A swan by the bridge over the River Tyne in Haddington, East Lothian

Just the most amazing chocolate fudge recipe ever. Scribbled on the back of an old calendar for Wednesday, December 30th. But haven’t a clue which year. It’s quick to make and the results are fabulous.

Swans from towels, appreciated for seconds.

Little moments that stick in the memory in my final days in Beijing. Walking north towards the subway late on a Tuesday evening, after a day wandering around central Beijing.

Mops outside the canteen at China Radio International

Mindfulness comes in handy when you are lost in a foreign city, at 2am in the morning, having left your phone and wallet in a bar - somewhere. By rights I should have been arrested, and that would have helped, but no one seemed the slightest bit interested.

Jinyu Hutong, Beijing - Seeing two ghostly figures mock fighting in the street

Skaters in the Beijing World Trade Centre shopping mall