Family Sunday's Sold

I do not think it was too long before I came that the government put a ban on Sunday sales of booze, not just in the shops but also bars had to close (you could have a drink if you went out for a meal).  The reason given, is so that people spend more time with their families and not out drinking.  And apparently it worked, people did drink less, accidents were down and family time on the up.  Every time I forgot and went to the supermarket on a Sunday I was so sad to see the red ribbon up blocking me from my beloved white wine. Well all that changed this Sunday when the ribbons were down, it is funny when a government finds themselves severally in debt how quickly they forget about family Sundays.

But hey I am not complaining! It meant instead of some bubbly water with dinner I could have that not needed one bit glass of white wine.  To be fair I did drink it with my two L's.

Spectacular Cotopaxi

It is definitely pretty special, well that is when it is not erupting then I reckon it is pretty terrifying.  And we were very lucky that we arrived on the day we did as it was stunning and the next day we could barely catch a glimpse due to the cloud coverage.  Unfortunately we woke up to a fairly cloudy rainy day so our big hike turned into more of a long walk.

But we did enjoy our walk around the lake.   I have also reconfirmed my love for warm weather.  I am just not cut out for cold days, and I know people ask how I can possibly be from Canada and have lived in Switzerland.  But like I like to point out is that I am forever moving towards the warmer climates.  I am also torn as I love the mountains and sadly up in the mountains means chilly.  My ideal world would be living by the sea in the mountains where everyday was thirty plus.  I just gotta find this place.

The Secret Garden, Cotopaxi

This weekend is a long weekend, and shockingly I went somewhere cold to celebrate it (but only for one night, tight budget these days).  I did want to go to Cotopaxi before I left, but the cold and the impending eruption had previously deterred me.  We stayed at a place I have heard loads about, The Secret Garden, you pay $38 for the room and three meals, not a bad deal.  The view upon arrival was spectacular as the day is one of the clearest I have seen in ages. 

Stopped at the cow place for lunch

 Pretty amazing views

My veggie pie was quite yummy and hen we had a blast playing games and chatting.  Boy I know a lot about these peeps now!

Beyonce Wine Club

Well it definitely was a different sort of wine club, but it is hard here to come up with new things when there is so little variety of wine.  Ashley and Jodi, hosted a wine club with movie snacks and the Lemonade movie.  Almost all the ladies really enjoyed the film, a few of us opted to catch up instead.  To each their own, I am just too much a of chatter box without wine, even more so with a glass or two.  The movie then inspired a little bit of a dance party.

Cannot believe we only have one more left!!  Time is certainly flying by, and then I will be starting my fourth wine club in August!

Algebra Game

If you read this blog you will know that I am clearly not a traditional mathematics teacher. I teach Maths largely using Madonna and Lola facts, we play loads of games, exercise and dance during the lesson and I aim to make it a little fun. I know I still have loads of room for improvement and that I can work on making my teaching a bit more real life based (although Madonna being fabulous is real life). But also I know it actually does not take much effort to make a class a little more exciting. While I was away I gave my grade 6's the task of making an Algebra game, nothing too exciting, clearly been done before. The end result was amazing, their games were super clever and the amount of effort they put in was tremendous. Not to mention the learning, they made the games challenging which meant they needed to research how to solve challenging questions. And the best part, I do not even think they knew how much they gained from it, they just had fun creating them.

Brilliant game, based on winning medals. She had loads of fun elements, I was so impressed.

















A game based on monopoly with a technology element, great!

















A game built on the computer, I could never ever do this, brilliant.

















Now this one was properly amazing and they were so proud. The attention to detail was amazing.

















Her questions were between grade 6 and 10 level and she could answer all. I could believe how above and beyond she went.

Altogether a morning full of excited, proud students and an even prouder teacher.

Me and My Two L's

Landed back in Quito late Saturday night, and woke up to a beautiful day.  It is great, as always to be back to my two L's.  We had a great day in the park, after an average brunch.  

Now on the four week count down, I cannot believe it, so much to do in so little time!

Laid to Rest

Friday we laid Uncle Tono to rest, it was a beautiful and moving service. Craig (his son, my cousin) did an amazing job with the Eulogy, capturing the man that he was.  The minister, Wes Hall, was also fantastic having been a close friend of Uncle Tono.  Afterwards there was a memorial/wake/celebration of his life held at his cricket club, you just know he was looking down full of happiness.

Uncle Tono was always going to get the last laugh, on the way to the funeral broke down.  

Program, designed by Craig.

 Giselle, my new best friend forever (well so I have told her), she is Natalie's best friend and did SO MUCH for the family at this time and well all the time.  She is just the best ever.

 My fabulous sister, so glad we were both there and just cannot wait for the day when we live a little closer!

 Fabian, him and Kerri are also super stars and I am super lucky to have them in my life.

 At first I have to admit I was a bit put out not to be given head usher, but Hammid was the best usher ever and did a great job letting us know who to sit where.

