Out with the Old.

Saigons soundtrack is usually the tooting of horns, the spluttering of motorbikes and more often that it's residents would like, the hum of a generator.  This time of year though, it is more common to hear the swoosh of a broom as people clear out the old to make room for the new, including luck, in the New Year.  Apparently it is bad luck to sweep during Tet itself as you sweep all of your good luck away.  That means people are furiously cleaning like mad at the moment and the Moggys are no exception.  We have decided that since we are staying in town during Tet we will spend a part of each day cleaning out all of the stuff we have accumulated including clothes and the kids toys.  Not necessarily to make room for more, God knows we have enough.  Just because, less is more and much much better.  All of the old stuff will be given to various charities and we can start the new year of the Water Dragon with good will in our hearts and less crap in the Man Drawer (did you hear that Nick...it's time to tackle the man drawer.  I'm pretty sure you don't need the key to the house we lived in 15 years ago in your top drawer in Saigon!)

Round one.  I was ruthless, and it felt great!

Rooftop Reno

Probably the most under-utilised area in our place is our roof terrace.  Although it has fantastic views it is a bit of a wasteland.  The chairs are highly uncomfortable and it is always very dusty.  It is not the kind of place where you would want to spend much time.  The kids have quickly adjusted to apartment living but they often talk of having a back yard when we move back home.  With the wet season finally drawing to a close we decided that we should do something about making the space a bit more functional.

How comfortable do those chairs look!

The kids would spend five minutes out here and come inside absolutely filthy.  Try as we might that floor did just not want to stay clean.

So...what to do?  We set ourselves a budget and thought about how to make it somewhere where we could not only spend time as a family but also an area for entertaining or just hanging out with friends.  Drumroll please...............

TA DA!!!

Amazing what a difference a new outdoor setting and some fake grass can make!

We also invested in one of those fabulous industrial size fans.  On full power it almost blows you off the roof but on its lowest setting it provides a much needed breeze to cool us down.

The cushions on the couches are totally waterproof and the grass drains off and dries very quickly after some rain.

We are really pleased with our work.  We spend so much more time up here now.  As the sun sets we pop on some mellow tunes and settle down with a cold drink in our little oasis while the honking and humming of Saigon drifts up from below.

Me and My Girl

We drive each other insane because we are so alike but I love her to the moon and back.

When nothing really is something.

I have spent the last 2 days in bed.  Sounds nice yes?  Well, yes and no.  As per my previous post I have been hit for six by a virus.  Not one to do things by halves, I feel like I have been hit by a truck.  2 days of bed rest is just what the Doctor ordered.  Or should I say that is just what the Doctor should have ordered, along, with some antibiotics, instead of 2 blood tests, a chest x-ray and an ECG but lets not bring up that old chestnut. So I have spent Monday and today convalescing at home.  It is actually harder than you think.  Do you know how much I want to get up and clean out the messy top drawer or put all of the DVD's that the kids have left out back into their covers?  A lot! Why is it so hard to do nothing?  Why is it so hard to lie down without the "I should be doing this" conversation going through my head?  Because  I can't lie there and do nothing I pondered this thought.  It gave me something to do that wasn't nothing.  I have come up with this.

Do you remember the feeling you get when you are on holidays? I don't mean the laying by the pool kind of holiday, I mean the "Oh my God, this place is amazing, there is so much to see and do" kind of holiday.    I have come to the conclusion that my brain still thinks that I am on that kind of holiday.  If I have a spare half an hour between work and picking up the kids I feel compelled to go and explore something.  I feel I must go to a market, or visit a new area, or try that new dish I have heard about.  What ever happened to the girl who if she had a couple of spare hours in Australia would flick on Oprah, flop on the couch and eat a Magnum?  I have realised I can't really remember a time since I have been here that I have done NOTHING!  Mind numbingly, boring, coma inducing NOTHING!  Sure I have sat in front of the TV with Nick in the evening but even that is not nothing, it is spending time with my husband.  When is the last time I had an hour during the day where I put on a movie just for me? Sometimes my somethings are truly wonderful, like having a massage or getting a manicure, but technically it is still doing something.  I have to interact, nod, move, pay, arrive, leave.  Oh I hear some of you saying, you poor thing.  Well, thats fine because I do understand how lucky I am and I do appreciate it.  All I am saying, more to myself than anyone else, is that I need to slow it down a little.  I need to not feel guilty to finish work, come home and sit on the couch.  I need to not say to myself "well, you have an hour, why don't you go for a run?"  I fear it will not be easy because I really quite like being busy and exploring and adventuring, however, I think my body has just decided to give me a big wake up call.  I need to take a breath and understand that this is life, not a holiday where I have to squeeze the juice out of every waking second.  Now if you will excuse me I shall return to my bed to continue my convalescence and leave the top "man drawer" to its own devices.  I'm having a nap.

Warning: Expat Princess Whinge

I know I am extremely lucky.  Lets get that out first up.  Life here is wonderful.  In fact, it is down right amazing.  I get to do so much with my time here, mainly due to the fact that I do very little....ok....no cooking or cleaning.  As a working mum of two it is a dream come true.  Believe me, I certainly make the most of it and most importantly appreciate it.   However,  after being here coming up to 18 months, some things start to grate a little.  We live in a serviced apartment so the cleaner comes in 6 days a week.  Very nice I know.  EVERY day I come home to this:

      Now it is not that I don't appreciate the fact that someone is dusting my pictures, I really do.  It's just that I am a borderline anal Capricorn and this just does my head in.  I mean, c'mon.  Who could possibly not notice that they are crooked and just leave it like that?  EVERY DAY. My obsessive nature whirls conspiracy theories around my head late at night.  Do they do it just to p*** me off?  Is it their way of getting back at me?  Maybe they hate me?  I am a nice lady, I really am!  Then the sane side of me reappears and I remember, as we say all so often.  TIV.  This Is Vietnam.

A rip roaring Royally good time.

Come, I know you all watched it.  Don't try and pretend you were not glued to the screen as the blushing bride walked down the aisle to her handsome Prince.  I'm not a Royalist or a Republican...I'm going to call myself a Weddingist!  In these tumultuous times it was lovely to celebrate something wonderful.  I really think these two are in love. I wish them all the best for their future and want to thank them for giving us an excuse for a PARTY!  We decided to all get together to watch the nuptials.  It is a long weekend here in Saigon so this was a great way to kick it off.  We had a very entertaining afternoon/evening with plenty of champagne and laughter.  Not to mention some great food.

The caterer Ezio cooked up some amazing Italian dishes in the kitchen.  Polenta with mushrooms, risotto, torte.....oohhh it was yummy.

What is a wedding without a wedding cake.  Thanks Jude!

A lovely afternoon of celebration.

Phew, Easter Bunny found us!

Who knew the Easter bunny could speak Vietnamese!

Poor kid.  We made him read it by spelling out the words.  All he wanted to do was find the stash!

Well done mate

Next clue!

Scarlett got pictures instead of words.

And that seemed to work just fine!

The Easter Bunny was up way past his bed time doing this!

Paydirt!  (Hey...bunny eggs are like hens teeth here...M&M's will have to do!)

Last clue for Scarlett

Peanut butter M&M's.  They are seriously GOOD!

The sky is on fire

Sometimes when you have hectic day it's nice to take some time to just take it all in and remember how lucky we are just to be here.  Tonight, the sky was on fire......