Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Old China Hands lunch 5 April was on Tomb-Sweeping Day (Qingming). And yes, few had an excuse not to attend but some were disoriented and … forgot about the lunch. We a total of 36, with some new faces. First time we had the new price of RMB 110, a sweet deal for our attendees (the normal set lunch price is now RMB 118).

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Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 3 May. It is our sixth anniversary! Time flies, some members left, new are joining. If anybody is interested (and qualifies), contact me. Any nationality is welcome but it is for foreign-passport holders with ten years connection with the Middle Kingdom.

Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Old China Hands lunch 1 March was as always, so nothing special to mention, the total of 32 participants were happy. Chatting, eating, chatting.

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Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 5 April. And yes, I know, it’s Tomb Sweeping Day and the the start of a three-day holiday. But not sure many of our friends will be sweeping that day. Let them sweep a nice Belgian dish instead!
As all prices in Beijing have been going up, Morel’s Restaurant finally has had to increase their too-cheap price of RMB 98 for the copious set menu to RMB 118. The new price, still very attractive, is set at RMB 110, only for us!

Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Old China Hands lunch 1 February was again a pleasant surprise. We were worried how to fill the tables but we ended up with a full house. With 39 we were close to beat our record of May 2018 (43). I give up predicting numbers! It seems the “weirder” the date, the more attendants.

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The video was later posted on their website.

A member few of you know…

Indeed our Belgian friend Wilfried does not talk much about all what he does, except singing with me in our KTVs. Here an old article of China Daily I found back. Little has changed for him since then…
18 September 2012 – Body repatriation becomes growing business in country
By Li Yao (China Daily)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-09/18/content_15764037.htm

Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 1 March. As all prices in Beijing have been going up, Morel’s Restaurant finally has to increase their too-cheap price of RMB 98 for the copious set menu. Later I will announce the new price that still will be very attractive.
Beware all non-RSVP: a new clean-up of my e-mail list is coming…

Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Our Old China Hands lunch 4 January in Morel’s Restaurant again was on a “funny date” (and so will the next one), but we still had a total of 31! A good way to start the new year 2019!
Otherwise nothing special to mention except everybody seemed happy as usual.

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Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 1 February, the last working day before Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig.
Many might be away already for holidays but we count on the hard core to fill some tables.

Our monthly lunch at Morel’s Restaurant

Our Old China Hands lunch 7 December in Morel’s Restaurant failed to beat our previous record of May 2018, but it was again pretty full house: we were 37. Some no-shows, some simply forgot it…
As always a very lively lunch, the last one of 2018.

Our OCH members in the news!

This time of the year we saw several interviews, mostly related to the celebration of “40 years opening up” of China. See here a selection:

Terry Crossman
http://tv.cctv.com/2018/04/23/VIDEfVunB3UZJlzRNN5OUHQj180423.shtml

and

Emanuele Francia
Positive energy is driving prosperity in China – Opinion – Chinadaily.com.cn
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201808/13/WS5b70fb10a310add14f3856d5.html

and

Bruce on CCTV
[News Live] Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening up Bruce Connolly: Observing China from the Window
http://app.cctv.com/special/cbox/detail/index.html?guid=65d041d7524e47a28dbd5f80413ddea4&mid=(null)&vsid=C10616#0

and

Gilbert and Bruce in The Bookworm: “Expats witness China’s changes” (14 December 2018)
As China celebrates the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up, China Daily website invited over 30 foreigners to share their stories and insights in Beijing on Wednesday.
https://enapp.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/14/AP5c132630a310475542874c93.html

Our next lunch

Next one is Friday 4 January, the first one for 2019.