Oh my did I see enough poops to last me a life time during late October & most of November. It was predicted by Paul that we would get very ill at some point – a sort of Hong Kong (very unwelcoming!) initiation which happens to all newcomers!
Shortly after Ray's Mum passed away I began to feel rather ill - feverish and about 24 hours later the very frequent visits to the loo started. Typically this was during Ray's 1/2 terms, so the little opportunity we get to spend time together as a family was spent with me flat on my back...or hugging the toilet. Luckily though, Ray was on hand to look after Anthony and Amelie, along with lashings of help from Evonnie, Sari and June.
I was completely off food for about a week and only ate very plain small amounts of toast or rice. Hence after 2 weeks, all the girls we envious of me having lost about 10 kgs (bearing in mind still breastfeeding so extra energy being expending making milk for Anthony)! My jeans were literally falling off. Anyway, as soon as I was able I took to stuffing my face once again...just can't resist the lovely food out here!
Unfortunately Ray soon fell ill too...rather violently throwing up then sitting on the loo in quick succession, followed by three days of lying flat out in bed. At this point I really was at the mercy of everyone else's help since I wasn't better myself! I was just praying that Amelie and Anthony stayed clear of this horrible virus as I was in no fit state to look after them..luckily they did...but not for long!
Soon after I was feeling better and had resumed eating normally, Amelie came home from school saying that she wasn't hungry and had a pain in her tummy. She then went into the feverish state we had experienced, and about 12 hours later the explosion began. The only saving grace was that she was wearing a nappy...but it couldn't quite contain it all and when trying to remove her from her poo covered pajamas, we managed to smear it all over her so the poor thing ended up in the shower at 11 o'clock at night feeling dreadful and appalled at her current predicament.
Luckily the fever stopped, after a couple of days, but the tummy problems continued so she had a full week off school missing the school picnic and the school sportsday. It also proved quite comical when I tried to explain to Amelie's teacher why she was off. In Cantonese the same word said in a different tone means different things. Hence I kept saying that Amelie was "hungry" instead of the word for "diarrhea". I realised something wasn't right when the teacher kept saying give her a biscuit or an apple!
Anyway, Anthony, poor love, wasn't to be immune from the horrid initiation. I realised something wasn't quite right as he projectile vomited all over me and the bed 3 times. He had a few wicked nappies and lots of discomfort (coupled with teething!). Unfortunately one of the worst nappies occured when I had him in the wrap on my side - he was asleep there for well over an hour. As I unwrapped him, I realised something wasn't right. The disgust on onlookers faces (bearing in mind we were at a school fair!) was enough to say it all. Basically Anthony had poo all over his shorts where it had squelched out of his nappy, and consequently it was smeared all down my side! I wanted so much to run away or be teleported out of there, it was like a bad dream!
Anyway, enough about all this crap! Sorry had to be said! We are better now, and all happily enjoying the wonderful food out here again!
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Thursday, 11 November 2010
A Very Sad Time
I realise I haven't written anything for ages, but you will understand that a lot has happened...
In early Sept we learnt that Ray's Mum was terminally ill with cancer. It was a real blow since before we left the UK she had recovered really well from an operation to remove a tumour and was looking really well - in fact she had reverted to looking after us...cooking for us etc.
Anyway, she decided to come over to Hong Kong to spend time with her friends and family over here, knowing that it might be her last chance. It was so nice that she did this and we got to spend what turned out to be her last few precious weeks together. She was extremely brave and dignified right up until the end, which served to further my respect for her and deepen my sadness that her Grandchildren will have known her so little.
She was a woman of few words, but infact great intelligence. Ray and Evonnie were admirable in everyway...as they always have been towards their mother. They looked after her always, and particularly well when she fell ill - and right up until the end.
Amelie has enormously fond memories of her Por Por, which is great. She remembers the soups and food that she used to feed her. She remembers that she used to have tea in her pink cup at Por Por's flat, help herself to plums, beg for yoghurt raisins and jump around the sofa until the cushions were all on the floor. She remembers that she bought her a beautiful party dress...in fact she chose to wear it today. Por Por always let her have her lipstick and took her on the bus to play on the cars in Warrington.
