How time flies

A pic of my family at our wedding

How the time has lapsed since our wedding is a fleeting dream. It was such a long build up and 'pfft', it's gone. Kane and I are so glad that it is over though, the wait was excruciating and we are glad to be on the flip side. Since the wedding day we have migrated down to my Mum's in Traralgon for some Xmas R&R and then we will head to Kane Mum's in Bendigo maybe on the 30th for NY's.

Xmas was fairly quiet with my family, and my Step-Dad's Brother family over for lunch at 4pm! Kane almost had a hearnia at 8pm when he hadn't eaten dinner yet, he is such a greyhound! So my Chrissy collection was:

• Just Jeans voucher
• pandora silver braclet
• bath bubbles
• tatts pack
• address book
• monogramed card set
• plus my camera that I bought 1 month ago

I did rather well really. It has been fun showing somse of the pics from the wedding and my ring, that novelty has not rubbed off yet.

We might be looking for a new LCD TV today, but I think I've missed the major price cuts of yesterdays Boxing Day sales. We'll see!

Hope everyone had a fabulous Xmas witht their families and enjoys their NY's

My Wedding Day

A quick peek for my blogger friends! So... who sleeps properly the night before the wedding? Not me! Cold and flu drowsy tablets thank you very much at 2am was my last chance and thank god it worked.

Here are a few pics from our wedding day. Sorry, they are repeats from Facebook. How 3pm

came around so quickly on Saturday I will never know. I had so much fun and smiled the whole day.

I will write more in the next few days, I can't sleep besides being exhausted as yesterday keeps running through my mind!

Christmas Already?

So this time last year we were planning our holiday to Malaysia for Xmas. Thinking this time in 2009 was never going to arrive! Now its here. So with the thought pattern that the next 2 weeks will be a whirl-wind, I went Chrissy shopping today and have bought all but 3 gifts that were planned. I have spent the afternoon wrapping them and putting them in the corner of the lounge and have found the Xmas decorations that are looking a little worse for wear after 3 years of not being used, yes, it has been that long since we had Chrissy decorations in our house! I was slightly looking forward to getting all Christmas-y, and briefly thought about purchasing a big Christmas tree from Target that was on special from $200, down to $99, but resisted the urge and have put our small 30cm tall metal ornament (that is doing a fine job) in a corner with 12 silver balls hanging from the ceiling.

Other news this week is that I have a head cold, and I'm looking on the bright side - At least it came this week and not in 2 weeks time :-) I am struggling big time today though as I have overdone it Kelly style. I am just unable to sit still, even though I am sick and even though I had put on one of my favorite movies, 'The Young Victoria', I paused it and then went back to it and then ignored it and cooked through it as well. I have cleaned the house, gone Christmas shopping, bought fruit and veg, wrapped presents, made 2 batches of buttermilk pancakes to be frozen, made dinner early, bought in the 2 loads of washing, folded it and put it away and gone through wedding planning stuff for like the 10th time this week. All because I can't sit still even though I am feeling so cruddy. I tried to force myself to read my book, but the though of "update your blog, it's another job that needs doing" went off and so here I am! I may try again with another movie, "Pride and Prejudice".

On wedding news, we have handed in the final seating plan and numbers and have the bill... yay! (NOT!) Have edited my speech and timed it - just under 4 minutes. Kane bucks day is today and I haven't heard anything yet, so no news is good news right? Our planned ceremony location is now under construction and so I will have to choose another spot when I go up for a look on Monday - Bugger. But I am not stressing, or maybe I am and don't know it from my not.being.able.to.sit.stillness! Is this an epiphany?

20 days to go

So today I think I have finished the seating plan. There are 9 tables with 6-9 on each table. A good mix of family and friends. We have to give this to the reception venue by this Friday so they can cater for children and special dietary needs. I have everything that I need now, no more buying/spending besides what has already been decided. I so want to try on 'kit' I finally have all of it which is my wedding dress and veil with my shoes and lingerie, but because my dress is a lace up back I needed someone to help me and my mum and bridesmaids live so far away. I don't want to show it to anyone else! - BUGGER!

This week I need to choose some general music for the reception evening and get my one gel nail (a quick fix from an accident) fixed as it is looking lifted and cracked. Also exercise, it has severely lacked this past week due to teaching duties.

A long delayed post

Hi everyone, sorry for the months of not writing I guess I have been uninspired to say the least, (or a lot!).

