Bring on Vietnam

Weather: mild for Beijing this time of year
Temp: -5 -7
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,49
Frozen solid: This boat will not be speeding anywhere till Spring.

I stayed up last night to watch Barak Obama's inauguration. It was nearly 2am when I crawled into bed. Despite being a little tired this morning, I'm glad I stayed up. I'm not terribly interested in American politics, but I do hope with all my heart that he will bring change to the greed invested world we live in.

I absolutely cannot believe that January is almost over and that Feb 2009 will be upon us before you can say 新年快乐 or "Happy New Year"! The Chinese Spring Festival and New Year is next week and it's almost like Christmas, just with no Santa Clause.

The countdown to our Vietnam holiday has begun. Only two sleeps left before we head for midday highs of 30 and above. Bring it on.

Today is last day of mild winter weather in Beijing for a while. There's a lovely cold front rolling in and the rest of the week looks like this:

• Thursday:-4 to -16,
  
• Friday: -8 to -12,
  
• Saturday-6 to -11,
  
• Sunday-1 to -11

But who cares! We'll be in Vietnam.