Dear All,
Long time between blogs!! Always good intentions, but time seems to move on despite them. And as Christmas is soon to be upon us - I guess this has become Seasonal Greetings at the same time. Slack Merris!!
Anyway, here we are in our second year in HK. If you had asked us during our long summer (winter to those of us from the Southern hemisphere) break I am not sure we could have answered whether we would extend our stay here or just do this year. Certainly we tentatively started to look around at what might come up, but moving on and going through that whole job search experience is never a pleasant thing to do, so we were definitely not excited about the prospect. On the other hand - life had not been in anyway "fun" during that whole first year here as many of you were aware. Anyway, the long and the short of it is that things have improved immensely! The new board have moved things along, and things are far more pleasant. As a result we have agreed to stay for a third year (2008/9) and will review the situation again next summer. Quite possible a four year stay is in the wind. Certainly that is what the board wants, and probably what we should do. Don't see this as a long term place for us, the city is just too frenetic, which transfers to everyone and everything, but we shall see how things go.
I think it is fair to say, that we feel much more comfortable here this year - although there are still many challenges looming. The most prevalent would be the urgent need for a new school site. We know that the site we currently occupy is scheduled for redevelopment, and that we are on (very) limited tenure - not to mention that the primary school is totally full to overflowing, and as the school has finally agreed to head on to a grade 9 as the beginning of the high school next year, space will also be an issue for the middle/high school. As a result Andy is currently spending heaps of time looking at potential sites as a short term solution (with the eventual plan to build - but that is definitely down the track). Space is at a premium in HK so it is not an easy task.
With the decision to go on to a high school - despite my great desire to go back to the part time world of work - I have agreed to stay on as the "interim" middle/high school principal. Have never wished to be a principal, but essentially, despite my title of coordinator, I guess that is what I do now, so I was torn between the part-time position (probably curriculum and MYP coordinator) and seeing through what I had started with the fight for a high school. The latter won - but I have sworn just for the year to get things started. Much easier to attract a good field of candidates if the plans are in place and operations have begun. Silly me - but as they say - no fools like old ones!!
Aside from that the summer was very productive and expensive. We spent three very solid weeks finally doing our attic room upstairs in our family home at Berean St in Tas. We now have our own little space to use whenever we are home, and decided that as we had waited for so long, we were going to do it "properly". That was fine until I got to the shower screen which I decided had to be of the "frameless" variety (Andy says I have obviously stayed in far too many luxury hotels) which of course cost three times the amount of the "normal" variety.Still - I am determined it was worth it!
We, of course had some enjoyable times catching up with friends (THANKYOU to all of you who remain faithful, excellent friends who never fail to drop things to make sure they catch up. It is wonderful to have so many great people in our lives who go the extra mile whenever we are home). Family, of course were also a part of our catch up - although with Andy's parents in the UK for the "summer" and my sister Jen and her husband in Melbourne for most of the time to spend time with my new great nephew, we were able to spend more quality time with my other sister Glen and her husband (I think). Never enough time for anyone though I guess!
We did spend a few days in Melbourne on our way up to Coolum for the last 2 weeks of our break to see baby "Liam" and to make sure Sidhonie and we had a chance to catch up with the family there.
Coolum, as ever was lovely. Great weather, and a very relaxing time for us all. Sidhonie now has 2 little class mates that holiday in close proximity to us - one at Marcus Beach (Lulu), and one at Buderim (Thomas - who I think is the current boy"friend". Photos follow...), so that makes it even better for her! The interesting news on that front was that after various ideas on our behalf, and half-baked plans, we did end up meeting our "neighbours" who had similar ideas - that was to add a 3rd bedroom/study to the back of both of our places. We figured we had a better chance if the "outer" view of both villas remained the same - even if it could only be seen from the back side.
We left the whole idea in the hands of some friends up there to put to the body corporate (quite thinking that it would go no further) when much to our surprise we received the news that the body corporate had agreed and that we were now to submit plans to the council.
More money to spend, but it should be a good investment on our villa, and certainly will make it more comfortable for our stays - at the moment we spend most of our time tripping over the computer cords as we really have nowhere to use as a study or workplace. So - as a result, we will spend our Xmas break in Coolum moving that plan along. Ah what's money for but to spend and enjoy???
We arrived back to HK to celebrate Sidhonie's 8th birthday. We decided to do it a few days early so that Andy's parents could be here for it. Not sure about the sense of it, but we agreed = per the little one's request - to have a pool party for 13 little girls here. Hmm. Anyway, we made it through - think the guest list may be severely curbed for # 9 though!
