Mainly Sleeping

This week I have been mainly sleeping. I have been going to bed before 9 every night. I don't know what's wrong with me but I could sleep for England. So not much news apart from work and sleep. Hopefully next week will be more productive.

Had a good night out, after taking all evening to decide whether to go out or not. I was in a real indecisive mood and ended up having get ready (out of my gym stuff) in half an hour - not long enough to get in and out of 10 outfits and decide whether to wear my hair up or down aaargh! But it all worked out. We had cocktails at a friends - everyone brought a bottle and we all took turns to mix up juice, fruit, alchohol and ice etc. Strangely I feel fine today although I am a bit hangover hungry, so I can't wait to go out for a good pasta lunch.

Computer Geek

I have changed the look of my blog. I feel very proud of myself because I did it without the help of Gareth - who knows all about computer stuff. It took quite a long time but was the perfect, quiet cure for my stinking hangover. Gem if you want to try it you can get some good patterns and colours from this site called Citrus Moon.

I'm feeling better now. We were meant to be going to a friend's house in town for a party but we decided against it. It's going to be a load of people we don't really know very well. We would have had to mingle and make the effort to introduce ourselves, so we chickened out and are having Jo over for dinner. I'm making chilie con carne with one of the last packets I brought back for England. Mum can you send me some please and some chocolate if you're feeling really generous xxx!

Black Widow

This is what I found in our garden yesterday. It was really fat and black with the red markings and was guarding a great big egg sac. It looked really mean so I looked up the name on the internet. It's a black widow spider. It's quite poisoness but hardly anyone dies from the bite so that's good to know!

This is really typical of Mexico. My friend just bought a car, so the insurance guy came to meet him at school. They got into the insurance guy's car, which he proceeded to ram into a parent's car infront, doing quite a bit of damage. He then paid off the parent in cash and went on his way. So much for promoting insurance! In this country you can pay your way out of anything if you have the cash.

Feeling a bit rough today. We had a big night out last night. 8 of us went to Mumba Rumbas - a salsa dancing place. The margaritas were amazing but I don't feel so great now. I'm heading back to bed to watch episodes of Friends.

It's only Tuesday... but it's all good!

Having a really good week. I feel really organised and unstressed at work. I have been to the gym twice already and have an easy day tomorrow. Going to the gym is so good - I sleep like a baby after having some fitfull, sleepless nights (don't know why).

Just watched a 4 day marathon of Sex and the City. It always makes me want to get all dressed up and go out so it's a good thing we're off dancing this weekend. I can't wait to go out. I have been ill for all the weekends since school has started or everyone has been out of the city - so I'm loving the idea of a girly night. Don't want to wish my life away but I can't wait. If I can get in my skinny jeans by Friday, after trying to loose my London chocolate weight, I will buy me a new top!

Dissapointed

Really disappointed tonight. We were having 6 people over for dinner but one by one they have done something else. I was really sad because I had made such an effort. The day before I made an improbably massive cake and burned myself in the process! And I just went out shopping to get ready for tonight and was really looking forward to cooking for everyone. Never mind!

Gareth is amazing and has got me the last Sex and the City series. I love that program. I know it's unrealistic but it's great. It just makes me miss my girlfriends back home lke crazy. Anyway to make up for my let down we are in the process of drinking a bottle of wine, eating pringles and eating my cake. I just made mojitos (a cuban cocktail) and if I say so myself they're bloody good.

Independence Day

Great day at school. The Mexicans really know how to celebrate. We had a big performance of dancing, military marching and singing of the national anthem. All the children looked amazing in their costumes. They sell the most amazing stuff here for kids and it's so cheap. I'm definitely buying a load of kids costumes before I leave Mexico.

Most of the kids went home at the end of the performance - about half eleven. I was left with 1 kid who really wanted to stay. So we put them all together and did art all afternoon. Easy day and now it's the weekend! Got people coming for dinner tonight - making Thai curry. Must go out and shop for food.

Crap!

A lot of my kids are learning English so csometimes say ambiguous things. Today I almost yelled at a naughty kid. When I asked him what he would bring to a picnic he shouted really loud "CRAP". I was about to get mad when I realised he meant crab. Who brings that to a picnic?

Independence Day is tomorrow - so a really easy one for me. The kids dress-up, dance and get fed loads of sweets so it's not much fun for us when they are returned to class in the afternoon and we are expected to teach. I'm hoping to get most of them to leave early with their parents. Then the weekend. Great!

Busy, busy

Been rushed off my feet this week. At last I think I can take a breath and relax. I am still snotty but woke up this morning feeling a million times better. I think if I saw a doctor he would tell me to rest my voice - impossible as a nagging teacher. This weekend I will take it easy and try to chat less - Gareth will love it.