Since returning from China I guess I figured the ins and outs of my life were unimportant, boring, monotonous, etc. Added onto this was the feeling that no one wants to hear about planning a wedding over and over again or maybe I was just sick of explaining the wedding over and over again. You know when you know people that always talk about the same things over and over again, I guess that's where I have been or am. I am very conscious of not talking about the wedding all the time, even though it feels like my every thought is about it and I am not yet excited even though it is less than a months away. You see, Kane and I have been engaged to over 21 months and both of us have now realised this was way to long for both of us. Neither of us were believing that the day was ever going to come around and I guess we both still have trouble believing that it is about to be here. I am waiting for the moment that the excitement hits. Maybe in the week leading up to the big day, it will start to feel real.

We have everything ready for the big day. And next week we start the final meetings to confirm details with the DJ, celebrant and Videographer to begin with on Tues, Wed and Thurs. All our outfits are ready, I only need to get the suits pressed and wedding dress steamed in the last week before. I have my something new, old, borrowed and blue to go and have had the hair and make-up trial last week. I have my last facial next Wednesday though my face has been an explosion zone lately, even Kane commented on it Wednesday night! We have our final numbers, it'll be around 68 adults + kids. Not a huge wedding, but Kane and I wanted only our closest friends and family to be with us. We have worked out our ceremony plan/wording as we will be married by a celebrant in the gardens at the reception venue. My only big job now is to write my speech. I don't know how to write funny, so I may have the most terrible speech ever. It may take a couple of drafts I think. So that is about all I have been doing in terms of the wedding.

I have been working 2-3 days a week average cover teaching, which.I.hate! And I am only doing it for the money. I would prefer to stay at home bored than go to school and be disrespected so often each day. It really makes me think, why I bother being a teacher sometimes.

If you have any pointers on how I can become excited, please pass them on.

Kelly

MIA

I have been missing in action lately from the blog. We have just been so busy with not much to report at all.

I think I am going to take some time out from the blogging as I just am not that into it at the moment.

I'll see you all in a few weeks,

Kelly.

The weekend is here! The weekend is here!

I am so happy it is finally here. Not that Kane and I have many plans.
There is a possibility of football this weekend either in Albury or Dederang, but that's about it! I will prob head downtown for some shopping, clean the house and get groceries. And we might head out to Yackandandah to pick up our bed for the spare room for Jo's.

Pretty boring I know. We had Ty and Zoe around last night and had a delicious Hungarian Pork and Lentil Stew. OMG it was nice and really really easy. I thought it sounded hard in the recipe book, but when I made it, I was stoked. It's a one pot wonder. We all loved it. We played cards after dinner and then we ate a Chocolate Ripple Cake I'd thrown together to dessert.

Have a great weekend and week.

Kelly

Still Sick

Since my last post I haven't managed to recover. I went to the doc on Tuesday and of course she said I was run down and that has let this virus take over with a vengeance and she asked me... 'what do you think you need to do?' so the obvious was rest for a few days. which I have done, but it has only been today that I have started to feel any better. Not even the nose spray could help me breathe, I was that stuffed up. So I am back to work tomorrow, only 1 day to get through though and then 3 more weeks of this job.

Today I cleaned away the boxes from the pergola, I can still see them, but they are not immediately outside the door anymore and I have also moved some stuff around in the shed, which should make my dear Kane happy. He is still not happy about having to share a bit of space in hit shed with me though!

We have a magpie hanging around our house. I think the tenant must have been feeding it. So today I threw out some mince for it. It gobbled it down and then flew off with some. It must have a nest somewhere. It is definitely friendly. I come within 2 meters to get the meat and follows you around the front and back yards. The below picture were taken later in the afternoon when the whole family came back for more mince. There was Mum or Dad up in the tree watching while Mum or Dad and the 3 kids came for a feed.

My friends the magpie family...

See you later.

Kelly

My Birthday

It was my birthday on Saturday. I got a lovely card from Kane before we went to Albury to get the hire truck. We drove to Leeton to put all of our stuff on the truck, had a yummy birthday lunch provided by Mama and Jenny with a carrot cake birthday cake and then high-tailed back to Wodonga and unpacked. Sunday was spent cleaning, especially the mold covered refrigerator!!! Yuck, 2 hours and 1 bottle of exit mold later and it was all good again. We finally have our house looking livable again, but we can't believe how much crap we have to sort through. Bree might get very lucky I think ;)

Ty popped over yesterday arvo to help Kane with the leaky toilet. I think Ty could get credits towards his plumbing trade!


I went into school this morning feeling not so good, so I got the Principal to call in a CRT to cover my class. I feel so tired, and sick. I needed a day off, hopefully tomorrow will be better.

