1958

Is the year of the first car I drove in Havana and also about the year I feel like I am now in. You know when you imagine a place someway and then it lets you down, well that is not what has happened here, it is truly an amazing place.

Loads more to follow, but as guessed very hard to get in line...

Cuban Crisis

I often wonder how I possibly survived till 35 without Suzanna, time and time again this women saves me from the disaster that I am. Thanks to her I am all checked in and hopefully on my way to my mojito, 20 hours ago this seemed almost impossible.

Yesterday morning I discovered that you need a tourist card for Cuba, not a visa, just a card. Almost all airlines will give or sell you this, or your travel agent provides it (which I did not have), but the one that does not and apparently laughs at people when they deny them boarding for not having one is Air Chance, apparently Air France's nickname and of course the airline I booked with. So Suzanna called every travel agent, Air France, Cuban Embassy, everyone, and of course no one would give us one, or sell us one (at this point I would have paid a lot). While she did this I sat on the sofa pale as a ghost trying not to be sick. A long story short, we discovered a place in Zurich airport that would possibly have one, we drove there and I paid 70 Francs (three times the worth but would have paid a lot more) for a scrap of paper.

Hunting down and getting this paper took at least five years off my life and once again a huge thanks to my roommate for preventing my complete meltdown.

Lessons learnt from this experience: always investigate visas (I did do some research but this is not a visa), never fly Air Chance again and never ever let Suzanna move out.

Big Fat Cuban

Well it is Lola's dreaded time again, she has been driving me crazy all morning, pacing all over the place, sighing, looking depressed. It is amazing what packing and suitcases can do to her!   I keep treading on her as she has been all up under me all day. But I am sorry Lola, I love you but come tomorrow, if all things go to schedule, I shall be smoking a big fat Cuban, with a tall mojito in some salsa club in Havana.

No Sofa Time

Well as it happens there was no time for a lazy Sunday, which in fact is just the way I like it. After a lovely afternoon of food with Em and Dave (this one week till bikini thing straight out the door), I headed out to Marcia's birthday party and more...

Happy Happy Birthday Marcia!

McMandy

This day is going to be a slow day. I get the feeling that very few, if any, items of importance will be completed and that I may spend a large portion of the day on the sofa (well in between a couple social engagements). And I completely blame the Irish, well actually the Welsh too. First the Irish for inventing St. Patrick's day and secondly the Welsh for stealing England's grand slam and title.

But yesterday I decided to be a Welsh supporter, as I could not find any green and happened to have a Welsh top and not an English one. And boy did I choose the right time to become Welsh! 

Casablanca

Last night after partying with the grades 7 and 8's at their annual spring fling, I headed to the Weir's Casablanca inspired night. Now obviously having left such a happening event (the dresses, heels, Harlem shaking and of course all the break up tears) to go to the Weirs my expectations were high.

Luckily the meal was fantastic..

The company was pretty fabulous.  Good taste in drinks and then of course no night is ever complete with out a sing song led by Mr. Weir and Mr. Norris.

New Strategy

As winter seems determined to stick around for longer than anyone would like, I have decided to combat this with going out as much as possible (rather than my fairly boring hibernation tactic during Jan and Feb). This new strategy has been a great success so far having caught up with friends all week. Last night this continued as me, Lola and Suzanna battled the cold and made our way to Chris and Pia's.

Relaxing after a lovely meal :)

The Rawson's

The Rawson's saved me this evening from a night of despair at the thought that winter has returned, for what I can only hope is a last minute quick goodbye. And instead I had a wonderful evening, with lovely people and a delicious meal.
Tess cooked a  master piece. Alex shelled nuts (an important task)



A yummy Thai green curry result.  So even though a bit cold outside it certainly felt like happy sunny spring with the Rawson's ;)

Quite Frankly...

...it is the middle of March and I have had enough!  STOP WITH THE COLD!

Robbed in Vienna

My brilliant plan almost worked, but the Zug coaches did not succumb to my charms and both got an early night.
So gentlemen you may have robbed us of our gold but you know we are the better team (sounds a bit like sour grapes on my part) and certainly the funner ones (honestly Chris you let a Maths teacher out do you). It was a great tournament and our girls were fantastic on and off the court. But I honestly think I lost four years of my life during the big game, losing by one point...

Strategies

Well we are going into the final day of the tournament undefeated and the favourites to win. And of course coaches all have different strategies the night before the big day. Dee had an early night, rested up and will hopefully take Basel to victory. I on the other hand had a different tactic, keep the other coaches out as late (or early) as possible throwing them off their game today (I think me and Dee make a good team).

After the long day, some of the coaches headed out for dinner.

Must say my fish stew was fantastic.  Next I initiated my plan, insisting we move on I found a pub with the beer taps on the tables, perfect.


I think my plan was a success, although I did not take into account the fact that I maybe slightly worse for wear as well...

The Difference

Now that I have taught in a private school for a while, I can honestly say that day to day I see no major differences than when I taught in a state school. The classes are a smaller, the kids have no uniforms but I am still teaching the same Maths and the kids still struggle with the same things. But today I must admit I realised the huge difference as my plane was taking off taking me and the girls basketball team to Vienna.
And not only has it been a beautiful, warm day but also the kids stay at family homes and we get to stay in a hotel and just see them at the tournament.

Me and Dee (middle school coach). I have a similar photo from November, just much much warmer today :)

Le Chateau Adams

This is not even my news but I am so excited for them that I have to share it. A big congrats to the Adams who have just purchased the most gorgeous home in France. I cannot wait to you move in and 

How lucky am I to have such fabulous and generous friends who buy a house and bring me flowers and champagne to celebrate, surely they have this backwards.. I love you guys and you so deserve this :)

Ate, ate, and ate Some More

All I did yesterday was eat, eat, eat. In fact, I may not need to eat again for the rest of March. I was totally spoilt and am pretty sure that this did not help my three week till bikini regime.

It started off with a luxurious lunch in France that beautiful Emily treated me too.



I then moved on to Raluca's, where once again, I was stuffed and spoilt with fabulous, delicious food.  We ate and we ate.



And still full now :)

Prom 2013

Last night was prom and I was excited all week to go and see all my students all dolled up. I think at times I forgot that I was actually a chaperone and not at prom myself. I had a lovely evening and can honestly say I love being a teacher, it really is a special job.