I have received a charming note from a Finnish fellow who invites me to visit him in Finland! He says he lives in a town with 36,000 inhabitants and surrounded by forests. The closest town is 100 km away. Russia is only 150 km as the cold crow flies. They have, he says, the only cross-country ski tunnel in the world. My heart, my darlings, did a flip!! I have never been to Finland, and while I am not a big vodka drinker, the idea of the frozen north and silent pine forests is extremely attractive. And romantic. My problem is this -- agoraphobia, mixed with a fear of boredom!!! Quite simply, I cannot get used to not having millions of people milling around me, as we do every minute of every day in Shanghai. And while I long for a stroll in the forest, my ears tingling with cold, the wind whispering sweet nothings to the trees high above me, one or two strolls would be fine, thank you very much. I don't need to repeat the process every day. I guess a one-day visit would be fine. But of course, I say that knowing that in the frozen north of Finland, a day lasts six months!

I see that sales of cosmetics in China are booming -- up 13 percent every year! Which doesn't necessarily please me. I see so many girls in Shanghai who are simply using too much make-up, and often poor quality make-up at that. Less is more, girls, less is more. Make-up also sends messages. So watch what you say on your face!!

I had dinner the other night at the Cantonese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt, and I have to tell you -- my breath was taken away by the style and the quality. I wasn't paying, so I have no idea what it cost. Not cheap, I would imagine. But whatever it was, it was worth it do it once. The beancurd particularly was magnificent. What sticks in the mind, however, are the million little touches, the tiny design elements which show how much thought went into this place. I have examined the Grand Hyatt from many different angles, and the only flaw I have found so far is the wooden banister on the steps leading up the ballroom in the annex. Fix it quick!!

Speed is relative. But I note with interest that there is a new "bullet train" on the route from Shanghai to Nanjing. An interesting name for a train given the historical connotations of the city. But that's what the media has called it. I go to Nanjing once in a while to sort of hide out, so I look forward to trying it. The train apparently reaches a top speed of 180 km per hour. Which is not fast by the standards of some other bullet-type trains around the world. But still fast enough to make you pray that the chickens and children stay out of the way.

Everyone I spoke to who went to the films attached to the Shanghai Film Festival were full of praise for the event. I personally didn't go to any. I find it hard to sit still in a cinema for two hours. But it is good to see so many international movies playing in Shanghai at one time. Roll on the future!!

Byeeee!!!!