First: Happy New Year and Well Wishes to All! -- I 've not kept up with FT forums busy, busy.

I just checked out a book by an ex-pat: Alan Paul. Title: Big in China. 3/2011. I found his writing style easy to read. He blogged about his family's 3 1/2 years in BJ/China and won a national award. He was part of the "Woodie Alan Band". His wife was WSJ's China bureau chief. --Did anyone get to hear his band? or read his columns?

CNY is coming up fast and I have to get a move on to tame the dust bunnies at Mom's place...and then my own.