Fabulous Families

I just love being back in UK, even if cool and even if a bit rainy. We are having such a fabulous time, having a night in Marlow and now a night in my favourite UK city, Bristol. We had a fabulous dinner and night with my sister and her husband Paddy. It was great to all be together and for Luis to meet Nicola and my brother in law. A delicious Indian meal and a night of all getting to know each other (with a few embarrassing child hood photos).

Just so happy to spend time with my Marlow family and then to see my sister and Paddy tonight. It was a special night and I know just the beginning of many more.

How the Other Half Lives

When we move to Thailand Luis will give up his job and undertake a new profession. Before I thought this would be amazing and did not think giving up the free flights would be worth a new exciting adventure. Wrong! First class is a whole new thing, the long haul fight was so fabulous that I did not want to get off, like ever! I had my own bottle of champagne, not sparkling wine, proper champagne. Yum! Yum! I can now really see what Luis is giving up, it is a totally unnecessary luxury but it is certainly special treat, especially when free!
The food is super delicious and was lovely to do once. But overall I would take him not working nights than free flights any day. So bring on Thailand!

Out of the House

Finally, this has been ridiculous! Last night was my first night doing anything rather than Downton Abbey or some other similar show and it was great (lets be clear not knocking Downton, love it).  I ended the home time by going down to the monthly pub quiz in support of Cambodia.  Luis came with me and we made Nick join our team to give us three.  I was a lot of fun and we came back from last place to second place, the team beating us was the purposefully stacked team of five.  In fact, we named our team in their honour (see picture below, one of the guys names is Adrian).

The good thing about staying home so much recently is I have saved some money that I am now going to blow over the next two weeks visiting about forty people, and I cannot wait!!

House Arrest

Today is the final day of the reflective journal writing in the Challenge and tomorrow the next one is turning off technology (not all day but some).  The journal has been good, nice to write about the day.  I have written most in a book but here is a little snip it of today.  

The last two weeks have been crazy unexciting, I put myself under my own house arrest, saving for wedding and for next week trip to UK/CH.  I am not good under house arrest, think I am a little bit of a social butterfly, but suspect it will have been worth it when I arrive next weekend.  Then I will return to another self inflicted house arrest.

Until we go though, house arrest has ended with a birthday, wine club and quiz night.  Tonight is the last night in but not complaining, it is boiling hot today, so much deserved vino on the balcony.  Luis has a night off, a rare event and apparently dinner is being cooked for me. 

I think by tomorrow I will be more than ready to go out again but cannot say it has not been nice to watch some TV and cook some meals at home with my two L's.   

This was a card and gift I received today from Kristi.  What a lovely thing to get, totally unexpected and completely appreciated.  Today we were told it is our half way mark of a school year, I am excited to move on and start a new adventure but it will be sad to say a whole load of good byes again.

WLC Third Time

This is my third Whole Life Challenge and I continue to love it.  Mainly as it is a bit competitive and introduces new challenges every week.  It started last Saturday and this weeks task is to keep a reflective journal that we write in for ten minutes every day.  Ten minutes feels like a long time, but have enjoyed doing it every night.  Anyways, I decided today to write my daily reflection on here. 
There are so many things to reflect on, the first few entries into my new journal were more about what I am thankful for and once I got into about loads of things.  My upcoming (when I say upcoming I mean five months away) wedding keeps me up late at night and frequently enters my dreams.  Writing my fears, worries or things I need to do down has helped calm me down.  So today's worries, well the invite list has me sleepless.  I just need to realise we can only have who we can and probably I will end up offending at least one person.  I mean you cannot have everyone, as much as we would like too.  Nonetheless, I find the whole process stressful.
Another thing I often reflect on is my job.  Sometimes days I totally love it and others I walk away in tears wondering what in the world I am doing it for.  I think we often have an inflated opinion of our role in children's lives, I hope I am remembered fondly by my students but not sure I am going to make any great changes or influence someone so much.  Right now we are busy writing comments and I sometimes wonder if the time and effort I put into each one is ever noticed.  
Now my fun bit, I have been documenting my new 'chef' skills.  Really this challenge, over time, has turned me into a cooking machine.  This week I have made several veggie curries from scratch and they just keep getting better and better.  Below is a picture of my latest creation, lentil and aubergine curry, rally was so good.
Okay yippee, reached my ten minutes! Now I can get those five points for today!

