Flying!

...Time, that is! I CAN.NOT believe how fast this year has whizzed by. It's great, coz with each day, we are that wee bit closer to Mini. If only the CC.AA were "whizzing"! Still no news on this month's referrals. I hope that doesn't mean there are none?!!! Yikes, I only just thought of that, and that's not a nice thought!

It's Wednesday already! I just had my 3rd treatment in my "root canal regime" yesterday, and have my last treatment on Thurs. Yesterday, whilst they were drilling, prodding, stretching my check beyond recognition and hammering away at my tooth - I decided that I should look at the "time in the chair" as an opportunity, not as the horrid torturous hour that it was otherwise known as!! An opportunity to think... no kids interrupting, no husband yelling from another room, no phone ringing... just the dentist asking me every 10 mins or so, whether I was ok! (when I arrived at the dentist, I told him, I was on the tail end of a cold, and was hoping I wasn't going to drown in my own fluids... he said, very concerned "so do I!!!"... so he kept checking I was ok, and hadn't drowned!)

Anyway... back to my revelation. I've been stressing out, over where to send Miss M, for High School. The school the kids go to, is only Primary School (up to Grade 7). The High School we've planned (for about 3 years) to send her to, has had a change of Principal, and just doesn't seem to be the same. I've spoken to parents and kids alike, that go there - and they all seem to have the same answer "we're not happy". Urgh. What a pain. There is one school relatively close to us, that is a brilliant school - only ever heard rave reviews... that is if you want to pay $15,000+ per child, per year. I'm sorry. but after we put 3 kids through -we could've bought an investment property with that money!!!! Education is a very personal decision. Our neighbours worked solely to put their kids through a good college. I just don't want to do that. I want quality of life with my kids, not working day and night, just to educate them. I value education, don't get me wrong. I just don't want to spend every cent we have on it! I want a school, that not only has academics, but one, that will encourage my kids to think "outside the square". Both our kids, are definitely that way inclined. They both "people persons" and Miss M, already comes out with business ideas!!! My thoughts on education, are founded from our own experience. Both Mr T and I, went to Public Schools. I went to an Agricultural School, and Mr T to a Technical College. Mr T didn't do that well at school...and here he is, he's built a successful, growing, business from nothing. Academics isn't everything. Passion for what you are doing, is everything. (if you are passionate about academics - you'll be fantastic at academics) My kids aren't the smartest in their classes, I wouldn't say either of them are terribly academic, at all - but they have loads of personality and enthusiasm - they will be brilliant, at whatever they want to do, as long as they do it with passion and enthusiasm.

That's my opinion, anyway!

On a completely unrelated note... lets move onto my bedroom...

I picked my King Size quilt up from the quilting lady yesterday! I cut and sewed... even DESIGNED the quilt, myself! And my quilting lady sews the backing, wadding (filling) and top sheet together - and the last photo shows the design I chose - hearts with a flower/leaf design in the heart! Mr T says it's so pretty, he may just wake up, kissing himself! Yeah, he's a real comedian! I have to "bind" it (sew the edging on... which has to be hand-sewn... ewww), lucky it's winter, I can do it while I watch TV in front of the fire!!! This will be our Summer quilt, so I've got a bit of time up my sleeve! I wanted to make a "pastel/floral" quilt, and thought I'd throw in a few "spots & stripes" for good measure. The "denim blue" fabric, is a bit darker than I wanted... but it had teeny tiny ladybugs on it, so I had to have it! I'm really happy with it. I'm guess I'm especially chuffed with myself, as I made the pattern up... all by myself - and for someone that has no idea what they are doing, I reckon it turned out ok!

Birthday Madness!

The month of May, particularly late May, is party-party-party for our family! I'm sure every family has a month, that is just crazy-silly with loads of birthdays. Ours is May. Miss M was born one day after Mr T's birthday. She was induced, and Mr T wanted me to be induced on his birthday, but they weren't doing those procedures, so she "slipped" into the world one day later!! I'm sure that's waaay too much info, hope no one was eating!

So my 3 words, is in honour of our first born... our baby girl,

And Happy Birthday to my main squeeze...

Geez, what a sexy couple! No wonder we're still in love... what's not to love, right?!! Sorry, my Mum always said, "self praise is better than none"... I think I've got it down-pat?!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR T, you ARE the best husband in the world... not perfect, coz we all know no-one's perfect... (just in case you get a big head, and decide that gives you permission to do nothing!!!) ...but you are simply the best.

My week so far

I wasn't going to post, coz I thought, nothing's really happened... but when I look back over the last 4 days - alot has really happened! To be truthful, I'm just feeling all a bit "blah". Just can't be bothered doing anything.

