Tag: Flowers

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The end of Autumn!

Catherine Lee

Yes, the temps are falling, winter is coming – arriving more or less today that is, with the arrival of a cold front from China – the first of the winter season.  There’s a very cold wind out there and we’re all wrapped up in our winter woollies! But still, the banana trees are not fazed….. Almost 2 weeks ago, we were on a boat coming back from Matsu – but seeing the waves on the sea today makes me very glad we are not on that boat today ha ha! Happy Winter everyone! Continue reading The end of Autumn!

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Introducing Sanzhi 三芝!

Catherine Lee

New house, new town!  Yep, I’m now living in the town of Sanzhi  三芝, variously spelt Sanzhi, Sanshi, Sanjhih or Sanchih, and just to confuse you further, variously pronounced San-ze or San-jer.  We’re on the NW coast of Taiwan, 5 miles (8 km) north of St. John’s University, and about 3 miles SW of the northern tip of Taiwan, a GREAT location! Sanzhi Town and District is the sort of place where everyone passes through in order to get to somewhere else.  They’re on their way north to the beautiful white sand beach just up the road at Baishawan, going … Continue reading Introducing Sanzhi 三芝!

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Easter Gardens…

Catherine Lee

A great Easter tradition, but not so much in Taiwan, so one of the highlights of this Easter is to see what Easter gardens are around ~ and there’s some fantastic ones! This one was in All Saints Church in Maidstone, Kent this morning ~ not only does it look good, but the hyacinths smell so wonderful too… And then this one, the empty tomb, in Rochester Cathedral this afternoon…. Can’t let you go without 2 more photos of Rochester Cathedral today – evensong was happening, but they still let visitors in to wander around the main part taking photos… now … Continue reading Easter Gardens…

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Remembrance Day 2014….

Catherine Lee

Poppies everywhere these past few weeks, and especially at the Tower of London…. these were in a church in deepest Surrey…. All of us remembering the start of the First World War 100 years ago this year, plus all the other wars since then, and more recently Iraq and Afghanistan and Syria and Ukraine…. Of special local interest here in Cumbria is that the paper for all those red British Legion poppies comes from a paper factory just up the road in Burneside, Kendal – see the article here…. Continue reading Remembrance Day 2014….

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Taipei Guest House 臺北賓館 and Taipei Botanical Garden台北植物園…..

Catherine Lee

Lots of visitors on the horizon ~ and one place we always go is C.K.S. Memorial and the Presidential Palace in downtown Taipei City…. But in between the two, and behind a big wall is a very ornate Baroque-style mansion, known as the Taipei Guest House 臺北賓館, and today was its monthly opening to the public… Built in 1901 as the residence for the Japanese Governor-General when Taiwan was under the Japanese Colonial Government ~ and then in 1952, the Treaty of Taipei 中日和平條約between Japan and the Republic of China was signed here, marking the formal end of World War II and … Continue reading Taipei Guest House 臺北賓館 and Taipei Botanical Garden台北植物園…..