I will always remember Ma Ma making Anthony smile by chatting and clicking at him. It is so good that she knew him, even for such a short while. In fact she was the first visitor into the delivery suite (along with Aunty Cindy). She marvelled at his big eyes...and how hungry he was!
Ma Ma helped us enormously - always cooking for us and tidying up as she went! Even mess she hadn't made! She fed us, our friends and my family hundreds of times over the years. She looked after Amelie hugely. I'll always remember her running around after Amelie with a bowl of dinner - insisting that Amelie ate it all - and normally she did!
She also put a roof over my head for a year after we returned from travelling and a few summers prior to that. She was so laid back and easy to be with, and at the same time knew what she wanted to do "I watch my television now" - meaning the Chinese soaps were about to be put on the box and there would be no budging! I'll never be able to watch tennis without thinking of her. She was dedicated to watching every tennis tournament in the world - a true armchair expert.
I did as much as I could for Ma Ma when she was sick and I'm sure she appreciated that. I did finally get to thank her for all she did for us in the 15 or so years I knew her, and I am grateful for that. I couldn't begin to speak for Ray and Evonnie, their feelings and memories, but suffice to say they are heartbroken to have lost their Mum so suddenly.
In early Sept we learnt that Ray's Mum was terminally ill with cancer. It was a real blow since before we left the UK she had recovered really well from an operation to remove a tumour and was looking really well - in fact she had reverted to looking after us...cooking for us etc.
Anyway, she decided to come over to Hong Kong to spend time with her friends and family over here, knowing that it might be her last chance. It was so nice that she did this and we got to spend what turned out to be her last few precious weeks together. She was extremely brave and dignified right up until the end, which served to further my respect for her and deepen my sadness that her Grandchildren will have known her so little.
She was a woman of few words, but infact great intelligence. Ray and Evonnie were admirable in everyway...as they always have been towards their mother. They looked after her always, and particularly well when she fell ill - and right up until the end.
Amelie has enormously fond memories of her Por Por, which is great. She remembers the soups and food that she used to feed her. She remembers that she used to have tea in her pink cup at Por Por's flat, help herself to plums, beg for yoghurt raisins and jump around the sofa until the cushions were all on the floor. She remembers that she bought her a beautiful party dress...in fact she chose to wear it today. Por Por always let her have her lipstick and took her on the bus to play on the cars in Warrington.
I will always remember Ma Ma making Anthony smile by chatting and clicking at him. It is so good that she knew him, even for such a short while. In fact she was the first visitor into the delivery suite (along with Aunty Cindy). She marvelled at his big eyes...and how hungry he was!
Ma Ma helped us enormously - always cooking for us and tidying up as she went! Even mess she hadn't made! She fed us, our friends and my family hundreds of times over the years. She looked after Amelie hugely. I'll always remember her running around after Amelie with a bowl of dinner - insisting that Amelie ate it all - and normally she did!
She also put a roof over my head for a year after we returned from travelling and a few summers prior to that. She was so laid back and easy to be with, and at the same time knew what she wanted to do "I watch my television now" - meaning the Chinese soaps were about to be put on the box and there would be no budging! I'll never be able to watch tennis without thinking of her. She was dedicated to watching every tennis tournament in the world - a true armchair expert.
I did as much as I could for Ma Ma when she was sick and I'm sure she appreciated that. I did finally get to thank her for all she did for us in the 15 or so years I knew her, and I am grateful for that. I couldn't begin to speak for Ray and Evonnie, their feelings and memories, but suffice to say they are heartbroken to have lost their Mum so suddenly.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Amelie's School Days begin!
Amelie has just had her first homework! Ray did it with her. It involved Chinese: spot the odd items in the different areas of a room (Ray and I argued about which was right!) and circle the shorter items. Then English, put the letter A stickers in the right place and complete the apple, then colour it in! So sweet. Want her do it well and neat, but she can hardly hold the pencil properly and scribbling is her favourite pass time, so we had to do a lot of rubbing out! At least she did it all herself though.
