Bubbles Fun

Anyone who has belonged to one of my wine clubs or called a bottle of sparkling wine 'champagne' regardless of its origin knows how annoying I can be on this topic.  It is definitely a pet hate of mine, Champagne can only be champagne if it comes from the Champagne region in France!  Not California, not Italy, not the South of France, only Champagne!  So my theme on Thursdays first wine club of the school year was on tasting the main three types of sparking wine and seeing the difference (besides cost).  The three main types of sparking wine, are Champagne, Prosecco (Italy) and Cava (Spain), Germany also produces a sweet one called Sect and then all the new world have sparkling wine but no specific name, oh and I also through in a really cheap 'sparkling wine'.  The prices ranged from $10US to $50US, the range of price was as big as the range in favourites.   In fact some people liked the cheapest the best, which just goes to show price is not the deciding factor when choosing a wine.  It was a good kick off to the year, how can it not be when bubbles are involved!  

 These are the four, Australian sparkling wine, Champagne, Prosecco and Cava

 Lola wanted to be a part of the action as always, we all know she would definitely be a Champagne lady.

Back with these lovely ladies, with a few new faces.  A nice evening to start the year off.

Caribbean (i know)

Wednesday was the return of Peppers Pub Quiz so we decided to put a team together once again.  Luckily we could ask the new people as they were unaware of how bad we are at it.  The first couple rounds we did amazing barely missing a question and then came the spelling round.  The game was spelling words that most people spell wrong and anyone who reads this blog knows that this is a disaster round for me so I did not say much.  Until they said spell 'Caribbean' and I thought here is my chance to shine.  I was so confident, claiming I would turn in my Barbados citizenship in if I got it wrong.  Well I got it wrong and will never ever live it down (I also am not handing in my citizenship).  In my defence the whole round tricked you as if you thought you knew how to spell it you thought you were wrong as you were already told that most people spell it wrong.  Anyways we did not due too badly, not a win, but probably next week (if they will have me back!)

 The team

 The group chatting it out

Luis gets Lebanon, saving us from a wrong answer of Turkey.

We had a great time, I do love a quiz, even when we lose!

Weekend Antics

It has almost been a week since my last post which is an indication of how exciting things have been around here recently!  Mainly due to continuous rain, Phuket is beautiful in the sun but can get pretty depressing with daily constant down pours.  But today we have woken up to a sunny Sunday and this has inspired me to write a post.  Well and the fact that I actually have something to post about.  Friday I had one of those nights that you expect one thing and it ends up going a totally different way.  But basically we started the night with a lovely well deserved bottle of prosecco and ended up singing Karaoke in a bar with several Chinese tourists.  

Saturday was a slow start with more rain but me and my L's had a lovely lazy day before me and Luis headed off for dinner.  

It was a lovely evening with some people we have not spent a lot of time with but whom we are going to a lot more.  A really enjoyable evening and a super yummy dinner.  I am now going to go and enjoy this lovely day as who knows when one will appear again.

Mexican, Margaritas and Cards

It is very unlike me not to have had at least one social event of the school year in the first month back so on Saturday we decided to rectify this.  We did what we know best, our version of Mexican, totally unhealthy but super delicious (oh and crazy strong not so yummy margaritas).  We played Cards against humanity, a disgusting game really but it is a laugh and you do get to know a lot about each other.  This could possibly be seen as good or bad.

A good laugh and it was nice to be my social self once again.  I missed playing hostess!

Arrival of the Rain

It was bound to come to an end, this non- rainy monsoon season and we did escape rain from May until now so no complaints.  But in 6 hours I think we have made up for all the rain in that time.  I have never seen the school as flooded as this and I have heard the roads are a disaster.  So it looks like it will be a movie sort of weekend, which to be honest sounds lovely.

 No shoes outside, walk ways are ankle deep.

The school grounds are now under about a foot of water and looks like sand bags will be coming out today.  It is just crazy how much water can accumulate in such a short time.

Dad and Freda

I got these pictures the other day of my Dad and my beautiful niece Freda.  I just cannot stop looking at them, they are just so heart warming (thanks to Paddy for taking them and sharing them).  I have mentioned on here more than once how amazing my father is and really most people cannot understand the level unless they have met him.  I am so happy that they are spending so much time together as Nicola is in Canada for a nice long visit.  I cannot wait to be with them all again.

Just love them so much.

Kata Noi Beach

As the sun is continuing to shine we decided to have a family day adventure yesterday.  Well it might not seem too big of an adventure as we just ventured to a Southern beach but it was also the first time I have driven down there since being hit by the Russians (I do not know their names) so kinda a big deal.  This time driving down Kata high street I took extra care and looked for bikes turing on to the wrong side of the road.  Green Bean made through the journey with not one scratch.

 Instead of heading to the regular Kata Beach, we went to the smaller, less crowded Kata Noi.  This non rainy season has been great for exploring places we never would in high season as there are fifty million people on these beaches then.

 We loved it, a great beach for Lola as it is kind of contained and made it easier for us to watch her.  She dug at least 40 holes all up and down the beach.  I wish I took a picture when we left, it was pretty funny.

 The beach and water were clean, the visibility was great and my kind of waves.  Also, I know most sane people are not climate change deniers, but the warming waters is real (as you know with devastating hurricanes in the Caribbean right now), but this water was border line hot.  I mean it is crazy warm and for me to say that means something.

 We also enjoyed the village which was quaint and green.  We shall venture down again sometime soon.  Next time with the surf board.

The Sun Continues

After a lovely weekend with Vanesa and Nick the sun has continued here in Phuket.  It has been so ridiculously hot, that even I am complaining (not outside of my head, I can never do that as go on too much about my love of hot weather).  This is my dream 'rainy season', although I do think we throw the word season out of the window or at least adjusting them in many places.   Lots of hot weather with the odd rain fall, usually at night.  However, there is one person (or dog)  who would never be a fan as with this hot weather comes thunder and Lightning is little Lola.   And as always when I know the storms are approaching I look for the new thing that is mean to to cure her of the terrifying experience she encounters through these storms.  We have tried everything and I would never have guessed that just giving her a simple treat would do the trick.  When I was in Canada in August a guy at a pet shop recommended them to me. I had huge doubts having tried thunder, jackets, collars, medicines and so on.  But oh my goodness they work!! And Lola's life has just become that much happier!

 Enjoying it as the sunny rainy season days continue

The best dog thunder treatment I have ever bought (and that is loads!).  I wish I had found these years ago!

Nick and Vanessa

Unlike the first week of school the second weekend flew by.  I cannot believe I did not even have a moment to update my blog! But to be fair the week was pretty uneventful, Luis loved the second week of his job and Lola managed to chase many grabs on our daily walks.  Then, just as I thought I would have an uneventful weekend, Nick and Vanessa wrote to say they were coming for the weekend.  Nick and Vanessa, also part of the Ecua family moved to a school in KL this year.  A short one hour flight means that I suspect we will be seeing a lot of each other in coming months.

 I very rarely go and see a sunset.  This one was especially beautiful, pictures can never capture the colours but i tried.

 Pre dinner prosecco, my favourite (well second favourite)!

We then went out for a delicious birthday dinner!  Probably the best Italian on the island.  Today we have woken up to a beautiful day and are just getting ready to head to the beach.