We've already done 3 weeks back at school it's gone so quickly. Got my meet the teacher night tomorrow - where the parents of the kids in my class come and meet me. I have to talk to all of them at once. I hate it. It's so wierd because I'm fine in any other situation but every year this gets me all nervous. They really sit and stare at you not saying anything. I have to do all the talking and sound like I know what I'm talking about. Thank god it will be over soon. Then the weekend - I can't wait.

Home

Snotty Kids

My kids have been sneezing all over me at school this week. Now I have their cold. I went to bed last night at 7pm after moaning anout my sore throat all afternoon. Gareth was great and cooked me dinner then washed up too. Feel better today but have had to cancel going out dancing, which I was really looking forward to. Never mind tomorrow night is our friends' engagement party so I have that to look forward to!

Volcano Pictures

Jo and I were left to our own devices today as we climbed round a volcano. We did loads of chatting - great day out! The others walked the whole of the ridge right round it - took 6 hours and some hard work.

Jo on the ridge of the volcano after we both decided to climb up a sheer slope - took us 2 hours.All prepared to climb.Shattered after walking the ridge.

Knackered!

I remember saying I'm knackered to a PE teacher once and getting in big shit. It's not that bad is it mum cos you taught me it? Anyway I am knackered. I've had a really good but crazy week. Thank god we finish at half 2 because I'm not sure how I used to go so much longer. But it's the weekend now so I'm happy. We're off to a party at our next door neighbours tonight - so not too far to stagger back. We're up early tomorrow though (so much for a lie-in). We're going with some friends to climb an old volcano. It's 5000m up so we're splitting into two groups the normal people and super-fit. You can guess which groups me and Gareth are in (not the same one). The fit ones are going to walk all round the ridge, climbing up really big slopes. At such high altitude it's a killer - hard to breathe. We're going to take it easy and take the nice slopes. What I'm really looking forward to are the drinks and tacos at the end. Photos soon!

Back to School

Couldn't get up this morning Gareth had to kick me out of bed. I am so bad at early starts. I don't know how he is so chirpy before it's even light outside?

Had a good start to school. It was bit confusing at first as my timetable has completely changed and the kids are more used to it than me. I had a couple of kids with not a single word of English I really feel sorry for them when they start. I had a few wailers clinging on to mum and also lost a kid at the end of the day - his fault not mine - but apart from that a pretty smooth start. Now I have to think of something to fill up tomorrow!

Fresher's Week

Just got back to Mexico. Whenever the new people arrive it's a bit crazy and very reminiscent of fresher's week at uni. Everyone drinks a bit too much for too many days in a row and within a week you can guarantee some kind of mimi-scandal. I love it!

I just met all the new guys yesterday. I always think it's great watching everyone trying to figure each other out. They seem really nice and are all liveing near to us so a whole bunch of new, ready-made freinds!

Had a horrible weekend. Just as a couple were moving into the house next door to us, Lynne, The lady who looks after things like that fell of my doorstep. She broke her arm really badly. I have not seen many injuries close up but had to deel with blood ane bone glaring out at me and get her to hosipital quick. If you don't have a first aid kit at home buy one. She burst an artery and my bandages were a bit of a life-saver. So this week I am First-Aid Ant and I am glad to say Lynne is feling much better.

Holiday Photos

San Blas Hacienda

San Blas Beach

On the Beach

We spent the last days of our holiday down at the beach. First we stayed in Mazatlan for 4 nights then on to a cool little surf place called San Blas. We were just about the only tourists there and stayed in an amazing old Hacienda where we had the gorgeous pool completely to ourselves. We spent a day messing about on boards in the sea. Gareth was like a kid I couldn't get him out of the water even to eat his lunch. We pigged out all week on really plain and basic but amazing tasting seafood. I am now back in the city and it feels good to be home after living out of a suitcase for 2 months!

Mazatlan

2 horses hanging out by our hotel and later off to the disco

Beach Photos

Canyon Photos

Photos of the Copper Canyon train journey

Yesterday we travelled right through the canyons on the train. It took 10 hours to get to the coast. The scenery is incredible and the photos don´t do it justice. Today we´re off to the beach in Mazatlan. It´s boiling hot and really humid here. After the cool canyon air it´s a bit of a shock. But I´m sure cocktails by the pool will soon cure me of the heat!

Photos

Me in the silver mine in Zacatecas
View across the canyon top when out cycling Basaseachi waterfall (can´t quite appreciate the massivenesss of this thing with a photo)

Cowboys´ horses hanging out at the edge of the canyon