Back to the UK

The girls and myself are going back to the UK for a couple of weeks tomorrow night.  We are cramming lots into that time but I am acutely aware we won't have chance to see everyone we want to.  Apologies if we do not have chance to catch up with you, nothing personal I promise just not enough time. For those of you we are visiting really excited about seeing you.  I note that on the weather it looks like we may be bringing some sunshine with us. See you very soon xxxx

Happy Birthday Isy

Cannot believe Isy is 9.  She had a lovely chilled birthday, still made her go to her swimming lesson, what a cruel mother I am, good job she loves it.

Saudi Champagne anyone. NO cake Isy requested a big bowl of profiteroles. After opening her presents in the morning she was shocked to receive her other present at dinner.   Yummy chocolate sauce. Birthday celebrations round 2.  Friends round for a BBQ and they made her a cake, look at all those lovely strawberries. Thanks for the great cake Logan.

Sisterly Love

So tired at the end of term, ready for the hols.  Not long until we are back to the UK and the rain, cold etc.  You will miss the sun then girls.

Egypt Day at School

Amazing what you can do with an old sheet and some gold ribbon.  Isy off to Egypt Day at school, apologies as I failed to produce a camel or chariot for her to ride to school on so she had to cycle as normal.

Obviously the cycle helmet was not part of the costume.

Nadj Village

In Riyadh is a restaurant  called the Nadj Village, it is men only every day except Fri.  Eventually we booked a table/tent and went out for a traditional lunch there, we were not disappointed.

The view from our tented area into the centre of the restaurant. Relaxing on the cushions before coffee and dates. I didn't want to close the door so I could people watch so had to keep my Abaya on, Maddy just likes dressing up in hers. Thankfully the girls eat most foods wherever we go, here is tucks into date and Arabic Cardamon Coffee before lunch. slowing down a little now, this meal was supposed to serve 3 we barely did it justice. More Arabic Coffee for Isy. The food was traditional local food and it was lovely.  Adds to the fun when you have to figure out what you are eating. After a lunch we took a trip to the Wadi, obviously never too hot for Maddy to wear her Abaya. Chilling. A quick game of football, i played for a while but it was a little tricky and warm in my Abaya.

Photos from Swimming Gala

At the end of term we had a swimming gala for all the children from swimming classes and clubs.  It was a fitting end to the year's swimming which has seen both girls improve immensely.  I appreciate that I am not an amazing swimmer but Isy beats me at everything except back stroke.

Both girls did brilliantly and Maddy experienced the buzz of what it felt like to win all her heats,  proves she can swim when she wants to.  I was immensely proud of both girls, shame Rich was away.

Isy getting ready for her face race. Maddy not so sure to start with. looking more at home now. Isy getting ready for the big medley race. She's off, far more stylishly than me. Action shot. With a few of their prizes more to come.

Maddy and her Saudi Arabian Fancy Dress

Maddy has always loved dressing up and over here the opportunities are great. she has really entered into the spirit of it and given half a chance would go to the supermarket dressed like this. she does wear her abaya when we go out and receives many smiles from local women.

End of Term, Hooray

Well school finished here in early July and by that time it was so hot the poor children were really struggling.  However, it was manic here until the last day and school finished with an annual event called 'Salwa Olympics".  The children are divided into groups who represent different countries, they make decorations, dress up and parade from the school to the sports hall in their teams.  Isy and Maddy were in Team USA which meant that I had to get sewing stars and stripes!

Once in the sports hall they all compete in traditional sports day events, bean bag race, sack race, potato and spoon race (a local take, and a less messy one, on the egg and spoon race).  It was a fantastic event with loads of atmosphere, the children had a great time and it was a brilliant way to finish the school year.

PS Team USA won, yippee!

Maddy on her way to the sports hall.  At the end of the event we inherited the lovely sign she is carrying, unfortunately, I had to cycle home with it on my bike which wasn't so good with a sidewind. Bean bag race. Maddy really concentrating. Maddy flying, I didn't realise she could move so quick in a sack. Isy, blink and you miss her.  little Miss Competitive. Hooray we won! Home made t-shirts In a md moment I sewed lines of red ribbon onto Isy's to make the stripes, the sun must be getting to me.

Jubilee

For the Jubilee school had a competition to design a crown or produce a portrait of the Queen.  Isy and Maddy entered into the spirit of it and below are the results. Maddy's involved skewers and most of my kitchen foil, Isy's used different textured material and the necklace and earrings actually hung like the Queen was wearing them. Maddy won her class prize for the best crown and the school one, a nice gentlemen from the Embassy judged it and presented the prize so she was really pleased.  Bit embarrassing really though as the next week they had a recycling poster competition and after drawing hers over breakfast the morning of submissions she won her class prize.  Thank goodness no more art competitions for a while now.  Maddy has a bag of lovely Jubilee things as one prize and a matching roller ball and fountain pen set with a touch of gold for the other, I am having to hide this as she is determined to try out her new posh expensive pen!