Amelie loves her little school. It is a local catholic kindergarten so she will be fluent in Chinese before long. She loves her teacher Siu Lo Si, and the other teacher with a bun! She has a little rucksack for her books (which I carry to the door, or the bus) and she has a progress book which we always look forward to seeing. The teacher has told me that she is a very good girl, but she doesn't eat much - they get a snack to eat whilst they are at school. She does 9-12 which is plenty for such a little girl!
Last week she started to get the school bus which I was terrified about. I put her on a mini bus full of little children at the bus stop outside the house, and met her there again just after 12. There is a woman on the bus who takes her from the door to her seat and looks after them, and another lady who drives. The fact that she shot off as the lady and Amelie staggered to the nearest free seat had me slightly worried, but then they all drive like that here.
I pick her up from school some days too if we are going to do something in the afternoon. The mums queue up outside and wait for them to be brought into the main hall, which they do in a beautiful line, each holding onto the bag of the person in front! Its lovely to see her little face in the window! She puts her two fists in the air and I can see her mouthing Mummy, yeah as she jumps up with delight at seeing me and Anthony waiting outside with the other mothers!
Amelie was so brave she didn't cry on her first day. I went in to take her into the classroom, and as we rounded the corner, you could hear the screaming of most of the other children. Most are older than Amelie (the school year running from Jan to Dec), and it will have been the first time they had left their parents/grandparents. I told Amelie to tell them not to worry and be nice to them! I'm sure she was.
Amelie loves her little school. It is a local catholic kindergarten so she will be fluent in Chinese before long. She loves her teacher Siu Lo Si, and the other teacher with a bun! She has a little rucksack for her books (which I carry to the door, or the bus) and she has a progress book which we always look forward to seeing. The teacher has told me that she is a very good girl, but she doesn't eat much - they get a snack to eat whilst they are at school. She does 9-12 which is plenty for such a little girl!
Last week she started to get the school bus which I was terrified about. I put her on a mini bus full of little children at the bus stop outside the house, and met her there again just after 12. There is a woman on the bus who takes her from the door to her seat and looks after them, and another lady who drives. The fact that she shot off as the lady and Amelie staggered to the nearest free seat had me slightly worried, but then they all drive like that here.
I pick her up from school some days too if we are going to do something in the afternoon. The mums queue up outside and wait for them to be brought into the main hall, which they do in a beautiful line, each holding onto the bag of the person in front! Its lovely to see her little face in the window! She puts her two fists in the air and I can see her mouthing Mummy, yeah as she jumps up with delight at seeing me and Anthony waiting outside with the other mothers!
Amelie was so brave she didn't cry on her first day. I went in to take her into the classroom, and as we rounded the corner, you could hear the screaming of most of the other children. Most are older than Amelie (the school year running from Jan to Dec), and it will have been the first time they had left their parents/grandparents. I told Amelie to tell them not to worry and be nice to them! I'm sure she was.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Baby Anthony
I feel like I need to dedicate a post to little Anthony. He has been coming on in leaps and bounds. He has been rubbing off his cradle cap himself with his hands when he gets in a tizz! He is able to go backwards and incredibly forwards as well in his baby walker. He sturdy little legs with his sumo thighs are well made for the walker - I'm going to have to baby-gate the stairs soon.
He has mozzy bites on his head now, as well as on the sole of is foot and bless him never seems bothered about them. He "hates" sitting still, today he tried to leap off my lap in a cafe when I was trying to put his bib on - the monkey!
He is always happy when he is in the carrier, forward facing. Luckily I have invested in a robust carrier which supports his weight and protects my back! He loves nothing more than going to a shopping mall and walking around where he shouts, shrieks, waves his arms and legs around, beats his chest, smiles and dribbles constantly, grabs anyones finger who come near and tries to shove it in his mouth, and generally draws enormous amounts of attention!
