bare wires and light-bulb above shower – no thanks) and we were in.

The house is fantastic.   It’ll be even better once we have furniture…