Phu Quoc Island

This was our accommodation on the stunning Island of Phu Quoc, in the jungle right by the beach.  Amazing, and after all our other travels a chance to chill.  I was seen standing on the lovely loungers pictured above shooting for the girls and Rich to rescue me as we had a house guest!  They thought it was all extremely amusing and I received no sympathy.  Aside from the guest this was a wonderful place to stay. Rich checking out the place. The beach was lovely, clear waters and only the hotel guests there. Such a hard life Maddy and Rich having a Vietnamese cookery lesson, they cooked a 3 course lunch which they got to eat.  Maddy was in her element. Looking up from the beach to the bungalows.

Mekong Delta Homestay

On our second day in the Mekong Delta Maddy and I cycled about 20km, whilst Isy and Rich did 35km. we saw so much of life in the Delta and the girls had plenty of people shouting greetings to them On our second day in the Mekong Delta Maddy and I cycled about 20km, whilst Isy and Rich did 35km. we saw so much of life in the Delta and the girls had plenty of people shouting greetings to them On our second day in the Mekong Delta Maddy and I cycled about 20km, whilst Isy and Rich did 35km. we saw so much of life in the Delta and the girls had plenty of people shouting greetings to them At one point we stopped at a local market and took shelter from the rain, just like been in the UK only this rain was warm. We took the opportunity to buy some fruit but this time it ate it there rather than save it for the local wildlife At one point we stopped at a local market and took shelter from the rain, just like been in the UK only this rain was warm. We took the opportunity to buy some fruit but this time it ate it there rather than save it for the local wildlife At one point we stopped at a local market and took shelter from the rain, just like been in the UK only this rain was warm. We took the opportunity to buy some fruit but this time it ate it there rather than save it for the local wildlife The ladies in the market loved the girls blonde hair and fair skin and kept touching them. we were all very amused by their novelty. The ladies in the market loved the girls blonde hair and fair skin and kept touching them. we were all very amused by their novelty. The ladies in the market loved the girls blonde hair and fair skin and kept touching them. we were all very amused by their novelty. Everyone had to meet the girls and touch their fair skin, don't think Isy was too sure about all the raw meat she had to lean over here. Everyone had to meet the girls and touch their fair skin, don't think Isy was too sure about all the raw meat she had to lean over here. Everyone had to meet the girls and touch their fair skin, don't think Isy was too sure about all the raw meat she had to lean over here. Whilst Rich and Isy carried on cycling Maddy and I chilled in a cafe, not a bad life really. Did have problems ordering a coffee though as they spoke no English and my Vietnamese was very limited. Whilst Rich and Isy carried on cycling Maddy and I chilled in a cafe, not a bad life really. Did have problems ordering a coffee though as they spoke no English and my Vietnamese was very limited. Whilst Rich and Isy carried on cycling Maddy and I chilled in a cafe, not a bad life really. Did have problems ordering a coffee though as they spoke no English and my Vietnamese was very limited. A rest on the boat after the cycling. A rest on the boat after the cycling. A rest on the boat after the cycling. On our way to our accommodation for night 2 in a home stay, I have to admit I really didn't know what to expect and after the night before wash"t sure that I wanted to get any closer to nature. On our way to our accommodation for night 2 in a home stay, I have to admit I really didn't know what to expect and after the night before wash"t sure that I wanted to get any closer to nature. On our way to our accommodation for night 2 in a home stay, I have to admit I really didn't know what to expect and after the night before wash"t sure that I wanted to get any closer to nature. Home stay was fantastic! another hammock for Maddy to read more of "the Diary of a Wimpy Kid", very chilled. Home stay was fantastic! another hammock for Maddy to read more of "the Diary of a Wimpy Kid", very chilled. Home stay was fantastic! another hammock for Maddy to read more of "the Diary of a Wimpy Kid", very chilled. Beautiful gardens with pineapple plants, water lilies and much more. Beautiful gardens with pineapple plants, water lilies and much more. Beautiful gardens with pineapple plants, water lilies and much more. The view from the front of the home stay. The view from the front of the home stay. The view from the front of the home stay. Enjoying a relaxing drink before dinner, by the way the local beer in Vietnam was lovely (especially when you haven't had a beer in a while, i.e. months). Enjoying a relaxing drink before dinner, by the way the local beer in Vietnam was lovely (especially when you haven't had a beer in a while, i.e. months). Enjoying a relaxing drink before dinner, by the way the local beer in Vietnam was lovely (especially when you haven't had a beer in a while, i.e. months). We didn't realise we had to help cook dinner, this holiday was beginning to become a cooking holiday for Maddy who really was in her element. We didn't realise we had to help cook dinner, this holiday was beginning to become a cooking holiday for Maddy who really was in her element. We didn't realise we had to help cook dinner, this holiday was beginning to become a cooking holiday for Maddy who really was in her element. Perhaps not so impressed with her cuisine at this point. Perhaps not so impressed with her cuisine at this point. Perhaps not so impressed with her cuisine at this point. Assessing Daddy's cooking skills.                                              Assessing Daddy's cooking skills.                                              Assessing Daddy's cooking skills.                                              Isy looking like a professional, how much pressure did I feel under by this point! Everyone else had produced lovely Vietnamese pancakes. Yummy.