Feeding him when we are out has become an embarrassing situation as I sit quietly in the corner discreetly trying to feed him whilst he thrashes around, shrieking, taking a few gulps, choking and coughing, straining to see everything that is going on around him and hence flashing my boobs to everyone in the vacinity!
After 2 weeks of night feeding every couple of hours, I have caved into pressure and bought some baby rice for him. He couldn't believe it when the spoon finally headed for his mouth, and then came the confusion as he gummed the first mouthful around and tried to work out how to swallow! It was so cute. He has since had a bit of carrot and some pear today. I am now going to have to prepare little purees for him and make sure he gets a couple of spoonfuls a day, I am looking forward to it, but also not looking forward to all the preparations!
He is great at going to bed at 7.30 every night now, which means I can eat dinner and focus on Amelie before she goes to bed. Amelie is still besotted with her baby brother and always tries to comfort him if he is crying, and never tries to stop me from going to him. She cuddles and kisses him whenever she can. He loves seeing her too and appreciates her attention. He doesn't mind her squeezing his ears at all! He loves her blowing raspberries on his tummy.
Unless Anthony is very hungry or very tired, he never fails to smile at someone who has time to talk to him. He loves attention and I think is going to be very sociable and incredibly active. I haven't weighed him since we got here, but he has grown out of his 6-9 month babygros - and he is only 4.5 months old, so I think he is also going to be a big boy!
Everyone loves Anthony very much. So I can't wait for everyone in the UK and Ireland to see him again. Anyway, enough now, off to bed! x
He has mozzy bites on his head now, as well as on the sole of is foot and bless him never seems bothered about them. He "hates" sitting still, today he tried to leap off my lap in a cafe when I was trying to put his bib on - the monkey!
He is always happy when he is in the carrier, forward facing. Luckily I have invested in a robust carrier which supports his weight and protects my back! He loves nothing more than going to a shopping mall and walking around where he shouts, shrieks, waves his arms and legs around, beats his chest, smiles and dribbles constantly, grabs anyones finger who come near and tries to shove it in his mouth, and generally draws enormous amounts of attention!
Feeding him when we are out has become an embarrassing situation as I sit quietly in the corner discreetly trying to feed him whilst he thrashes around, shrieking, taking a few gulps, choking and coughing, straining to see everything that is going on around him and hence flashing my boobs to everyone in the vacinity!
After 2 weeks of night feeding every couple of hours, I have caved into pressure and bought some baby rice for him. He couldn't believe it when the spoon finally headed for his mouth, and then came the confusion as he gummed the first mouthful around and tried to work out how to swallow! It was so cute. He has since had a bit of carrot and some pear today. I am now going to have to prepare little purees for him and make sure he gets a couple of spoonfuls a day, I am looking forward to it, but also not looking forward to all the preparations!
He is great at going to bed at 7.30 every night now, which means I can eat dinner and focus on Amelie before she goes to bed. Amelie is still besotted with her baby brother and always tries to comfort him if he is crying, and never tries to stop me from going to him. She cuddles and kisses him whenever she can. He loves seeing her too and appreciates her attention. He doesn't mind her squeezing his ears at all! He loves her blowing raspberries on his tummy.
Unless Anthony is very hungry or very tired, he never fails to smile at someone who has time to talk to him. He loves attention and I think is going to be very sociable and incredibly active. I haven't weighed him since we got here, but he has grown out of his 6-9 month babygros - and he is only 4.5 months old, so I think he is also going to be a big boy!
Everyone loves Anthony very much. So I can't wait for everyone in the UK and Ireland to see him again. Anyway, enough now, off to bed! x
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Knackered!
We have had a fun filled and long weekend. We went to the beach again yesterday - all the way to Lantau Island (where there is a gigantic Buddah). It was a lovely day where we met with Ross, Danielle and little Matthew, Jen & Mitch and caught the ferry over together.
Amelie spent ages in the water with Ray having fun in the waves - so much so that she forgot to ask to go to the toilet, to do a poo. There was a fairly large clean up operation in the public showers which had me gagging and trying to run away with embarrassment at the same time! Apart from that it was lovely and we had a lovely meal at a mediterranean restaurant on the beach.
