Happy (Belated) Chinese New Year! This opera singer was flown in from China to perform in Trafalgar Square last Sunday as part of London's Chinese New Year celebrations. It was a fantastic day - lanterns and banners were strung from across the square, all the way up to Gerrad Street at the heart of China Town. We watched the lions being 'awoken' for the start of the new year by having their eyes painted on by dignitaries and their thirst slaked by unfurling their red fabric tongues into buckets of water, then watched them dancing - I love the Asian cymbal-sounding drums they move to. I received my lucky red packet of money from the Money God (this year sponsored by the Bank of China - I kid you not!), and for a truly surreal experience watched a firecracker display in Leicester Square to the sound of the Swiss Bells in the Swiss Centre building chiming in the new hour.