A working week and jazzy weekend

Late Sunday night in the bed with my laptop (something I tend to do more often lately) updating you all on the recent developments here in Shanghai. My neighbors have just left after a nice social visit. I’m doing good, but dead tired and physically maybe not in my best shape (one of my teeth hurts). I need a holiday (which will be there in four days). I’m exited to go to Thailand. I think the political situation over there stabilized again a little, so still seems to be safe to travel there. So I didn’t change my plans and will go. I will meet my Dutch friend Stefan in Thailand and on the 2nd of May we both fly back to Shanghai, so I can show him the sights here. After his return to Holland the CEO of De Baak will be here. So in between all these holiday and social activities I have to create an outstanding program for the CEO's stay. I made the outline and already confirmed a couple program elements – but it will still be an amazingly load of work and I have difficulty finding the time.

Last week Angie was in Beijing to do her second test for a Master in Beijing (she made it – and is accepted), which will mean she will move back to Beijing in September. I’m very happy she’s accepted at the university, but the idea that’s she will live in Beijing is of course not something to look forward too. For now, I’m not stressing about it, and we will see how it will go. So without her I was alone again last week. I used most of my time during the weekdays to prepare for Harry’s visit and got other long-term Baak-projects rolling again, like the Entrepreneurship program with the Consulate, and there’s also a fresh project which concerns of group of Chinese entrepreneurs and business men that want to go to do a trip through Holland. This would be a great project for De Baak, so I really hope we can make it happen. When Harry is here in May we’ll set the next step for this, and I’m sure he will be as excited as me.

The week was focused on ‘work’, the weekend was centered around my performance at JZ Club. The JZ Club is the best jazz music bar in town and my band (which has the working-title: “The long undertones”) got the opportunity to play for an hour at peak Saturday night. We were the opening act playing form 8.30pm to 9.30 pm. The set went great and the public was also very enthusiastic. It was definitely a performance to remember and now at least I can also say: “I played the JZ”. I was happy to see that I master the Jazz style in six months enough to please the jazz audience’s critical ears. Still there's more than enough to improve music wise, so I will keep going. However, for the two saxophone player this was their last gig with this band and the drum will also leave Shanghai in June. The rest will stay, but we need to reform the group soon. Anyhow the gig yesterday was a nice achievement, we did it! Now quickly go to sleep… It’s going to be busy days, before the holiday ....