During this time a small wild herd of cows wondered onto the beach and the calves were adorable. People were petting them and taking photos. Apparently a nun set them free in the area in the 1970s and they have been around that area ever since! We had a fun journey back with both children falling asleep all over the place. Amelie was even asleep on the taxi floor as it broke suddenly outside our house!
Today we went back to Lantau island (45 mins in the car compared to several hours yesterday on public transport) for Gemma's birthday, for an "all you can eat" buffet to remember. It was the nicest food of the highest quality - similar to a cruise ship I suppose. Unfortunately Ray and Paul didn't eat or drink a sausage as they are still diligently doing Ramadam (don't forget to sponsor them, they are doing a stirling job, admirable really to eat and drink nothing all day long in this heat!).
Wondered around a shopping centre after lunch. Wanted a pair of shorts, but there is no way I am going to find anything to fit someone as obese as me (by HK standards!), I couldn't see ANYTHING that would fit round my backside!
Amelie spent ages in the water with Ray having fun in the waves - so much so that she forgot to ask to go to the toilet, to do a poo. There was a fairly large clean up operation in the public showers which had me gagging and trying to run away with embarrassment at the same time! Apart from that it was lovely and we had a lovely meal at a mediterranean restaurant on the beach.
During this time a small wild herd of cows wondered onto the beach and the calves were adorable. People were petting them and taking photos. Apparently a nun set them free in the area in the 1970s and they have been around that area ever since! We had a fun journey back with both children falling asleep all over the place. Amelie was even asleep on the taxi floor as it broke suddenly outside our house!
Today we went back to Lantau island (45 mins in the car compared to several hours yesterday on public transport) for Gemma's birthday, for an "all you can eat" buffet to remember. It was the nicest food of the highest quality - similar to a cruise ship I suppose. Unfortunately Ray and Paul didn't eat or drink a sausage as they are still diligently doing Ramadam (don't forget to sponsor them, they are doing a stirling job, admirable really to eat and drink nothing all day long in this heat!).
Wondered around a shopping centre after lunch. Wanted a pair of shorts, but there is no way I am going to find anything to fit someone as obese as me (by HK standards!), I couldn't see ANYTHING that would fit round my backside!
Thursday, 19 August 2010
19th August
The weather is cooling off a little I think and somehow there appear to be fewer Mosquitos. Aunty Wendy says that its because we have entered Autumn on the lunar calendar. Anyway, it is welcomed with open arms, I am feeling a lot more comfortable, but I am sure it is partly because I am getting used to it.
I ventured into Central today to meet Caroline (Anne-Marie's friend) who has a wee 3 week old baby. Lovely to chat about, babies, Wigan, Hong Kong and life in general. Also a trip to Marks and Sparks made me feel very at home! Amelie was very good and bounced on the sofa in the cafe for ages after eating 2 cakes. Fatigue got to the poor little thing on the way home as she fell on the travellator and fell asleep on the bus just as we were about to get off! Anthony was a dream, with the usual cooing and curiosity on the MTR (train!).
We went to the beach about a week ago and travelled there on a junk! It was a lovely day trip out. If I had closed my eyes I would have thought I was in Thailand. The hills were so lush and green, with white beaches and clear blue water. It was just a shame that some big party boats had idiots throwing their cans etc straight into the sea...and some had washed up on the beach where the kids were playing.
Yesterday I took Amelie to a playgroup called Leapfrog, which was a car drive away in Sai Kung (I drove, brave I know!). It was lovely and she enjoyed it. It is properly structured and supervised, like a sort of Kindergarten class, but with Mums there too. There was a nice outdoor area for them to play too, which is unusual in HK. Am going to look into another playgroup closer to home too.
Ray is now cycling to school successfully and has bought himself some proper cycling gear so he looks like he is doing the tour de France. Apparently his lycra pants have created a stir in the admin office...but he is oblivious (June told me!)...I'll get a photo of him at some point!
Photos to follow...
