I'm just back from an amazing trip to China to visit pupils at the British School of Beijing and the British School of Guangzhou. I had a fantastic time working with the very diligent pupils in every age group from nursery through to KS3. As ever, my Princess Amelia story was popular with the littlest children, whilst with older pupils I held workshops on story planning, character building, writing realism and creating suspense. I also had a lovely time running my 'New Stories for Old' drama workshop which is based on my book 'Fur'. I'm not kidnapping a baby in the photos, by the way - I'm just handing the baby to one of the young actors in Princess Amelia!

It was a real privilege to work in such charming schools and to sample a little of a very different culture. I don't think I'm ever going to be a great haggler and I'm not sure I'll ever develop a palate for ducks' feet or sea cucumber - but the chicken gizzards were tasty if tough and the eel was very nice indeed! (I only risked that with the encouragment of Steve, one half of the Clyde Built Puppet Theatre who were there at the same time. I can heartily recommend booking a visit from him and his wife Leigh, if you're interested!)

I was thrilled to visit the Forbidden City and the Great Wall and less thrilled by the toboggan down from the latter - in fact, I was so terrified my legs were rigid by the time I got to the bottom. Not quite so terrifying, however, as my first experience of a Beijing taxi driver who, as I had been warned by a nice gentleman on the plane, didn't actually know where he was going! Quite interesting to have been in a new country for just a couple of hours and find yourself at the mercy of someone who speaks no English and you speak no Chinese! One of those thank goodness for mobile phones moments! Rather more thrilling was my ride down a road akin to a motorway in the rush hour in a motorised rick-shaw built for two - except there were three of us in it, searching desperately for - would you believe? - a taxi!

All in all, it was a huge privilege of a trip - and I was very lucky. I experienced the unprecedented snow in Beijing - but it cleared in time for me to escape to Guangzhou, before pelting down again and leaving thousands stranded at the airport - whilst I enjoyed the delights of a tropical downpour!

Thank you enormously to all the staff of both schools who were all extremely welcoming and friendly and a delight to work alongside. You could not have made my trip more enjoyable.

I never imagined that my work as an author would take me so far. It is delightfully mind-expanding - so I'm always up for more!