Andrew Shaw, 63, on how he switched to a new career and life in another continent
![‘I quit life as a BBC journalist to live as a jade carver in China’](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f701a7c589bdbdbed60a160683ebf92c45857a5b/0_519_2500_1500/master/2500.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=f9228d607f83148da1e71c65d4eaeb01)
Name: Andrew ShawAge: 63Occupation: Jade carver and author, ChinaIncome: £48,000
I took early retirement from my job as a
BBC reporter 13 years ago to travel to
China to pursue my dream to learn to carve jade. At one time I loved reporting live from major events such as 9/11. It was as if I was witnessing history rather than covering the news. But the death of my mother made me rethink my life.