The photo's are of the rooms we got back together on Sunday:

The Bedroom

The kitchen

The dinning room/kitchen

The loungeroom

And the areas still need TLC:

The Pergola

The Spare Bedroom

Working

Kane and I are back working and also in our house. We have not time at the moment, and feel so out of control with what is happening. We need 2 weeks to get our heads around what it happening and sort through our house, posessions and work. Crap.

We are home

I hate travelling, but I love the end result. We are home in Wodonga, but it still feels like a dream. I am sure I will wake up and be right back in Suzhou again. We have been so busy re-orienting back into life with meetings here, there and everywhere. Kane went into work today and I will phone my Principal on Sunday, next week will be quite a shock for us I'm sure.

We get our house back on the 20th of July at this stage, but this could be earlier if the tenant moves out. Our shipment from China will arrive on the 21st of July, so one of us will need to take the day off to accept it unless we can find someone to be there for us.

We will be absent from blogging for a few weeks until we get our heads around being home, so be patient please. I will still be checking blogs though...

Kane's birthday cake - thanks Jo

Max grabbing my nose

Our welcome banner

Our first cuddle from Jo

Our Qantas flight landing

Last full day of work

Today is my last full day of work for.... 10 days!!!!

Oh well I will enjoy my one week off.

We had our whole school concert today, they did a great job with an original version of Mambo Number 5. After lunch today we have the class party and so it'll be busy with parents until the end of the day.

Reports go home tomorrow and that'll be it.

Last night Kane and I went to dentist for a clean, I also got my teeth whitened after my marathon of dental visits. I just wanted closure I think. They look good albiet very sensitive, but i have been told that'll calm down after a few days. I am also not allowed to drink tea or coffee or eat/drink anything that can stain the teeth for 3 days.
After that Kane and I went to the nail spa for a manicure and pedicure... yes you read correctly, Kane got a mani/pedi ;0

This eveing we have the staff social and tomorrow, the last day of work.

5 days to go.

I am so bored!

I am sitting in my classroom all packed up. My children are watching a DVD. I actually bought what I thought was 'Beauty and the Beast', but it is infact the 'Enchanted Christmas' version... oops... expecially now that it's June! Oh well, they're still watching it ;) What a meanie I am!

So our inspection last Sunday was a fizzer. Aparently I had called to change the time to a day and time I wasn't available... Really!? No I didn't! They stuffed up, welcome to China. So tonight at 7.30 it should be happening.

Last night we went out for all you can eat Japanese after our last foot massage. I love sushimi, and we went through a couple of bottles of wine too. I had a very dry mouth last night in bed.

So not much else to say.

Hopefully I will get time to do another post before we leave on Saturday afternoon.

No more Saturday nights

This is going to be a week of last's I fear.

Last night was our last Saturday night in Suzhou. Today is our last Sunday.

Last night we had a celebration for s couple who got married in Hong Kong last weekend. It was a lovely night with a cross between reception/party. I came home around 10ish as I couldn't stop yawning. Kane stayed until midnight. He said a speech. He did a really good job, Kane definately has a talent for speech writing of the shit-stirring capacity!

Today we are waiting for our groceried to be delivered and then we shall be shopping for polo shirts for Kane to wear to work once we get home. This afternoon our landlord if coming to do an inspection. Hopefully we don't need to fix many things.

Kelly
xxx

How many sleeps...?

The are only 8 more sleeps until we catch the plane to Australia.... oohhh, so excited.

So the craziness has begun. Tonight I have had my plans cancelled, but that's OK.
Tomorrow we are going to a wedding party. Our friends got married in Hong Kong last weekend and we are having a little belated wedding reception in the afternoon.
Sunday we have the landlord coming over for an inspection
Monday I am going for a foot massage and then Japanese afterwards
Tuesday we have our second house inspection and then Kane and I are going to have manicures and pedicures for free!
Wednesday I am going to the dentist for my final check and teeth cleaning
Thursday we have the end of year staff function
Friday is the last day of school and we will be out saying goodbye to everyone at Mr. Pizza and I am going to go and use a massage voucher with Kirstin and Carla.
Saturday we are going to Zen for lunch with Erin, Ron, Carla, maybe Ben, Becki, Todd and Anahira, before catching a ride to the airport at 3.00pm in the afternoon. Our flight leaves at 7.35pm and should arrive in Sydney at 8.30am on Sunday, then we catch a Qantas link into Albury at 12.00 and should arrive at 1.30pm.

Pfff... I exhausted just writing that :)

Life in China only has two weeks left!

*****Please note - I have no spell check at the moment, please excuse my spelling errors and or grammar errors, I type to fast and make terrible mistakes!!! Hehehe ******

It is getting so hot here in Suzhou. For some reason I don't rememeber it getting this hot last year.

