As the Olympics hit 31 days to go, we headed out on the only clear day (almost) in 2008 (that we can remember). It's been a year of very hazy and of late unusually wet weather.

Beijingers are out in force to photograph themselves in front of the newly built monuments.... Carrying "professional" looking cameras my wife is asked quite often to assist people wanting a joint pose.

The people of Beijing are really behind this effort and no end of discomfort is tolerated. Around our condos which are a stones throw from the Olympic Stadium, they have blocked all roads (one month out) and basically locked down the area. You can see people training in all directions for their respective tasks.

Beijing and the other Olympic Venues are all getting major overhauls. Every conceivable gap is being filled with flowers, trees and miscellaneous plants.

We'll be working through the Olympics and will report back, if required, on what happens to the locals and working expats on the ground.

Certainly having to take my car off the road every other day (on an odd and even system) will make getting around interesting. One might wonder if taxis are going to be around in the places you want them to be.

The Photos attached are some we took last Sunday 6th July, in the hot afternoon sun. We then ducked around to the National Theatre to Photograph the "Egg".