Lunch at Fermain

Cliff walk

Off to Herm

Belvoir Beach

Pints in the Mermaid

I've been so busy since we've been back. I've spent a fortune in London on Oxford Street, while getting very wet in the persistent rain showers. It's been great buying some decent clothes - although unfortunately most of them were smart, boring work clothes.

Now we're in Guernsey and we have been so lucky with the change in weather. It has really cheered up. We went for a walk on the cliffs yesterday and had seafood lunch on the beach. After lunch in town Mum and I are off for a manicure today. I'm a bit clueless as I don't really do that sort of thing but it should be a laugh. Gareth and I have plans to play tennis this week if the weather holds out and I am being very good by going to the exercise classes at Beau Sejour. Hopefully tat will work of the chips we're planning on having tonight!

Back in London

It's so nice to be back home. We had a nightmare getting to the airport in Mexico. The traffic was busier than I have ever seen it. It can take half an hour to get there on a good day but it took us more than 2 and a half hours. We were in separate taxis because we had so many bags and a taxi driver (a complete git I have discovered) offered to take us there. As he is always on time we decided to use him. His mate was late (bad start) and turned up in a really crap looking taxi. Gareth took his taxi. He obviously didn't really know where he was going and we had to keep slowing down for him to catch up. Gareth phoned me when smoke started coming up out of the floor. My taxi driver kept telling me not to stress out and that he would catch up later. Thank god Gareth managed to get into an airport taxi (bear in mind we are in the crime capital of the world and Gareth is travelling with every single thing he owns - ideal pickings) and got to the airport in record time. I was so scared for him but relieved it all worked out. My shit of a driver - who is always so nice to me ripped me off saying I had to pay for the other taxi too - who broke down. He charged me double what I normally pay - bastard. I couldn't even be bothered to protest as we were late and just relieved to be there. But I was bloody fuming.

Anyway we had a great flight - very smooth but super squashed. I was very jealous of the first class travellers snug in their beds. We got back to have a lovely curry and a good sleep. We had bacon, beans and sausages for breakfast - god I've missed them so much - and went to the shop for papers.

I can't wait to go shopping on Oxford Street tomorrow!

Feeling so much better!

I feel so much better today. I think I must have had a 24 hour flu. I felt really awful and was so glad when I woke up today feeling a hundred times better. I had my hair cut today. I wanted to get a good photo but we had trouble with my camera and Gareth had no patience because he is ill too (although refuses to admit it!). I had a lovely lunch of salmon and cream cheese bagel - my favourite - with my friend Louise from school. She recommended the hair dresser who was amazing. She fixed my mismatched layers and dyed it a really good colour. It looks a bit dark in this shot but I love it and it makes me look healthier. Great result!

Sick sick sick

I feel like crap. I am aching all over and poor Gareth is getting sick of my groaning. I am so glad we didn't fly back last week - it's given me time to get sick (inevitable for me at the end of term) and then go back to London looking more healthy.

I am very excited to get my hair cut tomorrow. After having it butchered by some crap hairdresser who thought putting in layers involves having 2 separate haircuts - mullet style. I have been growing it our for ages and have been recommended a lovely lady who will do the job well. After that I'm meeting my friend for lunch so I really hope I'm feeling better.

Only 3 more sleeps till we're setting off for home!

Graduation Ball

Great night. Feeling like crap - self-inflicted. I can't write any more than that.

Last day of school

Yesterday was my last day at school. It was sad saying goodbye to some people but we had a bit

of a celebration afterwards which was great. Today I have been organising stuff. Had to go to the Vietnamese Embassy to get our documents stamped. I thought it would take ages but of course no-one in Mexico has a reason to go to that embassy so there was no queueing (if that's a word?) so I was home by ten. Gareth is at the graduation ceremony for 6th formers. We're going to the ball tonight so I have to go shopping this afternoon - I got rid of all my smart shoes. It's a nice chance to get dressed up. I'll post pictures tomorrow!

60's Night

Not been posting for ages because it's the end of term and everything is manic. The kids are tired and grouchy and really need a break. Just 4 more days!