I love my little rock.  I love that all generations were out, Uncle Tono and Aunty Jillian's friends, Natalie's friends and the kids friends (which also happen to be Natalies friends kids).  This is Jodi with Giselle's daughter and another long time friend of Nat's, Mandy's daughter.  Just an amazing place.  It was a great and sad day, we were all far from ready to say good bye but when the time came we did him proud.

Our Tono

What a week, so hard to describe or find the right words.  In a lot of ways it has been wonderful, but that does not really seem like the right thing to say under the circumstances.  There is no doubt that we are all devastated to lose Uncle Tono and I am pretty sure that the worst is yet to come but right now it has been great to be together and recount stories and memories.  Every day there are new glowing tributes in the local and international papers as well as visitors coming by to tell us what Tony Cozier meant to them.  I am so proud that the recurring theme is how much more he was then just one of the worlds greatest cricket commentators.  That he was a true Bajan, a true West Indian, he transcended colour and class and never allowed it to define him.  There has been an out cry as to why he was never knighted, or given other honours, the truth is that is not what he wanted and not what he was about.  The Tony we talk about every night when we are sitting out on the famous One Acre gallery is that one, the down to earth, witty, story telling, always teasing, Tono. 

Our nightly dinners, all at the table, every night.  One of my favourite things about being at One Acre is we always eat together.

And we always eat something yummy, my fabulous God Mother frying some fish.

Last night the gallery full again, some very funny stories were told.

I love this, the girls wrote this on the shelf above his spot in the bed (never mind the dust, it is hard to get too!)

Tomorrow we will say our good byes but I am positive the legendary Tony Cozier will be talked about for many generations to come.
 

Family Healing

I am a big believer in the power of family, the strength you draw from each other and the bond that you have.  I am very lucky to have one of the closest families I have ever known (as one would have seen over the years on this blog) and at the time of loss we pull together even tighter.  I am so happy to be here with them, remembering, sharing and laughing over the million stories we each have about Uncle Tono.  Everyone wants to share their story and express how special he was to them, and of course this extends to his millions of other close friends around the world.  Every night the house is full of people, the phone rings from morning to night, the fridge is stocked with food and flowers, the tributes are pouring in.  It is truly amazing and a testament to a great man.

 These are almost all the first cousins.  I am so happy that Nicola was able to come from the UK.  It will be a proper send off to Uncle Tono on Friday with all of us there.

I also know that family comes in all shapes and forms and does not necessarily mean you are blood related.  There are many people here that I consider in my family and love just the same.  The week before Uncle Tono died another great man passed away way before his time, Bunny Manning.  Bunny Manning, was one of the kindest, friendliest, funniest man I have ever met and he also produced one of the most special and kindest friends I have, Nadia Manning-Thomas.  I was shocked to hear of his passing and saddened that I could not be here with her, just to hug here when she needed and tell her in person how much I love her.  And then a week later we are hugging and having that talk.  Of course, we are both here under terrible circumstances and would much rather be at our respective homes (hers France, mine Quito) and meeting at my wedding next month instead, but I am still glad I got to give her that hug and meet her precious (huge) son, Zemi.

Uncle Tono

In some ways this is the hardest post I have had to write and other ways the easiest.  Hardest because a great man is lost to us today, an Uncle that I have adored and been so proud to call my Uncle my whole life.  But the easiest as I have so many wonderful memories that I could write and when I think of all of them they make me smile. This whole week I have been remembering such wonderful times.  I remember, probably 8 or 9 years ago being in my local pub in Bruton with Uncle Tono commentating a cricket match in the back ground on Sky.  We had all had a glass of wine or two and the other regulars bet me I could not get him to send us a greeting on air.  Well I got his cell number and called him in Jamaica, of course he told me not to be ridiculous.  But then went right on air and said a shout out to his niece and her friends in The Sun Inn Bruton, which besides just being fabulous earned me free drinks all day.  I was not surprised at all as I knew that that is what Uncle Tono is like.  
I cannot even count how many friends I have had come to stay at One Acre over the years and how much all of them adored his stories and humour.  The out pouring of love from them and so many others today and around the world has been tremendous.  
He was a legend,  and not just because of cricket because of the man and Uncle he was.  He will be greatly missed by me and all.

These were taken at his 75th birthday/50th wedding anniversary last summer, what a day to remember, among many.  I just hope Uncle Tono where your journey has taken you now that they have a lot of ice cream and maybe a few rums.

Alter Egos

A few months ago, after a long night on my patio a group were discussing alter egos and realised that many of us had been nicknamed by loved ones when we are being slightly over the top.  For instance, Luis always calls me Leslie when I am up for a big night out and Roman told us he called Betsy, Becky when this occurs.  So last week a few of ladies planned an 'alter ego' night, just an excuse to go out and have a great night together.  The ladies:

 Becky 

 Sasha

 Leslie

Jackie.O.

Well we certainly did our alter egos proud, so proud in fact I think we will not see them again for many many months if not years!