And so I continue my recap of China 2011 with Part Two in Suzhou and Wuxi!

Welcome to 2012! Kickstarting the year I am proposing that I do Illustration Friday every week for the whole of 2012. It’s been a while since I last participated. You can check the tag and see just how long ago it’s been!

So that’s 52 illustrations in one year. Surely that’s not difficult (!).

This week’s topic is highlight.

Another year over and a new one just begun, as the Christmas song goes. I think this year personally was a time of limbo, even though I hadn’t actually intended on it—it simply happened.

I have been quite happily doing my own thing freelancing for a while, learning the scopes, stumbling along the way to be sure, but a little more street-wise and self-aware, which is just going to come with age (or so I imagine). I’ve consolidated my client base, earning new contacts and expanding my network, so I’m growing. Next year I hope to achieve something more secure and stable in my career.

January was spent procrastinating an awful lot, wondering what to do in my post-university state and watching the Australian Open. As you do. And of course I was super excited to see Li Na reach the final. Azn prYde.

In February I got out of my 6 or 7 odd year K-drama dry spell by getting hooked on My Princess, and I mean HOOKED. Following that I watched Que Sera, Sera, Personal Preference and then Sign, so throughout this whole year I only watched two 2011 K-dramas (four K-dramas in total), which is more than enough for me, …

So it’s been just over two weeks since I returned home from my trip to China (which explains my particular absence from the blog, not that that would be noticeable given my blogging track record…) and there is so much to share and reflect on.

I’ll be covering my trip over five posts:

Part 1: A Taste of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing (covered in this post)
Part 2: Breezing Through Suzhou and Wuxi
Part 3: Back in Shanghai
Part 4: Hilarity and High Times in Shanghai
Part 5: When West Marries East (or My Dude Cousin’s Big Fat Chinese -Western Wedding)

(Can you tell that I’m no copy writer?)

The results are in! The lucky winner is:

Congratulations, Kirsty! I’ve sent a notification email already, so please reply back with a delivery address so I can post these goodies on your way!

Thanks to all who participated – I loved reading all your responses! Watch this space for more similar giveaways in future.