I ventured into Central today to meet Caroline (Anne-Marie's friend) who has a wee 3 week old baby. Lovely to chat about, babies, Wigan, Hong Kong and life in general. Also a trip to Marks and Sparks made me feel very at home! Amelie was very good and bounced on the sofa in the cafe for ages after eating 2 cakes. Fatigue got to the poor little thing on the way home as she fell on the travellator and fell asleep on the bus just as we were about to get off! Anthony was a dream, with the usual cooing and curiosity on the MTR (train!).
We went to the beach about a week ago and travelled there on a junk! It was a lovely day trip out. If I had closed my eyes I would have thought I was in Thailand. The hills were so lush and green, with white beaches and clear blue water. It was just a shame that some big party boats had idiots throwing their cans etc straight into the sea...and some had washed up on the beach where the kids were playing.
Yesterday I took Amelie to a playgroup called Leapfrog, which was a car drive away in Sai Kung (I drove, brave I know!). It was lovely and she enjoyed it. It is properly structured and supervised, like a sort of Kindergarten class, but with Mums there too. There was a nice outdoor area for them to play too, which is unusual in HK. Am going to look into another playgroup closer to home too.
Ray is now cycling to school successfully and has bought himself some proper cycling gear so he looks like he is doing the tour de France. Apparently his lycra pants have created a stir in the admin office...but he is oblivious (June told me!)...I'll get a photo of him at some point!
Photos to follow...
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
A week in.
We are all over the jet lag now, so at least we are getting a decent night's sleep - well Ray isn't really as he has stayed up chatting and drinking most nights. We are all covered in bites of one description or another. We think we are getting bitten at the dinner table as most are on our legs! I caught sight of my white spotty legs today in Tai Po - most attractive!
We went to the local swimming pool the other day. It is extremely clean and pleasant. It is outdoors and has about 4 different pools including a huge paddling pool for the little ones. Amelie loved it and had much fun being chased by Alex! Anthony slept in my arms in the shade of the paddling pool. He is so cute he has taken to sucking his thumb to comfort himself and to get to sleep.
Amelie has been out on several trips without us. She is so independent now and loves being part of a gang of children! She has been to the cinema twice and also to "yam cha" with Gemma and her family. I asked her last night if she liked being in Hong Kong and she said a cheery "yes".
We saw a couple of flats today. One was so small the bedrooms were like large cupboards with floor to ceiling windows - giving you the impression you would fall out. Oh and Ray would have to carry his bike up 23 flights of stairs to store it on the roof. All in all, not for us! The other was ok, 3 bedrooms, decent sizes, could live there. We won't decide yet anyway, will just look around.
Ray and Paul have decided to do Ramadan for charity http://www.justgiving.com/Ray-and-Paul-for-Ramadan . They are certainly in for a challenge in to not eat OR DRINK anything in this heat! Good luck to them I say.
Looked at a Kindergarten today for Amelie. Seemed very nice with lovely bright colours and friendly people. She would wear a uniform. I was welling up imagining her sitting on the little chairs. There are so many to look at in Tai Po, will have to get some help working out which ones are better.
We went to the local swimming pool the other day. It is extremely clean and pleasant. It is outdoors and has about 4 different pools including a huge paddling pool for the little ones. Amelie loved it and had much fun being chased by Alex! Anthony slept in my arms in the shade of the paddling pool. He is so cute he has taken to sucking his thumb to comfort himself and to get to sleep.
Amelie has been out on several trips without us. She is so independent now and loves being part of a gang of children! She has been to the cinema twice and also to "yam cha" with Gemma and her family. I asked her last night if she liked being in Hong Kong and she said a cheery "yes".
We saw a couple of flats today. One was so small the bedrooms were like large cupboards with floor to ceiling windows - giving you the impression you would fall out. Oh and Ray would have to carry his bike up 23 flights of stairs to store it on the roof. All in all, not for us! The other was ok, 3 bedrooms, decent sizes, could live there. We won't decide yet anyway, will just look around.