There has been quite a lot on my mind lately resulting in several restless nights, compounded with the heat. We have a sheet and blanket on the bed, plus a fan, but I find I get hot, then cold, then I toss, and this keeps going and going for sometimes a few hours. The only good nights sleep I've had this week was Wednesday night, but then Thursday night, I went out for dinner and ate too much so I was awake at 3.30am, by 4.45am, I am gave up and got out of bed and went for an hour walk, that meant last night I crashed for 10 hours of sleep. I guess I won't be sleeping tonight!

I guess I am worried about moving home, will we still fit in with our friends. People have moved on without us and that is troubling me. Plus our house may not be ready till the end of August as the tenant is having trouble finding somewhere to move and her lease does not run out until then. Our shipping, will it come too early then, where will we put it? Our work, we only get 7 days off then we both start. Kane at Wodonga South for the next 6 months in a Grade 6 class and me at Bandiana in a Prep/1 for a 6 week contract.

Plus a few other things. I am getting pretty tight for money here in China. In fact I have 14RMB in the bank, that's maybe $2.50. I have 300RMB cash, that's about $50 to get me through the next 2 weeks. I am owed $2000RMB by a friend through an insurance 'thingy', but that still has not appeared in his bank account.

I go to get my last dental work done tomorrow, luckily this is already paid for! I need to get my bridge attached with permant glue, (I only have temporary glue attaching it at the moment). And I also need to go downtown Suzhou to pay a tailor for Kane's wedding ties, that I have to pay for and it 150RMB. (I guess I'll be done to 150RMB by then :0 )

I have a few vouchers to use before we depart, 3 massage and one dinner. Kane and I will use the two massage vouchers tomorrow and then go out for dinner. I will use the 3rd massage voucher on Monday afternoon when a group of us girls will go to get a foot massage, it's our Monday afternoon ritual. I also have a verbal voucher for a manicure and pedicure for Kane and I as I traded some gel nail items to a beauty salon. It's a complicated story, one that I won't go into here.

Kane is in Shanghai today picking up his tailored shorts, my cashmere jacket and another camera item. I might go down a look at some DVD's. I will miss not being able to get cheap DVD's here. Are there any in partucular that people want?

Alrighty, I'm off. I am waiting for the housing agent to come and have a look at the loungeroom airconditioner. It is leaking :0

Kelly
xxx

Another one bites the dust

So for me all the big jobs are done at school. Reports - Done. Student-Led Conferences - Done. Year Book - My class Assembly - DONE!

So sit back and relax is my name at school until the last few days when we start packing up our rooms.

Tomorrow I am off to the pearl market for some wedding jewellery, and Kane has his Bucks Party at a go-cart place, then for him to Bar St for dinner and drinks. Tomorrow night I am going to a Hen's Party for a girl from Germany, Svenja.

I do need to go and get my hair coloured this weekend, it's looking a bit dull, and I can feel it dulling me :)

Kane and I are just about to go to a Tex-Mex place around the corner for a cheap dinner 20RMB for soup and garlic bread and you get free corn chips and a fresh spicy salsa, 20RMB, that's about $4AU!!!!!

Have a great weekend,
Kelly

Shopping in Shangahi

We went to Shanghai on the train today. It was fun to go shopping. I got a pair of black crocs that I can wear to school, ordered 2 cashmere jackets, and two pairs of work pants as well, one was a silk cotton blend and the other was a silk wool blend using Aussie wool! Kane ordered a black shirt, 5 pairs on dress shorts for work and bought a new camera lense and some other gadgets to go with it. It was a full day of shopping and now I am pooped. Kane is drinking beer with a friend who also came with us down at the local shop. He'll be eaten alive by mosquitos by now!

There is only 28 days left now!!! 28 days... I can't believe how fast it is coming. We have heard from the shipping company that our household shippment should arrive in Wodonga on or around the 16th of July. That is good timing. It is long enough for us to have our other things from Dahle's in Leeton and short enough not to have to wait too long. It'll all go so fast I am sure.

I think I will sit down to a movie this evening. I watched 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' last night. I really enjoyed it. If ya'll can wait I'll bring the copy back home with me in a month. It's definately a girly flick.

Wierd Weather

It has been the wierdest weather the past two days. We've had two storms, but one minute it's calm, the next it's sunny, then it's raining and blustery. Make up your mind please! Plus it is forcast to storm each afternoon for the next 3 days/evenings.

We now have 4 weeks left here in China. Mostly we are organised to come home. Our shippment is in Shanghai awaiting for departure and should be ready to arrive in Wodonga from the 10th-16th of July. We are hoping to have our house by then, but it looks as though the current tenant is not finding what she is looking for. I hope she does.

