The Girls

What can I say. These are my amazing friends.  We have known each other forever and last night they gave me a night I will never forget. (well, maybe I have forgotten parts of it, Vodka does that). I say look out Saigon because over the next few years I'm sure you will see each and every one of them.  And they know how to party! XXXX

Never mind packing....my body has packed it in!

My poor old body has finally hit that brick wall that it has been eyeing off for the last 2 months. Have awoken this morning with a raging sore throat and the energy of a cabbage. Trying all of the old tricks in the book to hasten recovery so fingers crossed. I NEVER get sick so when I do it is usually nasty and I make a terrible patient.

It feels very weird to say that we are leaving NEXT WEEK! All seems to be in order and just awaiting the frantic last week where it all gets packed up and shipped out (or somewhere). Heading off to Canberra tomorrow to learn goodness knows what so hopefully the old body can hang out that long and see me through another day or 2. Am planning a nice early night and hopefully will wake up feeling much better. Don't pack it in on me now old girl. Things are just starting to heat up.

Ouch

Quiddy took a dive at creche today.....makes my eyes water just looking at it. Poor little fella.....

Sister Marguerite Nguyen

Here she is folks! My cheeky Vietnamese language teacher, Sister Marguerite Nguyen. If you have been following the posts you will recall that she is a nun with a fantastic sense of humour and such a nice lady. She is a Salesian sister and holds a Masters of Education as well as a Diploma of Social Science. She teaches at Latrobe University and well as the CAE in Melbourne. What you most likely don't know is that she is an amazing self taught artist. Check out some of her work above. She only started painting a few years ago she tells me. I can only imagine what she will produce over time. These paintings are truly exquisite. The detail breathtaking. She paints in her spare time and then tries to sell them to support various causes including Haiti which her latest exhibition is geared toward. I'm afraid out of a 2 hour lesson we spend at least 30 minutes of it just discussing life which has just been lovely. She could talk the leg off a wooden chair that one. Her teaching style is very patient but she can also be a hard task master. She has decided that I have an aptitude for the language and as such has been teaching me at double the pace she usually teaches. Needless to say my head is spinning but she seems happy with the results so far. (I still think I'm shit but I'm hardly going to say that to a nun am I?)

So there she is. What an amazing little lady. If anyone is interested in original art she is always looking for buyers for her work. Just let me know. She insists that I take the details of all of her family in HCMC who will be there for us if we need them. Nothing like a bit of divine intervention and I feel blessed to have had a chance to get to know such an exceptional and talented lady. Xin Chao Co!

Time is Starting to Fly!

Oh my goodness....time is really starting to fly by now. When I look at the date I realise just how close we are to leaving! All seems to be going to plan so far with the house being rented and the car being sold. We are yet to find a new owner for the motorbike but Nick does not seem too worried so I guess I won't be either. The lady came out from the movers that are going to shift our belongings to Saigon. We have an allowance of 20 cubic metres but will be using no where near that. The only bad news was that I had bought a few things like chocolate and Vegemite that I had wanted to take over and she has told me no food allowed! I just took out some clothes and shoes from my baggage to be checked it because when it comes to priorities, chocolate beats shoes every time! N is away again but the kids have once again taken it all in their stride and seem to be coping fine. He comes home for 2 nights next weekend and they are looking forward to that. The weather has cooled here so I am doing my best to make the most of it as it appears things are heating up over there. I get the feeling that the next 19 days are going to go so fast!

I Think He Did A Great Job!

It Pays To Be Organised.

People may scoff at my slight OCD when it comes to certain things. Well chortle away but I reckon I'm on a winner here. I hate wrapping presents. I mean really really hate it. Not my thing at all. Probably because I am crap at it. Nick is the master. Nick is not here. So, I have spent the last hour and a half wrapping 8 small presents for the kids. Why I hear you ask...have they been that good? Well, no, not really. I have a cunning plan. 8 pink and 8 blue presents...8 hours on a plane. You do the math. Yes it is bribery but for those of you who have endured the icey stares of your fellow passengers, the looks of utter dismay as you sit in the row in front of them, the rushed trip to the foul toilet just so you could take the little buggers where their screaming tantrum is muffled, you my friend, you know exactly where I am coming from. I have carefully planned out each present and they range from DVD's (just invested in a new whizz bang portable player with 7 hours battery life, damn you Vietnam airlines for not having individual screens in the seat backs!), to books, play doh, activity packs and yes, even a few lollies. Normally I would not bother and just go the Phenergan option but for the first time we are doing a day flight. How do you make God laugh? "Tell him your plans", they say. He is probably pissing himself right now saying "Uh Uh...don't think so". Oh well. You have got to give it a go. If all else fails i'll be ok as long as my call bell is working. "Excuse me....2 more Gin and Tonics thanks...oh...and do you have any ear plugs?"

It's a little bigger than I remember!

Inspirational People. Tara Winkler.

THIS is what it is all about. This young girl was lucky enough to have found out why she is here, at such a young age. God bless her and may she continue to change the lives of those less fortunate than her in Cambodia.

Here is a link to the program that details her journey on "Australian Story"

http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/childrenlessergod/default.htm?site=melbourne

and here is a link to her foundation.

http://www.cambodianchildrenstrust.org/

And Just Like That....He Was Gone Again.......

Daddys Home...for now anyway!

I will let these images speak for themselves.......