Hop Fest 2019

Glastonbury? Who needs Glastonbury festival when you have Hop Fest happening!  I was super excited to be here for Hop fest 2019, the Hopkin's annual festival.  And it certainly did not disappoint, drawing crowds from Thailand, Canada, Barbados, Spain, Bermuda, and Ireland it was quite the event!  With a fabulous BBQ, delicious desserts and a group of musicians out performing all other party makers on the river.

What was even better is that Nicola and Freda came for the weekend, our cousin Nicholas and my super duper great friend Shelly (who I am also very happy to announce is pregnant).

 Freda K! So happy to see this smiling face!  She is too sweet and just seems to get sweeter by the day.

 Another family member joins in for the weekend, Nicholas who is now living and working in London.   I was so thrilled he could make it for the weekend.

 Getting ready

 Getting bigger

 Special guest appearance straight from BBC TV!  So great to see Michelle.

I have not even mentioned the weather, it has been glorious!  No place better to be than the UK in the sunshine.  A great event and was honoured to be a part of it.

Summer Arrived

What a beautiful day we woke up to, clear blue skies and lovely warm temperatures.   Also another day of checking things off the baby to do list.  The NHS have been fabulous at rushing me through the system as I arrived quite late in the game, I still have a few concerns but hoping these can all be rectified next week (I have to remember Rome was not built in a day).

 I started the day with a sunny walk around the island and the town.  Marlow was certainly buzzing today, it is amazing what a little sunshine can do.

 I could not be luckier to have these people in my life.  Denny has gone above and beyond the call of duty this week.   I am just not sure what I would do without how, I am really and truly blessed to be here.

Today I was having a particularly bad moment and right in the middle of my breakdown there was a delivery man at the door.  Talk about amazing timing, these special presents from my sister arrived just in time to bring me back from the brink.  Me, Luis and baby are so very lucky to have her, the Hopkins and so many others here to help support us during this time.

Lock Island

It is so wonderful to be on Lock Island with the Hopkins, I just feel so incredibly lucky and grateful to have this family in my life.  To have me, Luis and then baby here for two months is a huge ask and I am so thankful that they are having us.  Since I arrived on Sunday they have been, as always, so incredibly helpful and helped calm my nerves.  I am not sure how I can ever thank them enough for their kindness, generosity and above all their love.

And what an added bonus that I get to wake up to these views for the summer (when and if it arrives)!

Goodbye and UK

This is the first time I have been left behind since my travels have begun.  When I left Canada for Barbados, or Barbados for UK, UK for Switzerland and Switzerland to Ecuador I was really the only one who was leaving at that moment (Ecuador to Thailand was different as so many of us left together with a stop off for our wedding).   But this year I have had to say good bye to some fantastic friends and going back to Thailand after the summer will seem so different without them there.

Yesterday was a particularly difficult one as over the years I have really felt like I have become a little bit part of the Lawson family.  I am very thankful for applications like messenger as I am really not sure how I will get through daily life without Lizzie.  I will miss them all so much, our get togethers, Vegan cooking, and dancing.  I have seen all of the kids grow and change so much in the last three years and will miss watching the journey continue.  I know they will be amazing in whatever they do and that Sheffield will be a great new adventure.

 We had a great breakfast on Saturday to end our Phuket times together.  I know it is not really a good bye, more of a will see you later.  But until then I will miss them terribly.

The day did not get easier with farewells, as I had to say goodbye to all my animals for two months and Luis for two weeks.  Prim is pretty much ready to move in and I honestly do not know how she will cope without me for two months, I am super worried about it.  Lola, has some people coming to look after her and although I will miss her terribly I am excited for the first time in years that she has been given a fit bill of health from the vets.  Me and baby bump will miss Luis as well, and will do as much as we can to get ready for birth before he arrives in the UK.  I arrived yesterday to wonderful Marlow and now it seems really real!  