Tomorrow is International Family Day at SSIS. It is a day where all the nationalities get together and share their food and culture. There are market-y stall around, fun activities, a raffle and silent auction, etc. It's heaps of fun and lots of food to taste. Kane and I are volunteers at the throw a sponge at a teacher stall! It is definately a community event.

We will go to Shanghai on Sunday to get some more clothes made before we come home. I want to get a pair of pants from Myer copied as I love them, and also a cashmere jacket for work and going out to dinner when it's cooler. Kane want's some work shorts tailored and some formal shirts made. We also think we will buy a camera lense for the good camera and maybe a new digital camera from Best Buys.

So thats about it, reports are ready to be put on the system on Monday, Parent-Student conferences are also on Monday, but they are no biggy for us as the student runs it themself.

So take care,
Kelly

Moving on up

It's moving week here in apartment 703. We have sorted through everything today and have a huge chuck pile, and heaps of stuff to send as well as suitcases full of stuff to take home on the plane. We still need to pick up our bikes which are being packed in boxes for the ship. My feet are sore and I am tired, luckily the removalist will come and wrap and pack for me. I only need to be here to make sure everyhting gets packed. They will be here at 10am tomorrow. I hope I get a good nights sleep tonight.

I have been to the dentist for which I hope is the 3rd last visit. Today he attached a temporary bridge. If it goes OK for the next 9 days, I can go in to get an impression for the real bridge. Then I will only need to go back and get it attached. After that during the last week I hope to go and get my teeth whitened, it's their birthday special and it really cheap.

So, here is to living in a semi-empty apartment for the next 5 weeks. I am looking forward to some closure on our shipment!

Kane got a job!

Kane had an interview on Monday morning at 6am China time (8am Australia time) and got a job teaching Grade 3/4 for the last 6 months of the school year when we get back. There was an incumbent in the position, so he really must have been the better man (no pun intended!!) I am so proud of him. He really wanted this job and tried really hard to do his research before the interview. So one of us is sorted, no it's just me who needs a job.

My Hens Night

What a night!!!

I got collected at 6.30 by my fairy god mother Erin and taken to Carla's house where everyone was dressed up as ugly step-sisters! I had to answer some questions about Kane and how I met and for each one I got correct, I got a present to open, the first one was a wedding dress to put on, and from then on jewellery to go with the outfit until I was dressed up to go out, but I only had one silver slipper :)

I opened some presents, some naughty (hehehe) and some nice.

As the night wore one, 4 wanna-be princes (!!!!), attempted to try on a slipper, but they didn't fit or match :(
At about mid-night, we stopped at our 3rd bar and everyone got off and made a chapel path with their hands in the air that I had to walk through while 'The Reason' by Hoobastank was playing in the background. And the end of the path was Kane in a gold crown with a bunch of flowers and the matching silver slipper. As we walked into the bar around 80 people were cheering and clapping!

It was such an awesome night.

And no hangover today, even better.

Kelly
xxx

Freakin Tired

...is what I am. It was sports day today. OMG, how exhausting. I have newly found or renewed respect for PE teachers. My voice feels broken from screaming kids names all day in the hot sun and wind. I just don't have the voice for that. Kane is much better at getting kids attention in an outdoor setting.

So, my team came last overall, and 2nd in the track and field events. "We are, we are, Phoenix"!

Luckily we had two former cheerleaders as our house leaders. They were great at motivating the kids, even though they were as exhausted as myself.

So tomorrow is the big day, my hen's night. I know I will sleep well tonight and I think I might need it in preparation for tomorrow evening.

Bye

Damn Blogger

Well sorry folks, it looks like I'll be adding no more photos to blogger for a while which is a shit, because we just got our furniture and it is wonderful. We both love the smell of new wooden furniture.

It is my Hens Night this Saturday evening. I haven't really given it too much thought because it has all been a surprise. I knew it was the 23rd, but what will happen and where we'll be is the surprise. However, the last few days the girls have been coming up to me saying stuff like, "are you looking forward to it?", "I can't wait", "I can't be there, and I'm sorry I can't', etc. It makes me think someone has gone to a whole heap of trouble and I haven't realised it yet.

I need to get through another root canal treatment before Saturday night though, but thankfully my dentist David is putting 1 of the crowns in on the right side of my mouth, finally, after 2 weeks, I'll be able to chew my food again.

Cheers

Week so far...

I now have a very long silk veil to go with my wedding dress. I can't stop looking at them both. I feel like a little girl wanting to play dress ups!!! Is that normal?

We get some furniture delivered this afternoon. I can't wait to see it, it'll be fabulous!