  Think it looks a little worse than it tastes!

Horizons and Lunch

Finally a change in the weather, the clouds lifted, I could see the skyline again and had a nice weekend.  Nothing too special Friday and Saturday, Luis had Friday night off, which I guess in itself is special, Whole Life Challenge began again on Saturday, what was special though was Sunday.  One of my students parents invited me and a few other teachers to lunch to say thank you for all the work we do with his daughter.  His daughter, Manxin, is fairly amazing, polite, hard working and most of all determined.  They came from China two years ago, her with zero English and she has come leaps and bounds since then.  It was so nice to have lunch with her family, get to know them and feel really appreciated.  This was a first for me and a lunch I probably will not forget for a long time.  

Followed with play time in the park.  A good weekend and now back to work.

Lack of Horizons

Luis thinks I am nuts and making it up, but I am sure the lack of horizon this last week is causing my all round grumpy mood.  It has been rainy and cold for the entire week and generally this weather gets to me but there is an added element that makes it a little worse (for me anyways).  We live on the side of a mountain and our view across the city is of another mountain, and in the sunshine this is beautiful.  But the last week the clouds do not go above the other mountain and it sort of feels like I am in a bowl with a lid on top.  As someone slightly claustrophobic anyways, I am finding it a little stressful.  It is funny, last year it never got like this, it rained but never so foggy.  To combat this blue feeling I have been a cooking machine.  I have made an Indian curry (from scratch I may add), a zoodles Pad Thai and last night a Jamie veggie chili.  All were pretty fabulous, I used the recipe properly and included all ingredients (what a difference this makes!).

 Pre Luis beans

 Chili with Luis's 4 hour beans

This is my daily view, or even worse when it is a bit brighter but the clouds do not go above the mountain.

Chiva 2

They really are brilliant and perfect for celebrations.  This was my second birthday Chiva and again it did not disappoint.  Dancing on a party truck driving all around Quito, what could be better.  This time it was in honour of Kristi's 30th birthday.  Think the men on the chiva were happy as the women out numbered them five to one.  If you ever come to Quito, I strongly suggest seeing the city this way, well unless you are not a fan of loud pounding dancy music, then maybe the day tour bus is better.

Event Planner

I love my job, but it is not my dream occupation.  What I would love to do more than anything in the world is be an event planner.  Or even better a B&B or hostel owner who plans events and other things for the guests at the establishment, a B&B with a slight difference.  Last night I hosted Kristi's 30th birthday dinner, the night before I got slightly creative putting up some decorations.  I just love people's reactions when they come in, especially hers.  I was so happy that she loved all the details and had I had a bit more time it would have been even better.  It was a lovely night with a lovely bunch of girls (and Luis and Cody), her main event is on Saturday but it was lovely to have a more intimate get together on the actual day.

  

Happy Happy 2016

Happy Happy New Year to all! I am a bit late as spent all day yesterday travelling to get back to Quito (that is what happens when you try to do the cheapest way, what could have two hours took ten).  Anyways, I am so happy to be back, loved having a break with some sunshine in a great new country but missed my two L's terribly.  
Yesterday, I spent my long journey reflecting on the last year and the up coming one.  There were definitely some struggles and worries in 2015 but also a year that I can hardly believe, I got engaged to probably the best man in South America if not the world!  
I am so excited for the year a head, getting married is a biggie and then moving off to a tropical Island (Phuket, Thailand) to start our marriage and a new life together.  Even Lola is over the moon (despite the long flight), as since all her swimming lessons she has become quite the beach lover.
I got in this habit over the year of writing down things that I would accomplish in the upcoming year, I think this year I am just going to be excited for whats to come that I know about and the things that I do not (oh and still work on learning Spanish, not easy!).
Below are the pictures of my last day of 2015.  I missed Luis like crazy but was very happy to have some of my Ecua family to ring in the new year.  We went to the roof top of the lovely hotel I stayed at, it was lovely.  Tip: if travelling to Colombia, last minute deals, well they do not have them. Luckily booked things way in advance, others paid double or triple for horrible places.

Again Happy New Year all!