September 11 is a little different for us

Today will no doubt be a solemn day for many as they recall the horrific tragedy of ten years ago. For us however, it has a very different meaning.

27 years ago today CJ came into our world. We were completely spun out that we'd actually created another human being. She arrived determined, intelligent and one of those kids who is sixty years old trapped in a tiny person's body.

Exactly two years later her sister appeared. A fairy like child (who slept most of her time in my womb) and who I can never could imagine growing into an adult, with an adult's voice...but of course, she did.

Both births were quick and easy...so I've been told, just ask Stray. Each only taking 3 to 5 hours of  what I'd call real labour pain.

I've buried the cat, Chiang Mai, here we come!

Stray and I are taking the scenic route to Chiang Mai this time, from the Gold Coast, to Kuala Lumur, to Bangkok, to Chiang Mai. Three flights and two airlines in one day, a tad painful, but very economical. AU$369.00 one way. Let me tell you, we were absolutely buggered by the time we boarded the plane (I can say that even two days prior to leaving, while I'm writing this post). We didn't achieve all we set out to do, but at some stage you have to say 'that's enough, it'll be waiting for us when we get back'.

Emotions - for me, running somewhere between, hysteria, relief, excitement, melancholy...you name it, I've got it.

Last week I had my head in the oven (noooo, I was cleaning it, although it was such a chore, turning the gas on did cross my mind) and I thought back to our return flight from Kuala  Lumpur earlier this year (To get anywhere with Air Asia, we have to go via KL). I was sandwiched between Stray (happy about that) and some older, short, vocal, stumpy Aussie guy.

Me and my big mouth. If I'd shut up and not asked to sit next to Stray, who was across the aisle, we would have ended up with three seats to share.


This ain't us!

Visas, birthdays and the To-Done list

Well it appears Stray has his four week TEFL course to attend and it appears I have my visa documents waiting at the Thai Consulate in Brisbane. When our police checks are returned from the Federal Police, we can finally mail our applications. I'll sleep better when I have my visa encrusted passport in my hot little hand.

Tomorrow is September 11th, both of our daughter's birthdays. They're not twins, we were just incredibly good planners...hah! Tonight we'll have a celebration dinner with family.

To Do-ne List (the cattery, laptop security and life in general)

So, how’s it all going? Well, good, but a bit stressful ...thanks for asking!

The To Do-ne list is getting smaller, but is still quite large and scary. About 80% of the house contents now resides in the donga in boxes labelled A-Z or 1 - ∞ and their innards methodically logged in an Excel spreadsheet for easy (ha) relocation. The walls are pretty bare and cupboards look a little like those from the set of Ghost Town.

Some of our clothes and linen have been vacuum packed into those plastic sucky bags and now look like compacted road kill.

The gate, the essential loophole closer in the Rotty proof fence, has been wire brushed (by me) and is awaiting a coat of black glossy paint (by me).

*Note – the Rotty hasn’t chased next door’s sheep for a couple of weeks, but he has taken liberty with the open gate and was caught out on the road twice today. He is truly a beautiful dog and we have no doubt that we will have him, nearly, trained and adjusted before we go...but Bundy still glares at him with a ‘WHEN!!!! are you leaving????’ look.

The side veranda, AKA cattery for the daughter's three indoor nutty cats, has now had its slab (floor) laid. Our wonderful friends came to help and due to rain, the ordeal/partying lasted two days, not one. The event was not without its hilarity and tragedies.

Before

Still before, but from another angle...

The To Do-ne list (the fence, the Rotty and the donga)

1. The manly fencing has been completed, so Conan the Rottweiler, our granddog, has moved in. This is fine and dandy, except for one, small, minor loophole...THERE’S NO GATE YET!

Part of the manly fence

One Rotty

Children's Day

The first time I heard of Children's Day (not to be confused with International Children's Day) was from a Chinese colleague, Bei, who was working and studying accounting in Australia. I laughed and said "What the? Every bloody day is Children's day, what the hell are you on about?" and stirred her up about the fact that kids don't really deserve it, what with Christmas, Easter, Birthdays and for most children, the spoils of every day life.

About a year later I visited Bei in Shanghai, I should have reflected back on that day and realised for some kids in this world, perhaps Children's Day was the only day of the year that they received special treatment and were able to live their little lives as they should, as a child...but I did not. Seeing young tots dumped on  ramp ways, that lead in and out of chaotic Beijing shopping complexes, by their parents, to beg for money all day should have been a Children's Day light bulb moment. But, it was not.