It's raining today, and this is my last free period for this week, as the sports days are on Thursday and Friday, so I really shouldn't be on here, but, it's nearly the end of the year and my dedication is waning.

My Ayi did not come on Monday so our house is quite messy. I can't wait for her to come on Thursday so that our house can become normal again.

Wedding Dress

I got my wedding dress today. I still can't believe that I have a wedding dress hanging up in the cupboard with 2 bridesmaid dresses. I am only waiting on the veil now.

Blogger Blocked Again

Hi everyone,

Please bare with us while blogger is blocked in China again.
Someone has obviously said something that has upset the communists!

Kelly

Almost everything crossed off the list

Today has been very productive. I have managed to fit in a trip to the framer, the silk shop to get a silk cashmere blanket, the dentist for visit number 13, and out to Dulwich for their international day. I bought two silk covered boxes out there. One we got as a keep-sake box of our time in China and we have put in it a few things to remind us of China and our trips while living here and the other is a silk box with a silk covered photo book with black pages. We will use it for the guest book/photos on our wedding day.

The last few weeks have been flat strap. I have had to write detailed lists on my calendar/diary to ensure that I had everything bought, collected or orgainsed by the time our shipment was to be sent. Well, our shipment day is only two weeks away now, on the 31st of May, although because it appears that it will not need as long in transit this time, we may have to push it back to the 6th of June. We need to be in the country before it arrives as it will only take 4-5 weeks this time. We have had our assessment and it looks at though we will be shipping around 9.5 cubic meters of 'stuff'. We have got some pretty good 'stuff' though... Wedding clothes, furniture, bikes, etc, etc.

I pick up my wedding dress tomorrow, Kane's suits will be here by next weekend it is anticipated, the furniture should be delivered this week and I pick up the final framed photographs next weekend as well as another cashmere blanket. I am going to see a tailor this Wednesday about getting a pair of pants copied as I love wearing them, I may get a few extra chopsticks from Carrafour before we go as we also like the Japanese style wooden chipsticks they sell.

All of this to think about and it is my 'Hen's Night' next Saturday 23rd. All I know is that someone will knock on my door at 6.30pm and take me somewhere... where... I don't not know, and that I will be out all night!!!! They're so sneaky, my girls here ;)

After that I have 4 weeks to go out to the pearl market to get my wedding jewellery made. Easy when considering how busy I have been in the last 6 weeks.

Take care,
Kelly

Update

Hi everyone,

I have a mid-week update for you all.

Our flights coming home have been confirmed!!!!

We will fly into Albury Airport at 1.20pm on Sunday the 5th of July.

One day before Kane's birthday.

Bye KK

xxx

Ping'an

On the 5th day on our holiday we took 4 buses to get to Ping'an. A small village of minority folk high up (800-900m) in a mountain village. The village is famous for rice terraces. It was truly amazing! Here are some pictures...

The rice terraces a 7 moons Lookout

A gully with villages houses in the background

9 Dragons lookout

Me with the minority folk and their record breaking long hair, this photos cost us 20RMB!!!!!

The village of Ping'an

Exploring the village

Exploring the village

On the final day we walked around a bit more, and then caught another 2 buses, 3 hours later we were back into Guilin only to take a taxi out towards where we came from... the airport. We got back to Suzhou at 2am, 11 hours after leaving Ping'an, God a hate the travel part, I love the being in a place part but, bring on teleportation I say :)

Yangshou

Yangshou is just gorgeous. I found it so different to Suzhou. For one, Yangshou has only 300,000 people living in it compared to Suzhou which has over 6 million. The sky was clearer, though never clear. The people were so lovely and helpful as well. We stayed 4 nights in a small village called Moon Village about 8 km's out of Yangshou town. It was just gorgeous. We stayed in a Chinese style 4 story house run by a lady named Wei Wei. She spoke excellent English, she was once a tour guide and so could tell us the best things to do and the average price, I still beat her price every time though!!!!We explored the city, rode a mountain bike through some old villages for 36kms and then took a 3.5 hour boat ride down the Yulong River on a bamboo raft push by a man and stick :) We hiked up moon hill and then went right to the top, a little scary if you ask me and Kane. Here are some pictures...

A gate house next to the Li River

Me standing by the Li River in Yangshou town

Kane with our hired mountain bikes during a ride along the Yulong River.

Kane on the raft on the Yulong River

Kane and I at the top of Moon Hill

A view from the top of Moon Hill looking into Moon Hill village

Holidays!

Hi everyone,

We hope you all have a great week. We are off to Guilin/Yangshou tomorrow. We will be away from a computer for a while, so take care, and we'll fill you in on our trip next weekend.

