A puppy, a party and lots of packing!

First of all, let me introduce you to Pippa, a new member of the family and a mix between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle... The result? A cavapoo!



We didn't really need to weigh her, but how cute does she look in the kitchen scales!!

On Saturday night we had our family and friends over for another little party (in the garden... In July?! Unheard of!) It was a really nice evening, completed with an English-Chinese dinner of prawn toasts and satay chicken... Yum yum! I was really overwhelmed by all the lovely presents I received, which I really wasn't expecting!



We also had fortune cookies. This wasn't actually my fortune, it was Charlotte's but I decided I liked it better than mine which was going on about the disappointments of today blah blah blah! So I have made my own fortune by stealing someone else's ;)

I have FINALLY finished packing. Though actually that involved packing up the London flat, unpacking all of that at home and then repacking what I want to ship. The result.... LOOOOOOOOONG!!!! 9 boxes (how have I filled 9 boxes?!) and 2 suitcases later I am finally done.



Pippa helping out with my packing!




Ok well that it is it for now, only 8 days until I fly... Nerves are really kicking in! But also excited to get there and see my flat and neighbourhood, and to meet my new colleagues and class!

Zai jian!! Xx

Agate dates!

Two years of Agate Road have come to a close. Today was our last day at number 47 - I will miss living in Hammersmith and with Libby tons! I have had so much fun since we moved in, brand new to London and all the laughs, drama, tears, more laughs and singing still ahead of us!

Goodbye musty hallway and Mickey Mouse!

Out of about 10 jumps, this is the best we could do!

Goodbye to the famous residents of Agate Road, don't forget us!

 

Haha - if only!

And one for you Libby:





How lucky am I...

To have something that makes saying goodbye so hard... (Winnie the Pooh)

I read this a while ago and it really rang true for me... This past month has shown me how lucky I am to have such fantastic friends, not just in London but all across the country :) I have received some lovely cards and personal presents that I will cherish forever, and they will make my new apartment in a strange new country feel slightly more like home. I love them all!

So the past 4 weeks... our school end of year party which was as ever an epic night. Jo went to lots of effort making a board for the 'drop outs' with photos and books for everyone to sign - again something that will be kept forever so thank you Jo :)

Some of the WLA crew - I won't bore you with all of my photos!

I loved the idea of dedicating a song to someone on the night, Groomy was dedicated 'Heart of Glass' (courtesy of Magic fm car journeys!) and I enjoyed a slow dance to 'China in Your Hands'... nicely done!

The following weekend I spent in Cardiff. On Saturday Kat and I ran the 10k for Race for Life! Not as bad as I was expecting, but I think that was mainly due to Kat's encouragment (and orders to stop dragging my feet!) I felt great once I had finished and definitely want to sign up for another one once I move - good motivation to carry on running.

Could I be any redder?! (Friends quote Friends quote Becca!)

In the evening we had a fantastic time in our own Karaoke booth in Tiger Tiger (love love love Tiger Tiger!) complete with brightly coloured wigs and cocktails... is there any better combination?! I don't think so!

Don't stop believing, hold onto this feeeeeeeeeeeling!

The kids finished school on Friday, lots of chocolates, flowers and mugs were gratefully received, though the red spotty dress was a major highlight of the presents! Monday and Tuesday was spent moving boxes around the school, or being pulled around on trolleys, either way it was very productive! Our final night in the Orchard (go black panthers) was lovely was ever - to MARIIIIIIIIIINA!!

And now I am into my final two weeks in the UK - I can't wait to carry on the fun! Lunch with Tom tomorrow, followed by jiving in the evening, brunch with Libby at Raouls on Saturday (after 2 years we are finally going!), moving out on Monday, family party next Saturday, Charlotte's family on Sunday, my final school night out on the 1st, Libby and Andrews wedding on the 4th, Emma and Emily on the 6th and then gooooooodbye off I fly on the 8th! EXCITING TIMES!!!!

So for now goodnight and zai jian!

xxx

Goodbye England, ni hao China!

Last night was my leaving party! I had such a fantastic night with fantastic friends and family from all different parts of my life - home, work, university, school (primary school - 22 years almost Charlotte!!). We danced (and drank) the night away and had such a good time.

Thank you to everyone who came, it meant so much to me that I could celebrate with you all! And I am glad that I made the decision to have it about a month before I leave - it meant that I knew I would be seeing the majority of people again. Therefore it was a happy night and there were no tears :D

Here is a selection of my favourite photos from the night :)

Me and Charlotte :)

The soon to be Mr and Mrs Gorin, Tom and Pete

Eliot, James, Kat, Jenni and Laura

RHOMBUS!