We had our end of year concert last night which went down really well. It had a 60's theme and we had more than 300 kids singing and playing. We all got dressed up. I was really nervous to play the piano and messed up but no-one noticed because they were all looking at the kids. I'm glad it's over as it marks the end of my year but it was really sad when the head announced I was leaving - some of the parents were a bit shocked. I can't wait to get back home and chill in Guernsey. Not long now!

Only 2 more weeks at school

I'm feeling it and the kids too - we're all so tired and grouchy with each other. I just hope the kids can hold out for a couple more weeks. It's like they're about to explode. I have been so busy with work that I have neglected my blog here, I'm sure everyone is missing my photos updates (although it's only Gem and mum who read it). You'll just have to wait for my London and Guernsey fun!

I am trying so hard to diet - I'm about a stone more than when I came to Mexico 3 years ago. I was really good last week and exercised everyday. I have only bloody gone and put on 1kg. I don't really know what that means because I do stone and pounds but I know it's a bag of sugar weight and that's not good. Very depressing. But I am not going to be put off I have been to the gym today and ate a healthy dinner.

My friend Roanna from uni is coming to see me today. We are just about to go and pick her up. Her sister lives in Guadalajara so she is staying with us for a couple of nights then off on a Mexico tour. We used to live near each other in halls and I remember some very drunken nights, but we haven't seen each other since we left so we have a lot of catching up to do.

So now I have updated that will keep you going for a while! I promise some nice photos soon. We are off to the graduation ball at the end of term - some good photo opportunities.

Feeling like crap and getting no sympathy

It's self inflicted I know but I feel horrible. I had such a busy week and now I'm wasting my weekend feeling hungover. We went out last night for Maz's hen night. We started with champagne at her house had an amazing meal - gorgeous calamari. Then we went to a club where we danced until after 5am. It's the latest I've been out for ages. We were very silly but had a fun time. The boys were tucked in bed just after 12 so Gareth is not feeling as bad as me. Bloody typical!

Quiet weekend

Had a great weekend. I got my reports pretty much finished so feeling very organised. I did nothing much else but read and read and nap. It was great to have time to finish my book - it's been dragging on a bit.

Just 19 more days of school - not counting or anything! I can't wait to shop like crazy in London and see all my friends. I have a really long time in Guernsey this year so I should be able to do everything I want to without feeling rushed.

Jabs

Yep got some of the jabs for Vietnam. They were pretty tame and I had some of them before but I do feel like I've been punched in the arms. We have Yellow fever to get next which the doctor said is pretty violent. So looking forward to that!

Just 4 more full weeks at school. Hooray shopping in London - I can't wait!

What a rant

I was gutted yesterday. I sent a ceramic pot (which I loved to bits) with DHL from Mexico. They shoved it into an average cardboard box (after showing me this amazing reinforced packaging they were going to use) and sent it off. Of course it arrived to mum in 100 pieces. Not so fussed about the pot but really pissed off with the guy who took $300 off me to post it safely. So I am on a mission to get my cash back. Not that's off my chest I feel better!

On Friday I was shattered but somehow did a great gym work out. We went to our friend's birthday party. After a couple of glasses of wine I felt a bit more awake and had the energy to actually talk to people. It turned out to be really fun and load of people turned up. Didn't have the energy for dancing but had a goof time all round.

Saturday was a bit of a disaster with the pot news. Then I missed my appointment with the facial lady which I was really looking forward to. 2 o'clock and 12 o'clock sound the same in Spanish and I misheard, turning up too late. Then I went to see if my skirts I sent in for alteration were finished. They knew nothing about them and I spotted them getting them out to get started as I left - lazy buggers. So all round not a very successful day.

Today was better - got to the gym (I wonder how long this fitness burst will last?). Fed the cute little kittens outside - they have no mum and are so tiny. The miserable arsehole neighbours want them dead (miserable shits). I have been warned by Gareth not to get attached- we are leaving so cannot adopt them I just have to feed them secretly!

A good sleep

I have been sleeping on springs and a wonky mattress for almost 3 years. My friends who stayed this weekend commented on how comfortable their bed was. We realised it was a brand new mattress and it's super comfy. So yesterday - while Gareth was out - I decided to do some shifting around and swapped the mattresses. Great result! Trouble is I really didn't want to get up for work and I managed to fit in 2 naps yesterday! Too much of a good thing.

