Casino Royal 007 - Bond

Happy 40th Birthday Jill and Heidi

The birthday girls, Jill and Heidi

Bond and his girls

Erin and I holding Ron (the Chinese Red Army Spy)

Bond and his Bond girl

Kane with his Chopper Read stance


Kane, you're in trouble

It was a long fight, but I got him Bond

Thanks for the hard work Bond girl

Kane and Dom (Kane's teaching partner)

As the night got on, so did the girls, on the bar I mean!

We had the Casino Royal Party last night at a local bar/restaurant called Zapata's. Most people got into character and it was so much fun. People walking around with their guns and numb-chucks. Girls is gowns and the boys in all sorts of suits. China is great for buying costumes, and they are nearly all from Wedding Street... Yes... Wedding Street. Here is China during the cultural revolution people couldn't afford to get dressed up for their wedding. So they would go to the photographer and hire an outfit for 1 photo. It was like playing dress-ups for your one wedding shot. So as time has gone on, this tradition still continues, but now you will have 5-6 outfit changes during you photo shoot which happens one week before your actual wedding. So Wedding Street here is a costume street.

Here they are...

Here is Becki's baby girl.

Anahira Koa Denzler

23-3-09

She is definitely a cutie. She slept all the way through the whole visit. She tried to wake up, but it was just too exhausting. Becki is doing much better and looked wonderful, they are both glowing. I'm rapt for them both. Here name means Anahira-Angel and Koa-Happy in Maori.

Here she is

With Me

With Mum

With Becki and Todd

With Kirstin Me and Becki

Good News

My friend Becki just had a little girl. 8 pound 8 yesterday via c-section. She called me just as she got out of surgery, she was still all groggy. I'm so pleased they are both well. I'm going to try to get there after work today if she is feeling well enough.

Plus - I have found a 1.5 meter silk wedding veil, and they will do whatever beading I want for under 150RMB, that less than $30AU!!!! Bargain :)

Where did the weekend go?

I just read my friend Kate's status on the facebook... 'Where did the weekend go?' Kane came in and said that is so true, and I third it. You live for work here, there is no other way to put it.

So my weekend -
I went to the dentist... 2 hours late! So I had to go back today at 3pm. I nearly didn't make it either. I went to dragonfly for a manicure/pedicure thanks to Kate who had a free voucher to use. Now I have deep burgundy/brown nails and no dead skin on my feet. I made blueberry muffins and froze some. The house was spotless with no washing or dishes. Bliss for a woman. We played 5 crowns (cards) at Erin and Rons and saw a beautiful thunderstorm with heaps of lightening and thunder through the window, and got a taxi straight away and the rain had stopped and it was warm! Perfect. I went to wedding street at 10am today and bought a whole heap of stuff for the Bond theme party next weekend. I am getting my chipao made, so I got a cheap garter, a plastic gun, and a Chinese traditional hair piece for me and for Kane some numchucks, suspenders and a bow tie. I didn't make it back in time for our walk around the lake at 1.30 and nearly missed the dentist appointment at 3pm. I only made it by 1 minute after a 15 minutes taxi ride.

I found quite nice veils today. I can get a silk veil made if I want. I might find out the price, but they have said they can make whatever I want. I just need to bring a picture of what I want made. The normal tulle ones were only 80RMB, less than $20. I tried to find a petticoat/hoop, but they were all pretty feral. I think I might just hire one for the day when I get back.

Kane went and looked at suits today for the wedding. It's going to cost 680RMB , that's $147 Australian to get one made. I told him not to do anything until he gets his boys measurements so all the suits are the same. That's so cheap for a very good quality suit, custom made. He doesn't want to get a vest made, but I really like the vests at bridal parties, they add something extra and Kane looks so hot in a vest!!!!!

I haven't heard anything from my friend Becki here in Suzhou yet. She went to the hospital to be induced yesterday and got sent home and was told to come back again today. Maybe I'll hear tonight :)

I bought a chipao

A chipao is a Chinese traditional dress, and I just got measured up for one.
Next weekend it is two of our friends from work 40th birthday party. They are having a Casino Royal Party theme and a friend and I have decided to dress up at Chinese Bond Girls with garters under our dresses with a plastic gun... Yeeha, I'm looking forward to it :)

The week has passed without too much drama. It's a busy weekend for me, tomorrow it is visit number 4 to the dentist for a check on my bridge, which is still quite sensitive at the front. It may need a root canal to stop the sensitivity. Saturday night is cards at Erin and Rons. We are teaching them how to play 5 crowns. Thanks to Tricia for teaching me that one. And on Sunday it's a trek out to Wedding street to find the garters and a few thing for a dress up book character morning next Friday.

And all this happens with severe Thunderstorms predicted for the whole weekend.

And Becki, my friend here is booked in to be induced at 8am. Good luck to her :)

Kimbob and Bridges...

Kimbob on the balcony on a finer day in Suzhou. We are hoping these days continue as spring comes. Kimbob is Korean Sushi Rolls, it has egg, crab, ham, spinach, carrot and radish rolled in rice and seaweed paper. You can see the spicy kimchi on the side. It is made of cabbage and chili. We love it so much. Afterwards I snacked on some yummy strawberries.







Kane being creative with chopsticks!






