New Shoes and Painting!

I have had a really crazy week. I have been out every night this week it was quite depressing because every night, when I got back, Gareth was already in bed asleep - exactly what I wanted to be doing. I had Oklahoma on Thursday and Friday night - the kids really did well after the not-so-good rehearsals of the previous weekend. I now feel like crap and cannot stop sneezing. I hope I'm not ill tomorrow.
I have been trying to get more motivated with painting. It's been a really long time since I did anything I liked. I have done one painting I'm happy with - inspired by photos from Mexico. This is one I have just started. I'm not quite happy with it but will try to persevere. It's taken from a photo of some tulips I took in Chicago a while back. I have one similar back at Gareth's house that I did from the same photos, but I wanted this one to be a great big flower. I need some tips please?
These are the shoes I had copied in Mandarina (171 Le Thanh Ton). It's a great shop where you can take in an old pair of shoes and have them copied in any colour. I chose this green colour for my school shoes that were about to fall apart. I think I'm happy with them - I just need to wear them round school for the day to see if they are as comfortable as the old ones!
Watching the world go by from Highland Coffee - Gareth with an espresso as usual...


Here is the guy who fixed the soles of my old shoes. He was playing a complicated chess-style game with all his mates while doing my shoes.

Long time no blog

I apologise for my lack of interest in updating my blog, but not much has really been happening. After a very busy birthday weekend I have been taking it easy.

On Saturday Maz, Ben and baby Max came over. He was feeling a bit sorry for himself as he had a cough. I went shopping in the afternoon. I haven't spent anything on myself in ages, so I treated me to some really nice L'Occitane facial stuff and some make-up. I was very pleased with my purchases. Nothing like a bit of retail therapy! In the evening we went to a new bar in town to watch the football. I sneaked off to meet a friend for a glass of wine and a chat and came back once it was all over. Although I have my fantasy football team I still don't find it that interesting to watch.This Sunday I was very good and did my bit for school, by playing cello in the Oklahoma musical rehearsal. We have the final performance in less than 2 weeks, so it will be keeping me busy. It was nice to play again.

I promise that I will make a real effort to take some photos this week!

Quiet Weekend

This is poor Gareth at about 8 in the morning when I had a bit of a cleaning frenzy! He's sitting on all the piled up cushions and sofa covers. I was sweeping and mopping because baby Max was coming over and I was terrified that he would eat something off the disgustingly, mucky floor. We had a good play with Max. He really liked the game of crawling over and under all the coffee table frame and legs. He is very cute.

Wayne, Gareth and me at my birthday.

I had a really quiet one this weekend, after a crazy weekend the one before for my birthday. I popped to the Sheraton Hotel for birthday cocktails with some friends. I was craving their yummy pina coladas all day so I had a couple, but then was very good and took myself off home to bed. I got up bright and early and went to the gym so I was feeling very good. But later on I felt really rotten and was stuck at home with a dodgy stomach. I have been feeling really coldy since then. It's not fair - I should be feeling really wide-awake after a restful weekend but feel totally drained.

I'm looking forward to going to the beach not this weekend but the next. I'm planning on reading and sleeping alternately. Yey!

Los Angeles

I really don't suit being blond - I look really horrible in this picture.

We went to Elaine's 30th last night. The theme was Hollywood so Gareth and I went as Los Angeles. Gareth really didn't kick up much of a fuss and just went out wearing the wings and halo. Everyone was very impressed that he had made the effort - although he did still wear shorts and t-shirt. Was a good night but I'm really disappointed that the weekend is oer. I'm really not feeling like school - got the Sunday blues. I wish we could have a snow day!

Around Malacca

We've been in Malacca now for 5 nights, which really is a little bit too long. It's probably a city worth visiting for 3 nights, but we were not to know that until we had already booked. We do feel like residents and everyone expects us for breakfast or a mid-morning cofee and cake in the various bars and restaurants. It's probably been for the best that we've taken it easy as I've not been good for much other than taking afternoon naps and going to bed early. I still haven't shaken off my cold. Mallaca is a gorgeous old town, which in 10 years is going to look amazing. They are doing up the canal area so that there will be 15km of walking paths along the canal. It's great in most places now but you can see how polished it is going to be in the future.

Gareth showing how much he is loving Malacca! Gareth bought me this lino-cut in Malacca for my birthday. It represents 'completeness'. I was having trouble deciding on prosperity, good health etc and I thought completeness was probably the best we could choose - I also liked the green! I met the guy who made them and he showed me his printing workshop. It reminded me of doing this at school at GCSE and various friends cutting their hands open with the blades. I'm sure health and safety wouldn't allow it now!

Below is a picture of the Chinese New Year paper offerings that they burn in the temples for the gods and their ancestors. They burn replica money, houses, clothes... to bring in good luck in the new year. Here are some tips to stay lucky over the new year:

Do open doors and windows

Do have a VERY clean house

Do eat sweets

Do wear a new pair of slipper that someone has given you - in order to step on people talking badly about you

Don't get a hair cut or buy new shoes

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!

Boat Cruise

Melacca

We're in Melacca in Malaysia now after a couple of nights in Singapore. Singapore is the most expensive place in the world - your money just vanishes. I've had one of the worst colds I've had in years. I have not been so snotty and bunged up in my head for a long time. It sounds like loads of other teachers have had the same - it's typical we all come down with it in our holidays!

Melacca is very pretty. We did the walking tour round the old city today. It is all decorated for the Chinese New Year celebrations this weekend just gone. It's now the year of the ox! We've found some nice little cafes on the canal and have been resting up - reading our books and sleping (me a lot of sleeping!). Our hotel is lovely and comfortable. Over the next few days we plan to go to the beach nearby, go on a canal boat and do some more walking. I will try to take some more pictures but I stupidly forgot to pack my chrager so am not sure how long my camera will last.

Housey House

Please excuse the horrible photo but I've had a cold all weekend and look quite crap - but Gem you did want a picture. Here are some photos of our place. We just bought a new rug for the lounge and it feels really cosy. We moved the old one into the kitchen and I think it looks great. It feels less cluttered now.



This is the quilt we chose. I saw it ages ago and it was in the sale. The only thing is it's dry-clean only so it might just have to be for looking only! Gareth seems to like it too (as much as he can like house stuff) - he chose the colour.


These are our lovely lamps from the same shop, Mosaique. We have 2 sets hanging either side of our curtains. I could buy everything in this place.
Back to school tomorrow. I'm so not ready to finish my weekend but I really can't moan as we only have one week then half term. After that it's a bit of a long stint - 8 weeks. So we will try and relax and enjoy our Singapore and Malaysia holiday.

Back Home

Me on New Year's Eve

We're back in Ho Chi Minh after flying in this morning. I am really sad that it's the end of my holiday but pleased to be home.

This is a photo of our crazy bathroom in Siem Reap. They really tried hard on extravagance but just ended up totally overdoing it. We had 2 showers and a urinal?On the beach in Sihanoukville on New Year's Eve

I very sadly spent the arrival of the new year fast asleep after a really delicious but super rich meal. We had scallops, caviar, prawns, mussels, lobster sauce and steak yummmmmmy! My mouth is watering just thinking of it. But it made me really sleepy - we took a couple of beers back to our room but both zonked too early. Garethwoke up to the fireworks but he said I was snoring my head off and left me asleep. I don't really mind as I think new year celebrations are usually a bit overated. Here are a few snaps of new year's eve.

The pictures below are of me trying really hard to take a photo of Gareth who was winding me up by being silly and not opening his eyes. You can see my frustration, with he rolling eyes, when he tries to take one of me and prats about again.