On that front, Sidhonie is doing much better this year, and her "tablets" really have helped here move along and "focus". Infact a few days without the tabs during the break really brought home the difference to us - to say she just about drove us to drink may not be too harsh! She is so much more settled and "mature" (for want of a better term) when on them, and is now far more confident at school - seeing herself very positively - and generally having caught right up to her grade level - but we have to watch her eating as it tends to take away her appetite!! No spare flesh on that little frame to lose!! The fight is not over on any count, but it is so nice to see her happy at school again - never let me hear anyone say that ADHD is a fictional malady!!
Donie is still doing her gymnastics, as well as taking tennis lessons, and jazz dance. Now, of course, she wants to learn an instrument as well - just not sure what - or when we might fit it in!! Still in the "to think about" basket.Oh and the front tooth has finally come out, with another one to follow shortly. She is still very slow on that count, but not as slow as her mother who had full intentions of getting a nice family shot before it happened! Guess I either have to do the toothless one now, or wait a bit!!
Am about to "kill" our maid who continues to have a hard time "learning" about what is clean and what is not,and when it may be a good idea to ask a question. She is a nice enough lady, but our plants drop like flies (and then just disappear without a word uttered to us -I think she thinks we won't notice), and when she does use initiative, it is definitely directed in the wrong areas (bleach has now been banned in our house - what is it with maids and bleach?). Still, working out a solution in HK is just not that easy. We don't really need a full time helper anymore, just someone to do some housework a few times a week, and to be there at the end of each day when Donie gets home. That, though, is the problem, it is very difficult to get 'live-out"helpers in HK, and not exactly legal. Still something needs to be done! Another thing in the "to do" basket.
Have already managed a couple of trips away - the first just to Shanghai for a long weekend. It was interesting, but just brought home to me that I have no desire to live in "real" China. The city is huge, very polluted, and while it probably has a few more redeeming features than Beijing, it still isn't what I would call overly attractive. Did take the opportunity to catch the speed train back to the airport - 430 km per hour! Amazing! Also managed to come very close to losing my wallet. Had my hands full and my little bag hanging on my stomach so that I could watch it - but that was nearly not enough. Felt something just as Sidhonie yelled "look out mummy", and sure enough, my bag was undone. Thankfully it was a tight fit, so would have been hard to get out, but still, leaves a nasty taste in your mouth, and reminds me how blase we have become having lived in very safe cities since being overseas. A young lady right at my side was probably the culprit... I just elbowed her and told her to get away - she ignored me and dropped back.
Having made it through to our mid term break a few weeks ago, we arrived back from 5 lovely days in Kota Kinabalu (Malaysian Borneo) where we stayed at a very nice resort that catered to families very well. Just as luck had it (Sidhonie's good luck, and not such for us) there were several other families from school who had decided it would be a good place to go too! At least she had little friends to play with, thankfully my middle school students spend most of their time diving, and all of the "big" people wanted their own privacy I think. Donie had a lovely time at their kids club (nails done, hair braided), horse riding, visiting the animal reserve adjoining (who specialize in organgatang rehabilitation) and was a junior ranger for a day helping out with the animals.
Spent a few days in Kuala Lumpar too - at the EARCOS administrators conference. It's always great to catch up with old friends and see what they are up to.
THEN, my husband decided to surprise me and take us all off to the brand new Venetian Macau resort (and casino) for my birthday. Isn't he a sweetie! The hotel, as expected, is way over the top and HUGE! We easily spent the 2 days there (in the hotel), and still didn't see everything - and a lot of it isn't open yet! 3 canals and - well of course, we had to have a gondola ride - complete with singing Italian (the real thing!). And, heaps of shopping, just the sort of birthday that appeals to me!
And now, we are heading towards the Christmas break at breakneck speed. We have an old friend from Qatar days coming in next week to do some work with us on setting up the High school, and have had other friends visit during October, with more to come later in the year. I had intended getting this out way before now - and am now thinking I had better just go ahead and publish it as Christmas greetings!! So much for my blog schedule...I keep telling Andy that we need to get a life! Can't quite see when things are going to slow down at all, but some changes definitely need to be made. Holidays are great, but one needs time to smell the roses occasionally between times?? (or the frangipanis in this case I guess).
Love to you all friends. We wish you a very merry Christmas and new year, and urge you to drop us a line - just a line - occasionally.
I will try to be better about getting the next blog out in timely fashion - I think my family are a bit tired of my line of "this weekend"!
