Lola Cola

After the earthquake, in Ecuador, we housed some teenagers from Holland that got stuck in Canoa and they told us that minutes before the earthquake they had been robbed and of course thought after this nothing else bad could happen... 15 minutes later their hostel came down on top of them. 
When 2018 struck, I felt that this had to be a better year, or at least a few months of nothing after my last few months.  I spoke too soon.  This week has been horrid with Lola having deep infections and near death fever levels that will not come down.  We have been to the vet every day and night trying to contain it and so far nothing seems to work.  I am not sure what I believe in and after the last few months it is hard to believe in anything. But I am not giving up totally on the power of positive thoughts and vibes.  So anyone willing to send some our way right now, it would be much appreciated.

At the very least she has to feel all our love for her.  Luis helping Lola at the vets on Monday.  I thought it was such a loving moment.

BISP Family Fun Day

Last term me and Jacqui began planning a BISP family fun day at a local cricket ground.  We are determined to create more of a community feel at the school.  I did not get to continue on with the planning as obviously went to Canada and had other things on my mind.  But the show must go on and Jacqui continued to put the event together.  She did a grand job and planned a great day for the families and then the night continued with the adults having a bit of a dance.

 I knew it would be a good day when I was presented with this delicious breakfast.  I am a lucky girl.

 We then had a family walk at my new favourite dam.  Not a person there so great for Lola.

 The start of the day with the families all on the field.

It really was a great event and I hope the school ones continue.  We had a very good time, just what the doctor ordered.  Now back to report writing today!

Mum and Dad's Funerals

I thought there were no pictures of Mum's funeral or none that I could find anyways.  And I know it might seem morbid to want some but I want pictures of both, I want to remember the days and who was there etc. etc.  But I was wrong, a very good friend of both our parents, Ed Wrobel, took loads of pictures of both funerals and before we left gave me and my sister a memory stick of each.  I flicked through them briefly at home but really have had more of a chance to now.  They are just what I wanted and so happy to have them.  I just wanted to put a few on here as Mum's funeral was before blog time.

 The fab five (and crasher) almost 16 years ago at Mum's funeral.  I always say we look exactly the same and then saw this and realised that at least I do not.

 Dad and his very good friend Tom who was very supportive of me and my sister during my Dad's sickness and death.

 These are some of my University friends who I had totally forgotten came to Mum's funeral.

 As usual the kitchen is the place to be.  There are many many more but did not want to put too many on.  Just nice to have a few to look at.

 These were a couple more from Dad's (the gentlemen on my far left is the photographer).  Ed and his wife Bev have also been amazing to us during these times.

 I love this.  My father loved cow boy hats, but not anything else about being a cow boy.  One of the nurses asked me if it wouldn't be nice to put on some country western music for Dad, when he was quite sick.  I responded 'why on earth would we do that?'.  She said well isn't he a cow boy (referring to pictures around that house), which I guess would be a usual assumption if one did not know my Dad and his eccentricities.  I responded that not only was he not a cow boy but his favourite music was actually silence.

Ed also sent some great ones from the past.  This was in my early Madonna days, hence the cool ribbon in hair.

And finally one of my favourites, just sent to me today from Paddy.  Just after Dad's funeral with Nats and the Hopkins.  It was so great having them here and this is such a special picture, just what my Dad believed in peace and love.

New Places

I cannot believe we have been her one and a half years and never found the beautiful dam that was pretty much on our door step.  A few months ago I heard a rumour or two about it, but life got in the way and I never went to see if it existed.  While I was away Luis and Lola found it and then this week I have taken Lola.  Literally four minutes away is the perfect walking place for Lola well and anyone really.  

It is so peaceful and calm and a nice change from the more crowded high season beaches.  Also it is always nice to find something new.

ERRRR IKEA

A few months ago our friend Luke rented our second house and within about two minutes his house looked like a home and ours still a holiday villa.  Since then I have really wanted to transform our house into a home and decided since our return to do this.  We hired someone yesterday to put proper picture hooks in our cement walls so I could hang the paintings, we went to IKEA on the weekend to order furniture and today was building day.  We made such good progress on the guest bed frame and I was going to be so happy to post pictures of our new improved home.  But no, IKEA forgot to send one piece, or it was missing from the boxes or whatever, and a major piece.  So frustrating!  It means the finished pictures of the house are delayed but we did learn that we are a great flat pack building team, even Lola joined in.

 Okay, Lola didn't really do any work but she did stay in the room for moral support.

We had the bed almost complete within an hour, with no mistakes (I have learnt over my many IKEA years to now read everything carefully before beginning).  It looks like another trip tomorrow (I will try and keep my cool).  On a positive note, my first day back to school was not as horrible as I expected, I may even try leaving my classroom tomorrow!

Back in Phuket

It feels so strange to be back here where everything is the same but everything is so different.  I have just finished unpacking all the stuff we brought back and it is so weird to see my parents paintings and treasured items scattered in the house.  It was hard to say good bye to our family home, but also it did not feel like a goodbye, I suspect that will feel real when the house sells.  I cannot believe only six weeks ago I was just arriving in Canada, even then I was still fairly optimistic or naive or more likely just not willing to accept what was coming.  It has been a busy, heart wrenching five months and I suspect some of the real pain is yet to come.  I am thankful to have such a brilliant sister, so many people have asked if there were problems (just from their own experiences dealing with these situations), and I can honestly say that during this horrible time we got strength from each other and just worked out everything together.   In fact, I can say I had a wonderful time with her and miss her hugely now. I am also thankful to our husbands who did so much to help during this time, we could never have cleared the house without their help, not to mention the incredible emotional support.  And then I am so thankful for Freda who gave us a reason for smiling and laughing over the past weeks.  I guess normal life needs to commence again on Monday, although I am not sure what this looks like and know now that everything has changed, my mother and now father have left a big hole in my life that can never be filled.  But I know I will cope and happiness will come again.

 A last cool sunny morning in our back yard.

Boy, I am going to miss this guy.  He was one of the greats that is for sure.  I just found this beauty of a picture, what a handsome young man he was!

Happy 2018

It is no secret that I am happy to see the end of 2017, at least the last half of it anyways.  The last five or six months have been draining in every sense, emotionally, physically, mentally.  But it is over and I am looking forward to starting a new year.   And so happy I got to bring in the New year with the fabulous five and our hubbies.  Amy wanted to go to a dinner show restaurant downtown and we all jumped on board and we did it in style getting a limo there and back.  We then all went back to Mandy's to see in the New Year with the kids.  It was a lovely night and a brilliant way to bring in 2018.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2018.