Me and Tom, followed by a pinky promise to come and visit next year!

The Cradicks and Scott

The jivers - Adam and Paul!

HEY I just met you, and this is crazy! But heres my number, so call me maybe!

Claire, Jo and Nav

Groomy and Jags

Best housemate in the world :)

There are loads more (I took 85 in total...!) but I think that is plenty for now! Bring on the next 5 weeks - lots more partying and fun times to be had!!

Why the long paws?!

Hello, sorry its been a while but it has been very busy at work, finishing reports and completing other looooooooooooong tasks that I wont go into here as I am bored of talking about it!

Not much has happened but I am now on the final three month coundown until I leave which is exciting! I have been put into contact with the other teachers in my year group (year 5) which has been really nice and they have answered some important questions.

I am building up my supplies of cant-live-without goods that I will be shipping over. I feel the need for a list coming on...!

- deodorant
- lots and lots of teabags!
- Marmite
- chocolate
- floss and toothpaste
- dry shampoo! I'm not sure I would get through a week without using dry shampoo a couple of times!
- underwear
- shoes
- more tea bags
- my favourite moisturiser
- more chocolate!

I am sure there are lots more but that is what I am stocking up on at the moment!
I also got my visa papers and I have no idea what they say so I am hoping they got my details right! I will be popping into the Chinese Embassy in half term (popping is optimisitic - I am expecting long queues!)

Aside from that I am still training for my runs, though I dont like the look of the next few weeks where the nice steady build up of 1 minute jog, 2 minute jog, 4 minute, 5 minute, 8 minute is now jumping to 15... eugh!!

I will update further if I have anything exciting to tell you :)

Zai jian!

Happy Holidays!

Back from a lovely holiday in Rhodes, Greece with Kat. We were only there for 5 nights but it was a really nice and relaxing break - just what I needed! We were staying in Pefkos which was completely deserted because the season doesnt start until May apparantly. But it didn't matter as the weather was lovely and the important things were open (a supermarket and a bar where every drink came with a sparkler!). We spent the days relaxing in the sun, drinking lots of wine, eating lots of good food (overdosed on tzatziki and feta cheese!) and reading lots!

This is the view from our apartment balcony! Beautiful, and our own private beach! My expectations from our cheap Groupon deal were definitely exceeded!

We also spent a day in a nearby town called Lindos, where we climbed to the very top of a cliff where there is an old fort (though me and Kat thought they had tried a bit too hard making it look Greek - the collumns looked suspiciously new!). The view from the top was amazing!

We also had a lovely meal (and some great wine!) at the restaurant below - I have added a photo to show Steph we were thinking of her!

All in all a great holiday :) Now back to work for me! Though I am going to see Rock of Ages tonight, so not all bad!

Zai jian!

Wǒ shì Yīngguó rén (I am English)

That is what we covered in my last Mandarin lesson. I am still really enjoying it and feel like I am getting to grips with the tones a bit better now, though the pronounciation of some sounds is still very hard to get my head around - dōu (meaning all/both) is pronounced as doh (think Homer Simpson!) whereas I automatically read it with an ow sound. Likewise hē (meaning drink) is pronounced as huur. I think teaching phonics to my class is making it harder as I am looking at the sounds and thinking of the silly actions we do to practice them (like pinching our arms whilst making the 'ow' sound!). Still it is all good practice, and we have a small class (only 7 of us) so we can work on our pronounciation.

I had a lovely day in London today. Clare and I went on a little walking tour of Greenwich as I havent been before and we had always talked about going. And what better excuse than the Easter holidays! Sadly the fan museum was closed (gutted - over 350 different hand held fans spanning centuries...!) as was a random museum that claimed to have a lizard with a topaz encrusted tongue and collar (who wouldnt want to see that?!) but we wandered through Greenwich Park up to the Observatory. Amazing views!

 

The camera on my phone doesn't really do the view justice but I was excited to find a panoramic setting :)  

                

We also saw the Cutty Sark which was nice as Adam always used to go on about it and I vaguely remember visiting it before the fire with my parents and Steph.

I now have 4 months left so I want to do a few more 'Londonny' things before I leave. As I am into making lists in a big way at the moment these are the things I fancy doing:

Visit the Highgate cemetry

Visit the Imperial War Museum

Watch Singing in the Rain (not particuarly Londonny but I really want to see it!)

Go to Wimbledon to watch the tennis again (maybe camp this time!)

Go on a walk to find the different Banksy's in London

That seems like enough for now, and yet again I am rambling!

Zai Jian!