I am feeling very productive. I have managed to start writing my reports and the system isn't even open yet! Very proud of myself. Oh and also I am on a massive health kick - apart from 3 cookies (oops) I have only had fruit and veggies and my breakfast and lunch. Good work.

Birthday Bash

Me and Maz ready for Vietnam!



Theme of the party was salsa in red shoes.

Jo and Kevin - I can never get a decent picture of you two!

Ali and Rob - visiting Mexico on their way round the world.

Emma and Lisa

Me and Ali saying good bye.

Had a nice night last night. Went to a great bar for Catherine's birthday. She and a load of others went salsa dancing but as we hadn't eaten 6 of us went off to get tacos. Ate far too much and had to go to the gym to work it all off this morning. Bit of an early start as my friend's had to take a taxi at 4am! I was pleased to get back into bed again.

Frustration

We had the day off school today because we needed to sort out paperwork for moving to Vietnam. Sounds good but actually we had to get up and leave well before normal school time. Both of us were shattered by the end of the day and both had a nap (a miracle for him!). We went into town with our friends who are also moving to Vietnam and continued the slow and painful process of getting documentation in Mexico. We had already been to Toluca to 3 different offices to get our police check and one stamp on it. Today we managed to get the first process done really easily and had high hopes for the rest of the day, until we arrived at the next office which was straight out of the 80's. There were people tapping away on type-writers and it was musty and dark. We were told to come back the next day. But Maz and I were persistent and seeing as we had paid for it already they finally let us in. We queued for ages and everyone was very unhelpful but eventually it was sorted. We went for a great lunch in the posh area of town (which made it all better!). At last we have all the Mexican part done. We now need to go to the Vietnam Embassy to get another stamp - not sure where though as the document already has extra pieces hanging off - there's no space left!

Unfortunately back to school tomorrow. Just 6 more full weeks!

Being aTourist

When my friends visited we did all the tourist stuff in the city. Here are some pics!

House Party

Me looking like a pirate, Louise and Nush.

Mariana and Dave.

Sam unaware of Gary's advances.

Rob and Gary.

Hang and Mark (about to have a baby).

Alison (from my first school) came to visit with her husband.

Marion (coming to Vietnam with us) and Hang (our Vietnamese teacher).

Sam, Catherine and Kerry.

Nush, me and Dave.

We had a party at ours straight after school on Friday. It was great. My friend from St George's came to visit with her husband. It was just luck that we had happened to throw a party on the day they decided to come. We had Mexican food catered so I didn't have to think about doing any cooking and could just enjoy myself. We drank a lot of beer but it was all over by midnight (we started at 2.30pm so it was pretty good going).

The next day I took my friends round all the tourist sights in the city. We saw Aztec dancers on the Zocalo (the main square). It was also the celebration of the victory at the Battle of Puebla (against Napoleon) so there was a huge parade of soldiers with big machine guns. I just couldn't help but think of Monty Python's funny walks - not good in a crowd of seriously patriotic Mexicans. We went through the newly excavated pyramid site in the centre of town and had lunch in a nice little street cafe. A really enjoyable day - you become lazy when you live in a place - it was good to see it all again as a tourist.

No school!

Today is great because we have no school. It's a public holiday. Unfortunately it's on a Tuesday and there was no way we could get the Monday off too so we had to be in work yesterday which was crap because we could have gone somewhere nice with 4 days off. The kids were really high yesterday because it was children's day. Their Spanish teachers fed them up on sugar and e numbers then handed them back to us. They couldn't sit still and were really badly behaved. I was so pleased when the day was over.

I went to Ruth's party last night while Gareth was at a poker night with the boys. It was really nice to relax and chat to everyone. I feel like I haven't made time to see everyone properly especially while applying for new jobs. Now we are all sorted I am going to make the most of seeing everyone and enjoying town before we have to leave forever. I still can't really believe we will be leaving Mexico and most likely we will never return. It has been a really great home for the past 3 years and I will miss so many things. But I am also so excited to get home, see everyone and go shopping then on to Vietnam. I am a nightmare at the moment for Gareth (he is being amazing) because one minute I'm excited and the next so nervous. I have to get it under control!