Ray and Paul have decided to do Ramadan for charity http://www.justgiving.com/Ray-and-Paul-for-Ramadan . They are certainly in for a challenge in to not eat OR DRINK anything in this heat! Good luck to them I say.
Looked at a Kindergarten today for Amelie. Seemed very nice with lovely bright colours and friendly people. She would wear a uniform. I was welling up imagining her sitting on the little chairs. There are so many to look at in Tai Po, will have to get some help working out which ones are better.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
1st Few Days
The first day was pretty hard. After 4 hours sleep I got up to THE most roasting heat imagineable. My body thought it was the middle of the night and I was knackered anyway. We then had to sort through the carnage of luggage and create some order in our little top floor abode. Amelie was by this time already calling her room "My Room" and was blissfully playing with the hundreds of toys Gemma had cleared out for her.
I started to feel better in the afternoon when I realised that the aircon in the living room wasn't broken, that ghekos are a good thing because they eat mosquitos, that it was almost certainly gheko poo and not mouse droppings that I had spotted behind the wardrobe and Ray came back from Tai Po with the most amazing savory buns for me to eat!
Yesterday Ray and I went to Sha Tin to look for a baby carrier for Anthony who is enthralled with everything these days. He doesn't mind what we are doing as long as we are moving and he has a good view. Anthony strapped onto Ray's front attracts enormous attention, particularly from admiring, cooing women who think he is adorable. He also looks completely "gwai lo" compared to Ray which sparks interest too!
Our little flat is feeling more like home today as everything is unpacked and the maid, Sarri, has been tidying and cleaning for us. Amelie even has curtains now in her room thanks to a spot of DIY by Ray.
Today I feel pretty normal as we all had normalish sleep apart from an hour and a half between 4.30 and 6am when Amelie was pretty determined to get up and start the day. We are off to Sha Tin again to have lunch with Andrew and May, and buy the baby carrier (1/2 price today)! Anthony is sitting next to me smiling and cooing, Amelie is watching her beloved Spiderman as I type this.
I started to feel better in the afternoon when I realised that the aircon in the living room wasn't broken, that ghekos are a good thing because they eat mosquitos, that it was almost certainly gheko poo and not mouse droppings that I had spotted behind the wardrobe and Ray came back from Tai Po with the most amazing savory buns for me to eat!
Yesterday Ray and I went to Sha Tin to look for a baby carrier for Anthony who is enthralled with everything these days. He doesn't mind what we are doing as long as we are moving and he has a good view. Anthony strapped onto Ray's front attracts enormous attention, particularly from admiring, cooing women who think he is adorable. He also looks completely "gwai lo" compared to Ray which sparks interest too!
Our little flat is feeling more like home today as everything is unpacked and the maid, Sarri, has been tidying and cleaning for us. Amelie even has curtains now in her room thanks to a spot of DIY by Ray.
Today I feel pretty normal as we all had normalish sleep apart from an hour and a half between 4.30 and 6am when Amelie was pretty determined to get up and start the day. We are off to Sha Tin again to have lunch with Andrew and May, and buy the baby carrier (1/2 price today)! Anthony is sitting next to me smiling and cooing, Amelie is watching her beloved Spiderman as I type this.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
On Arrival...
Amelie and Anthony were little darlings on the aeroplane(s), everyone remarked how good they were. I caused more trouble by reclining my seat onto a man who was quietly enjoying a glass of wine - red. Needless to say there were many yelps and sighs from the row behind as they tried to mop up the mess! Oops! I'll always check in future. The underlying stress for me was whether all the luggage would arrive safely given that we were lucky enough to have had everything allowed on with no excess luggage charges! When exiting the arrivals I was pushing 2 fully loaded trolleys (much to the amusement of passing passengers and awaiting crowds), followed by a squealing Amelie who was crying and attracting further attention over not being able to ride on the trolley! Funnily enough, Ray had raced ahead with a third trolley, with a beaming, dribbling, Anthony strapped to his front. Luckily we didn't have to wait long before June, Andrew and Chris arrived to deliver us from the chaos of Hong Kong airport.
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