Merris, Andy, and Sidhonie
Long time between blogs!! Always good intentions, but time seems to move on despite them. And as Christmas is soon to be upon us - I guess this has become Seasonal Greetings at the same time. Slack Merris!!
Anyway, here we are in our second year in HK. If you had asked us during our long summer (winter to those of us from the Southern hemisphere) break I am not sure we could have answered whether we would extend our stay here or just do this year. Certainly we tentatively started to look around at what might come up, but moving on and going through that whole job search experience is never a pleasant thing to do, so we were definitely not excited about the prospect. On the other hand - life had not been in anyway "fun" during that whole first year here as many of you were aware. Anyway, the long and the short of it is that things have improved immensely! The new board have moved things along, and things are far more pleasant. As a result we have agreed to stay for a third year (2008/9) and will review the situation again next summer. Quite possible a four year stay is in the wind. Certainly that is what the board wants, and probably what we should do. Don't see this as a long term place for us, the city is just too frenetic, which transfers to everyone and everything, but we shall see how things go.
I think it is fair to say, that we feel much more comfortable here this year - although there are still many challenges looming. The most prevalent would be the urgent need for a new school site. We know that the site we currently occupy is scheduled for redevelopment, and that we are on (very) limited tenure - not to mention that the primary school is totally full to overflowing, and as the school has finally agreed to head on to a grade 9 as the beginning of the high school next year, space will also be an issue for the middle/high school. As a result Andy is currently spending heaps of time looking at potential sites as a short term solution (with the eventual plan to build - but that is definitely down the track). Space is at a premium in HK so it is not an easy task.
With the decision to go on to a high school - despite my great desire to go back to the part time world of work - I have agreed to stay on as the "interim" middle/high school principal. Have never wished to be a principal, but essentially, despite my title of coordinator, I guess that is what I do now, so I was torn between the part-time position (probably curriculum and MYP coordinator) and seeing through what I had started with the fight for a high school. The latter won - but I have sworn just for the year to get things started. Much easier to attract a good field of candidates if the plans are in place and operations have begun. Silly me - but as they say - no fools like old ones!!
Aside from that the summer was very productive and expensive. We spent three very solid weeks finally doing our attic room upstairs in our family home at Berean St in Tas. We now have our own little space to use whenever we are home, and decided that as we had waited for so long, we were going to do it "properly". That was fine until I got to the shower screen which I decided had to be of the "frameless" variety (Andy says I have obviously stayed in far too many luxury hotels) which of course cost three times the amount of the "normal" variety.Still - I am determined it was worth it!
We, of course had some enjoyable times catching up with friends (THANKYOU to all of you who remain faithful, excellent friends who never fail to drop things to make sure they catch up. It is wonderful to have so many great people in our lives who go the extra mile whenever we are home). Family, of course were also a part of our catch up - although with Andy's parents in the UK for the "summer" and my sister Jen and her husband in Melbourne for most of the time to spend time with my new great nephew, we were able to spend more quality time with my other sister Glen and her husband (I think). Never enough time for anyone though I guess!
We did spend a few days in Melbourne on our way up to Coolum for the last 2 weeks of our break to see baby "Liam" and to make sure Sidhonie and we had a chance to catch up with the family there.
Coolum, as ever was lovely. Great weather, and a very relaxing time for us all. Sidhonie now has 2 little class mates that holiday in close proximity to us - one at Marcus Beach (Lulu), and one at Buderim (Thomas - who I think is the current boy"friend". Photos follow...), so that makes it even better for her! The interesting news on that front was that after various ideas on our behalf, and half-baked plans, we did end up meeting our "neighbours" who had similar ideas - that was to add a 3rd bedroom/study to the back of both of our places. We figured we had a better chance if the "outer" view of both villas remained the same - even if it could only be seen from the back side.
We left the whole idea in the hands of some friends up there to put to the body corporate (quite thinking that it would go no further) when much to our surprise we received the news that the body corporate had agreed and that we were now to submit plans to the council.
More money to spend, but it should be a good investment on our villa, and certainly will make it more comfortable for our stays - at the moment we spend most of our time tripping over the computer cords as we really have nowhere to use as a study or workplace. So - as a result, we will spend our Xmas break in Coolum moving that plan along. Ah what's money for but to spend and enjoy???
We arrived back to HK to celebrate Sidhonie's 8th birthday. We decided to do it a few days early so that Andy's parents could be here for it. Not sure about the sense of it, but we agreed = per the little one's request - to have a pool party for 13 little girls here. Hmm. Anyway, we made it through - think the guest list may be severely curbed for # 9 though!