I went to get the bridge attached to my teeth this morning. I am glad that the first part is over now. It hurt quite a lot. The nerve is so close to the small stump that any touch, cold air, cold water, etc feels like really bad tooth ache. And all the later lasted for about an hour as the bridge went off, then on, then drilled, then filed, on, off etc, until at last it was stuck on. That part was probably the worst as the cement was so cold and now it is super sensitive. The sensitivity is supposed to last about a week. So I go back for a check up next Saturday and then it'll start all over again on the other side. I really like David my dentist, but I am sick of going to the dentist.



We are just on our way out to go for a stroll in the sunshine.



Cheers,
Kelly
xxx

Exactly 9 months today until we get married!

I am trudging through magazines, website, etc looking for inspiration for jewellery for my wedding party. I think I may know what I might be interested in (not really ;) We've done a very rough draft of table plans, but I am pretty sure they will change big time the further we get towards the wedding.

And you know, interestingly, if we were to get pregnant today (which I absolutely will not and currently am NOT!) Our baby would be due on our wedding day :) Just an interesting fact.

I have been sooo busy. At school my Grade 2's have had to present to parents their work on their home country. We have been working on these projects for over 3 weeks, and while it was good for the kids to do the independent work, I was sick of them by the end. It's always the same few who never finish and I have to hound them to get it done at the last minute. Anyhow...

Becki is now on maternity leave and her class will be disbanded on Monday. So I will have 18 children and a big double room, yeeha! Tomorrow is a PD day so that we can finish writing our scope and sequence documents.

Bye,
Kelly
xxx

Feeling Good

-A Funny translation to begin the week with-

It should say Non recyclable, but is says 'Nonreconerabl'

They still don't have people to check English translations in public places

We have had a busy week and weekend. With all the negative stuff going on at school and my tooth problems and the weather being crappy, etc, I started to get really down and blue. By Wednesday Kane was getting a bit irritated by my mood and told me to go do something at the gym as my motivation had waned. So I listened - NOT! I went had a shower and went to bed. Thursday I felt shit, so my moods must've had something to do with my pending head cold. I am feeling OK for now though, it seems to be sneaking in the cracks and raising its head every few days. We had a trip to a park in Suzhou that is famous for being where the Emperor kept his horses. His horses drank from the lake, it has a path that the Emperor once walked on 2000 years ago. The Chinese like to hold onto the past I think :) The Park is called Bai Ma Jian, I can't remember this instant what Bai is, but Ma is horse and Jian is Park so it's something Horse Park.

It was... interesting! Here are a few pictures-

The Park

The Lake

A Pagoda

The Emperor's Path

Friday afternoon was exhausting. It's was probably my teaching partner Becki's last day, she stayed at school while we went on the above trip, school has split her class as they couldn't find a qualified replacement. And I had to run off to swim club after school so our probably goodbye was a bit rushed, which I am a bit disappointed about. We went to Mr.Pizza (a bar/rest) for some food and a few drinks and then Kane went to play poker.

Saturday was busy, I woke early (7.00ish) and fluffed around before heading to the gym. I then came come around 10.30 and we fluffed around some more. Then went out to lunch and I can't remember how the rest of the day was spent! Isn't that bad :) Oooh, now I remember I chatted to Mum and Lachie for about an hour and a half! Saturday night was a girls night and I got dressed up and put on my wig. It was good to have a few drinks and socialize without discussing what is happening at school at the moment. I got home around 12.30am, Kane got in around 2.30am. We got up this morning and went out for brunch and then got some bread and a leek and some eggs. Since then I have been for a 1 hour and 40 minute walk with some friends. I am now zonked!

I am cooking some biscuits for a school fundraiser and then I'll be cooking some chicken for dinner tonight. Lots to do. Kane has just gone to buy a DVD and see if he can order in the DVD of Metallica with the San Fransisco Symphony Orchestra.

Have a great week,
Kelly

Shit Day

Today has been a pretty shitty day.

We had a whole school meeting this afternoon. Due to the economic slowdown, our school has had to make some cuts. 7 people were told their contracts are not to be renewed today, to go with around 7 who have already been told there position no longer exists. We also found out our Head of School is not renewing his contract either. It's a dreary place, the Head, Primary Principal, Assistant Principal, PYP co-ordination and 3 head-of grade coordinators (so most of our leadership - bar 2 grade level coordinators) are leaving, possibly the Early Years Principal (who was on an interview today) along with 40 staff this year. They have cut a staff of 165 down to 115. We won't be getting our end of year bonus, which you have to accumulate 70 hours of extra-curricular work to get 10,000 RMB any more. Now we are just worried about being paid.

We are so glad we chose to come home.

Deposit Down

Now I can't say I am the proud owner of a wedding dress, but I am definitely moving in the right direction. I could say that I am the proud owner of to-be-bought material that will become my wedding dress... am I pushing it a little?!!!!

We have agreed on a price, it will be made of Suzhou silk, and be a white colour. Once the material in purchased, I need to go and inspect it. In about 6 weeks I will go back to get my measurements taken. Once the measurements are done, it will then take 15 days to make, I will then go in for a second fitting.

I have shown the dress maker my bridesmaid dress pictures and they will also be started in about 6 weeks. However they will not be getting 2nd fittings. I will leave that until we come home to Australia and they can be fitted properly.

I was supposed to get my crown put on today, but it is not ready, and I will now need to have this damn temporary piece of crap for another two days :( It feels so wrong in my mouth.

Kane is playing soccer today and I am going to get a little pampering :)

The weeks are going by so fast which is lovely. As I type this it is 4 months 3 days or I could also say exactly 16 weeks!

Love you all,
Kelly