KK
xxx

More magnets

I got even more magnets today! Yahoo!
I only need to get about another 40 or so and I'll be a happy little cherub :)

We started holidays today and do you know how I started mine? With a wart being burnt off my wrist. The pesky little thing re-grew after 6 years a few months back. Oh well, now it will be gone again for I guess another 6 years.

So yes, back onto holidays, I am not ready for them. I haven't really been thinking about them or anything. They are here and I am like, huph... Pretty pathetic huh? I think I am thinking beyond the holiday to packing and moving etc. I am hoping after we get onto the plane I can turn off the 'moving' part of my brain cause I am ooooverrrr thinking and planning.

I need to clean the fishes bowl tonight as it has been upside down again for a fair few days. I am sure it consistently has a middle-ear infection that has affected its balance. Weird eh?!!!

OK, time to vegetate on the couch.

XXX

I got magnets

I pretty boring post today.

We got the shipping assessment done today. So the company who is send our stuff back knows how much we have to ship. Around 6-7 cubic meters, but I think it'll be a little more than that. We'll see.

I updated my Ipod music last night and there is some weird stuff on the charts at the moment. I just look at the US and OZ top 40 charts and download all the new stuff I haven't seen the previous month. SO I don't know if people are actually liking what I am listening to or not. My taste hasn't changed too much in the past 10 years though... Britney Spears still sings catchy songs. I love 'If you seek Amy'.

I just got given 53 big magnets to stick onto the wedding invitations. Ben rocks! He nicked them from the doctors clinic here in Suzhou.

We fly to Guilin on Saturday afternoon for 5 days. It is supposed to be very beautiful. It'll be nice to be away from Suzhou and SSIS for that time. And then the rocket 7 weeks until the end of the year.

More things crossed off the list today

I got a few more thing crossed off the list today. One was buying a silk long-stitch picture. I chose a canal scene of Shang Tang Jie, a famous street in Suzhou. It was 390RMB and I got it for 150RMB. It has a frame, but I will probably get it changed before we come home to be like all the others, it'll be cheap. It's a bad photo, but here it is:

Kane has had his crown put on and it looks really good. No more brown tooth for him. He is annoying the crap out of me the last few days, wanting to wrestle and the like and it is driving me insane. He needs to go out and run or something.

OK, off to make banana and walnut muffins.

PS - I also got the bonbonniere's sorted today.

Pictures and Framing

Kane and I got a few more of our jobs done this week. We went to the suit tailor and talked about the fabric and colours. They are going fabric hunting on Wednesday and will let us know when they have found a similar colour to the one we like. Then we can go and see the fabric before the make the suits.

I picked up my paper cuts from the framer, they look awesome! Here as some pictures:

We went this morning to get 8 big pictures printed and then went to the framers (at the same time I got my paper cuts) and all up, I can't believe how reasonable the prices are. We are stoked!

I have been this morning to get root canal treatment number 3. My mouth is still numb now. I will need to go back next Saturday morning to get it filled if all goes well. Then After the holiday I can begin getting the crown made if there is no more pain.

Kane is watching the ANZAC match at Mr Pizza right now. I have not gone down to join him yet. I am feeling a bit woozy/nauseous, maybe from the anesthetic and the Oreo cookie I just ate! He will go to the dentist tomorrow at 1pm to get his crown put on his front tooth.

On good news, we had some issues with Westpac to do with our interest over the last 2 years and due to Kane's wonderful persuasive writing and Mum's hints, we won! We will be receiving a nice little credit to our account in the next week.

We have the Anzac night at Ebony Restaurant tonight from 6pm, some big-wig from the Shanghai Australian Consulate will be there. We will have sausages in bread, The Last Post and two-up to remember those who have put their lives on the line for us.

... Lest we forget

xxx

Holy Crap

I feel shit this afternoon.

I got up this morning feeling dozy and that turned into a nana-nap at 3-4pm and now a headache and horrible taste in my mouth, my eyes hurt and man my head feels all blown up, like a balloon (I already said that - oops). It's a nasty day today, not cold but windy and rainy and grey.

But I did manage to get my measurements done this morning for my wedding dress, plus the bridesmaid dresses are being made. I need to go back to talk about the veil in 3 weeks which is when I need to have the second lot of measurements taken. After that, I met up with some friends in a touristy area and we bought some paper cuts. It's a Chinese art style where they cut light paper into pictures. Some are amazing. I bought 4 and have taken them to be framed. It's all very cheap, all up I think I have spent $60 today on them and framing. I will pick them up next week when Kane and I go to get some pictures printed and also taken them for framing to bring back home in 2 months and 2 weeks time.

