Muang Thai Triathalon

Sunday morning we were all up by 4:30am, I was so tired.  I think the events on Friday and long drive that night had finally gotten to me.  We were all not feeling our best and were pretty nervous about the event.  There was probably 1000 people at the event in all the different categories and it was fairly overwhelming.  Nadia was first up with the swimming, while me and Janelle waited in the transition area with the over teams.   Looking around, I felt pretty nervous as there were clearly some good athletes.  However, we never had any goals rather than just completing the race.  But by the time Janelle finished the biking I knew we had a good chance of winning.  This made me more nervous as I also knew I was the final leg, I was the one who could mess it up!  But I finished and I knew it would be close (there are loads of people all starting and finishing at all different times so we would not know the results until the times went up). 

When they went up, we saw we were still registered as a mixed team (originally Luis was meant to do the swim), and in this category we came third overall.  We were thrilled with this as most mixed teams were two males and a female.  But then I saw that we actually came first overall female team by a significant 6 minutes.  As it was their mistake for not making the change we told them about ages ago I went to fight for our gold.  BUT they not only did not let us go in the women category they then disqualified us for not having a male and took our third place result and trophy away for the mixed team category.  I was so angry, we all were, we were so excited and the kids were so excited about our win.  We did far better then we ever expected, not ever did we think we would actually win.  Therefore,  I was not going to let it go.  So after arguing, politely, and showing the confirmation about our category change and then the to say that even if they kept us in mixed category they could not disqualify us as thee rules simply state we must have at least one female (nothing about males) and we had three, we got our trophies.  It was not the exactly the way we wanted it to happen for but we are all mush happier!

Triathalon Weekend

Friday night we battled traffic to get out of Bangkok.  We did not do this to avoid after shocks,  but I think we would have tried to leave anyways.  One terrible earthquake is enough for one lifetime.  We were always leaving as I had my first team triathlon.  We got there eventually, I think it took 7 hours. But it was easy as Sebastian slept almost the whole way.  We woke up to a beautiful beach.  I was so surprised.  We rented a house with my other team members and it was just beautiful.  A tiny little town, now one of my new favourite's.  The kids had the best day playing in our pool, the hotels pool next door, watching Hugh and Zemi compete in the children triathlon, and then drawing pictures together.  We were all in bed early for the big race the next day.

Hugh won the 9-10 year old group, out of 54 children! It was Zemi's debut in this age group having just turned 9 and he did exceptionally well too!

Myanmar Earthquake

I think I would have written this post differently if I had done it Friday.  Before we know what we know now.  On Friday Myanmar suffered a devastating 7.8 Earthquake and the effects were felt here (to what level is largely disputed even now).  I do know it was not 7.8 (I have been in one before and it was 100 times worse).  And that is how the richter scale works, it is logarithmic, so a 7 is 100 times more stronger than a 5 (which I think it was here).   HOWEVER, it was still very scary especially for those in high rise buildings, where the swaying and damage was awful.  It was also very frightening in such a dense city, we are surrounded by skyscrapers and really there is no 'safe zone' if buildings started to crumble (like the devastation in neighbouring Myanmar).  But now we very much know that the focus of International attention should all be on Myanmar.  Bangkok was spared.    What we had was a day of chaos.  I just never knew how many people were in this city until I saw everyone out of buildings and on the streets.  In a school you can well imagine that it would be very chaotic, with 2000 students from the age of 3.  Where there was no protocol for such events were in place.  But we got through it.  We were all okay.  

The wonderful nannies of our building.  All looking after our children while their homeland had just had a major earthquake and many could not contact their loved ones.  Nin's brother lost him home and his best friend..

I have never seen so many people.  Also, Bangkok is not prepared for earthquakes, so people were scared and did not really know what to do.

This was a video from our school sports field.  It did cause some panic.

March Wine and Cheese Event

Thursday we had the first wine club for the year I think.  We have been with visitors since January and it is an extremely busy time at school. Thursday I finally got my act together and had a wine and cheese night, with a few games.  It was a nice turn out and with a lot of variety. I think half were teachers at NIST and half non- teachers, or at another school.  I had a few pub quiz rounds and then a final game to determine the winner.  Seems like I always need a winner!

Zemi's Birthday

Nadia's family have had quite the month, well I guess they do every year, as it is Nadia's, Saba's and Zemi's birthday all in March.  I was happy as we got to spend a lot of time with them this month celebrating.  Zemi turned 9 yesterday and had us to dinner at Tony's, which worked out well as it is also one of our favourite spots.

Another great celebration!

Sebastian Party

Anto and Luis jetted off to Phuket for the weekend and me and Sebastian had a Mummy and son weekend.  What Sebastian really wanted to do was host his own party.  Well that was music to my ears, my son wanting to host a party.  He decided to have games with prizes, a colouring section, movie and pasta dinner.  I invited his friends and their Mummy's.  That afternoon we went to the mall for the prizes, had some lunch and then decided to go watch Paddington in Peru.  He loved it!  Then we got home and he started cleaning, he said we could not have people over with the mess it was.  The party was a huge success, the kids had an amazing time and the place was a big mess again when all left.  A sign of a great party!

So tired!

Sebastian's Swimming

In January Sebastian finally agreed to swimming lessons.  He has the best instructor, Orlando, who comes to the building to do a few lessons every day with different children.  Sebastian was always confident in the water, well since he could walk.  But in a few short months he is really coming on.  I now do not even have to force him, he looks forward to the lessons.

And even though his front stroke is strong for his age, all agree that he is a natural at breast stroke just like his Mummy.