Portobello Beach Edinburgh

Xin Nian Kuai Le? ???? !

Happy New Year - Chinese style! I heard the celebratory fireworks over the city of Edinburgh last night.

My dragon mask - given to me by a Hong Kong resident many new moons ago - made a rare outing to the Chinese Take Away on the Joppa Promenade this morning. The dragon has just lost its game of Snakes and Ladders and is climbing down the ladder into its lair for a twelve year rest. The snake slithering up towards the dragon's mouth is now Chairman of the Board for The Year of the Snake that begins today.

The Take Away was originally an elegant beach cafe that also sold Sodas and Stationery in the inter war years according to an old postcard.