Kane went to the dentist this morning to get his front tooth crowned. He has had a brown discolourment for a few years and it was getting worse. The tooth was dead in the X-ray so he chose to get a crown for it. The temporary one looks great, you can hardly notice it is fake, or that it is temporary. Next weekend he gets the real one out on. Plus it is all covered under school and insurance dental plans. I go for root canal treatment 2 tomorrow. Yay! I am looking froward to that... not.

I hope everyone has a nice week.

Kelly

xxx

Oops

I got the day wrong. Wedding dress measurements are tomorrow ditsy Kelly! As I found out when no one came out to catch a taxi with me this morning! Oh well, lets try again tomorrow. However, Kane and I did go and choose and put a deposit down on two pieces of furniture at Frank's Place. An upright enclosed TV cabinet/book shelf or buffet and a matching long low TV unit with wooden vertical strips in the door on both pieces. It will be delivered to our apartment in 4 weeks.

I had part of the root canal done this afternoon. How horrible. It took 5 injections to numb the damn thing. I was so tired by the end and it's not even finished, he could only get 1/2 way down the root so the dentist is expecting another two visits to complete the treatment. Oh well, anything to be able to eat without that tooth hurting. I have put up with that for nearly 4-5 years, whats 1 more week eh? I am so over dentist visits though, I think this was visit 5 (each one is at least an hour), hopefully I can get everything over and done with here and I won't have to go back unless it's a check up.

Alrighty, I'm going to chill out, tomorrow is another busy day.
Kelly
xxx

A busy weekend ahead

This weekend is going to be mental. Kane and I rode today which gets my exercise out of the way nice and easily, but leaves me shattered. Kane is out playing poker at a friends, while I tidy, try to fix the Norton Internet security program (frikkin thing), and get ready for tomorrow. What is tomorrow I hear you ask!!!.....

Tomorrow is measurements day!!!! Yay!

I go to get my wedding dress measured up, the bridesmaids started from their measurements. Kane is also going to get his suit measured and his grooms men's from their measurements. Stuff is starting to happen :)

But, poooh, I need to have a root canal done at 3pm :( I am not looking forward to that one.

On Saturday night there is a birthday party for Dom, Kane's teaching partner. I am not sure if I will make it due to the root canal, but we'll see how we go. Kane will go for a few.

Then on Sunday, I am going to have breakfast with Kirstin and Erin at Casa Zoe's and then we are going to go to Frank's Place to order some furniture, then go shopping for a silk picture and some paper cuttings to take home to hang on the walls. It's going to be a decorating and culture day! We might try to fit in a power walk if we have enough time too.

Have a great weekend,
Kelly
xxx

The Easter Bunny Came Early

I got a bike today! I have been thinking about it for months and months, first I couldn't find what I wanted, then it got too cold to even think about during winter. But today I took the plunge! I road it home and while the seat is harder than I am used too... I will have to suck it up or get a big fat juicy one. Kane is very proud of me :)

Here he is (the bike I mean):







I will will call him Arbow, its an anagram for the kids-riddle about a newspaper: black, white and red all over. Isn't he spunky? The shop 'Silverstorm', where Kane also bought his bike threw in a lock, stand, bell, drink bottle holder and drink bottle, all for around 2500RMB, which is around $500AU. Much better than what I could get back home for the same price me thinks. And as it is, I will only be using it on the roads here in China and in Wodonga.



Also, today was visit 4 to the dentist to begin work on the molar on the right side of my mouth. I have a temporary crown, and I will go back in two weeks to have impressions made to have the crown on my tooth before the end of the month. Next week I get my measurement taken for my wedding dress to be made :0

HAPPY

EASTER

everyone

Have an egg for us!

Luv Kelly and Kane

xxx

Moari Performance

For a small country, New Zealand is well represented at our school. There are about 15 Kiwi teachers out of 165 here at Suzhou Singapore International School. On Wednesday we were visted by a group of school girls from Rotorua Girls High School. They are in China to do a performance for the New Zealand Prime Minister as well as perform at the opening of a new New Zealand building in Shanghai.

They were supposed to perform at some schools in Shanghai but most of the International Schools are closed for Easter. We are one of the unlucky ones!! (What is an Easter egg in Suzhou I wonder?)

They were wonderful. They sung 2 Moari songs, did 3 dances, one with a pompom, one with sticks, and the girls version of the haka performance. They then got the children up to swing some pompoms to music and song.

At the very end it was requested that they sing the New Zealand anthem, so all the teacher and studnets got up who are from NZ to sing with them. It was a special morning for the NZ expats.