On that front, Sidhonie is doing much better this year, and her "tablets" really have helped here move along and "focus". Infact a few days without the tabs during the break really brought home the difference to us - to say she just about drove us to drink may not be too harsh! She is so much more settled and "mature" (for want of a better term) when on them, and is now far more confident at school - seeing herself very positively - and generally having caught right up to her grade level - but we have to watch her eating as it tends to take away her appetite!! No spare flesh on that little frame to lose!! The fight is not over on any count, but it is so nice to see her happy at school again - never let me hear anyone say that ADHD is a fictional malady!!
Donie is still doing her gymnastics, as well as taking tennis lessons, and jazz dance. Now, of course, she wants to learn an instrument as well - just not sure what - or when we might fit it in!! Still in the "to think about" basket.Oh and the front tooth has finally come out, with another one to follow shortly. She is still very slow on that count, but not as slow as her mother who had full intentions of getting a nice family shot before it happened! Guess I either have to do the toothless one now, or wait a bit!!
Am about to "kill" our maid who continues to have a hard time "learning" about what is clean and what is not,and when it may be a good idea to ask a question. She is a nice enough lady, but our plants drop like flies (and then just disappear without a word uttered to us -I think she thinks we won't notice), and when she does use initiative, it is definitely directed in the wrong areas (bleach has now been banned in our house - what is it with maids and bleach?). Still, working out a solution in HK is just not that easy. We don't really need a full time helper anymore, just someone to do some housework a few times a week, and to be there at the end of each day when Donie gets home. That, though, is the problem, it is very difficult to get 'live-out"helpers in HK, and not exactly legal. Still something needs to be done! Another thing in the "to do" basket.
Have already managed a couple of trips away - the first just to Shanghai for a long weekend. It was interesting, but just brought home to me that I have no desire to live in "real" China. The city is huge, very polluted, and while it probably has a few more redeeming features than Beijing, it still isn't what I would call overly attractive. Did take the opportunity to catch the speed train back to the airport - 430 km per hour! Amazing! Also managed to come very close to losing my wallet. Had my hands full and my little bag hanging on my stomach so that I could watch it - but that was nearly not enough. Felt something just as Sidhonie yelled "look out mummy", and sure enough, my bag was undone. Thankfully it was a tight fit, so would have been hard to get out, but still, leaves a nasty taste in your mouth, and reminds me how blase we have become having lived in very safe cities since being overseas. A young lady right at my side was probably the culprit... I just elbowed her and told her to get away - she ignored me and dropped back.
Having made it through to our mid term break a few weeks ago, we arrived back from 5 lovely days in Kota Kinabalu (Malaysian Borneo) where we stayed at a very nice resort that catered to families very well. Just as luck had it (Sidhonie's good luck, and not such for us) there were several other families from school who had decided it would be a good place to go too! At least she had little friends to play with, thankfully my middle school students spend most of their time diving, and all of the "big" people wanted their own privacy I think. Donie had a lovely time at their kids club (nails done, hair braided), horse riding, visiting the animal reserve adjoining (who specialize in organgatang rehabilitation) and was a junior ranger for a day helping out with the animals.
Spent a few days in Kuala Lumpar too - at the EARCOS administrators conference. It's always great to catch up with old friends and see what they are up to.
THEN, my husband decided to surprise me and take us all off to the brand new Venetian Macau resort (and casino) for my birthday. Isn't he a sweetie! The hotel, as expected, is way over the top and HUGE! We easily spent the 2 days there (in the hotel), and still didn't see everything - and a lot of it isn't open yet! 3 canals and - well of course, we had to have a gondola ride - complete with singing Italian (the real thing!). And, heaps of shopping, just the sort of birthday that appeals to me!
And now, we are heading towards the Christmas break at breakneck speed. We have an old friend from Qatar days coming in next week to do some work with us on setting up the High school, and have had other friends visit during October, with more to come later in the year. I had intended getting this out way before now - and am now thinking I had better just go ahead and publish it as Christmas greetings!! So much for my blog schedule...I keep telling Andy that we need to get a life! Can't quite see when things are going to slow down at all, but some changes definitely need to be made. Holidays are great, but one needs time to smell the roses occasionally between times?? (or the frangipanis in this case I guess).
Love to you all friends. We wish you a very merry Christmas and new year, and urge you to drop us a line - just a line - occasionally.
I will try to be better about getting the next blog out in timely fashion - I think my family are a bit tired of my line of "this weekend"!
Merris, Andy, and Sidhonie
posted by PS newsletter at 3:35 AM
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