Soi Dogs

Before I start this blog, I must eat some words about yesterdays blog.  After being a little negative and critical about my job and teenagers I ended up getting wonderful and thoughtful thank you cards and gifts that just made it all worth while again!

Today we had the last morning at school, no kids, just the teachers wrapping up everything for the summer (or in my case ten months!).  After which Luis had planned a special day for me before I leave tomorrow.  In the afternoon we went to Soi Dogs, which I should have gotten to before now.  Soi dogs opened 15 years ago, saving dogs in Thailand from being shipped to Vietnam as food.  Since then, the foundation has pretty much eradicated the business in Thailand (and currently working on stopping the industry in Vietnam).  They also vaccinate and spay and neuter dogs throughout the country.  When they came to Phuket there was 70, 000 Soi dogs (street dogs) and now there is 7000.

 Luis cannot come here on his own, we would definitely end up with many many dogs!

 I loved this one.  They really do a fantastic job and we hope to work more with this foundation or the government pound here once we get back.

Luis then orgnaised a fabulous beach picnic but as the weather looked dodgy we moved it to poolside and then of course the weather was perfect!! But a great spread put on with wonderful friends.  A lovely end to the school year.

Last Day for 10 Months!

I am not saying that maternity leave is a good reason to have a baby, but I must say it is a HUGE plus.  I think I am ready for some time off to reflect upon teaching,  is it  something I want to do for much longer? and if so in what capacity? There are times I do love my job, but many times that I want to bang my head against a wall in frustration.  So I think a break will be helpful.

What would actually be a dream come true is if I somehow found away to finally fall into the career I was born to do during this leave, social event planner extraordinaire.  Either way I am excited for what the next year holds for me and our expanding family.

Part of my frustration is the lack of appreciation that I feel many times.  I know this is true in many jobs, having not always been a teacher.  But teenagers can be particularly poor at expressing gratitude.  Not that I totally blame them, I was once a teenager and know there are far more important things going on (like who is dating who and what party is happening over the weekend).  It is just the odd 'have a nice summer' or 'thanks for all those extra hours you put in to help me finish my project' that would be nice.  But then a group can surprise you and almost reduce you to tears.  I love my Year 12's and they came in with cards and cakes yesterday to say good bye, good luck and thank you.  They have no idea how much I needed that and how much I do love them!

Let the summer begin!!  4 more hours to go!

Baby's Room

I think the term for what is happening right now is called nesting.  We are busy getting everything ready for baby before I go to the UK on the weekend.  I would be lying if I said I was not more than a little nervous to leave, maybe because we have everything ready here and walking into the unknown there.  Possibly due to leaving Lola and all our other adopted animals for two months.  Who knows, but I am anxious about everything!  Therefore, it was great to get something checked off the list and get the baby's room all set up for our return.

 I think Lola was thinking that she was finally getting her own room, she is in for quite the surprise in August.

 It still seems pretty crazy and sometimes I cannot really believe that it is happening!

Happy Father's Day Luis

Yesterday we celebrated Fathers day, Lola gave him a beautiful mug (that I should have taken pictures of), a brunch and the baby gave him a nice new shirt to wear to the brunch.  We had a wonderful day preparing the baby's room (pictures to follow) and then having the huge meal with Lola.  

 I am not a fan of cold soup but this was the best gazpacho soup I have ever had.  First course and the best one.

 Lola was so happy she was finally allowed into a brunch spot.

 Lola just booked the brunch and told them we were both vegetarian, I had no idea what to expect.  What I did not expect was a 10 course meal!  It was crazy, the dishes just kept coming and they were so good.  It was ridiculous value, especially if you are a non meat eater, as usually we get screwed at these sort of things.

 They basically had to roll us out of there, and to be sure we did not pop we went on a long walk on the beach after.  A really prefect day.

Lola is pretty lucky to have such a wonderful Dad and this baby has no idea.  His or her father loves them so much all ready and is busy trying to prepare everything perfectly for their arrival.  Happy Father's Day Luis, we love you!