Saturday night, although still feeling pretty seedy from the food poisoning on Friday night, we went out to dinner, with our ops manager, his partner and some very good friends. I ate my grilled chicken, even had a cocktail (which I probably shouldn't have done!). I woke up feeling pretty ordinary Sunday morning, we picked the kids up from Mr T's sisters, and stayed for a while. Next, we went to an electrical store to spy out a new TV. Our treasured $200 TV from "the cheap shop" had bitten the dust (after 5 years!). Oh! The decisions! There was Plasma and LCD, there was Digital and High Definition, there was FULL HD and built in tuners! How the hell are you sposed to pick one?!!! We ended up snaggling a display model, 127cm or 47" LCD, FULL HD TV. It looked pretty big in the shop... but at home it looks ENORMOUS!!! It's pretty funny, really, people seem to think, that because we own our own business we are loaded. You wouldn't believe the amount of people that come round and say "Oh! You don't have a Plasma?" What the?!!! As if that matters?!!! I was more than happy with my $200 TV. Anyhoo, we got a bargain, (albiet substantially more than $200!) and have an enormous kick-a$$ TV, just to concrete everyones impression, that yes... we truly are rich! ...in debt!

Yesterday, was my good friend's birthday HAPPY 39TH BIRTHDAY, KARYN! Yes... now the world knows you're 39!!! All 6 of my readers! In the morning, after doing uniform shop at school, I went to a "Jelly Baby Month" morning tea. Jelly Baby month is to raise money for Juvenille Diabetes. One of H-Man's good friend's has Type 1 diabetes. From about 50 ladies, we managed to raise $1,600! Almost tripled the organisers expectations! Absolutely fantastic. I went home and flew through my house (cleaning) like Tassie Devil. Made tea for the fam, then got ready to go out to dinner. I took my "birthday friend" out to a China Earthquake Fundraiser dinner. We couldn't stay right til the end, but when we left, they had raised about $200,000!!! Holy guacamole!!! It was a very interesting night, put on by the local Chinese Community. We had a chinese banquet, and they sold raffle tickets and auction items. The Chinese Student Association, in our State, donated $9,000 on their own. I was absolutely blown away.

So it has been a very productive week. I hope that all the money raised for the different causes, is put to very good use, and truly makes a difference to someone's life.

3 word Sunday

Its been a week of prayer in our house this week. With the shocking news of little Maria Chapman being tragically killed, to the rising death toll & homeless in Sichuan, China. And I even called out to God, to help me, last night, as I had a shocking case of food poisoning. It appears that toilet bowls and I have made quite a bond, over the last month?!! I'm alot better this morning, after Mr T called out a locum (after hours doctor) last night, at 1am. Fear not - I have no pictures of that event!!!

Here are my two 3 word Sunday pics.

27?

I think I'm up to 27. I've lost count.

No mood for cute pictures this month.

I feel like taking the 27 and jamming it right up...

well I'm sure you get the picture.


EDIT:
Good grief - I've just read this on Deb's blog, and want to put it out there - PLEASE prayer for the Chapman family, it appears Steve Curtis Chapman (and family) have just lost their youngest daughter, Marie, in a tragic motor vehicle accident. Here is the newspaper article. I can't even imagine what the family must be going through. Please pray for them.

Prospective is everything.

China Earthquake & added whinge-fest

I'm sure most of you are being updated on the Earthquake that hit Sichuan province in China. I've been getting daily updates from Half the Sky, (charity organisation for Orphans in China), and each day the death toll rises.

The current statistics are:
There are 34,073 people confirmed dead, 245,108 injured, still more than 35,000 still missing.
Our morning news, also reported that more than 5 million people are homeless.

It truly boggles the mind. Please continue to pray, and financially support the Aid Organisations supporting Sichuan.

Note:

*PATHETIC SELFISH WHINGE-FEST FOLLOWING*




So while the earth is closing in on China, I feel the world is closing in on lil 'ole me. Every woman and her dog (literally!) are having babies. 5... yes FIVE... friends from Church and school have had babies in the last couple of weeks, and 3 more are due in the next couple of months. I am so happy for them all, really I am. I love nothing more, than to cuddle newborns, buy cutsie baby clothes - and just join with them to celebrate a new member of their family. But when I'm home on my own, all I can think about is Mini's room, just waiting for her. Her brother and sister, waiting for her. Her drawers of little clothes, waiting for her. Her Mummy and Daddy... desperately, waiting for her. Its just crap, really. Each month, we seek out how many days have been allocated with so much anticipation, only to be kicked in the guts, again, to discover they got through 3 days. I can't tell you how annoying and frustrating it is.





In true Lee-Anne fashion, I sought the comfort of the shops. Those neatly stacked aisles, red sale tags flapping in the gentle heated breeze, the choice of colours, every gadget known to man. No, I probably don't NEED anything. But "comfort" shopping isn't about NEEDING. So here are my purchases... ridiculous, since entering her room gives me so much pain... yet the satisfaction of adding to her closet brings me joy. Bitter-sweet.

White whicker baskets, lined with white fabric and come with choice of 4 coloured bows. (note: I didn't buy all the dolls and teddies! Most have been given to Mini). The teddies will have to find another home, at a later date - I'd like to use the baskets for wipes, nappies and that kind of stuff.

Cushie loo seat! How cool is this! It folds up, so you can put it in your bag, for when you're out and your toilet training!!! Miss M, had a cushie loo seat, but it wasn't foldable. These things are fantastic! And check out the cutest little dolly, you ever did see. She's only little (about 20cm high), and she has a little bell/rattle in her!!! Her hair is made out of ribbon, for that "touchie feelie" urge. Apart from her PVC face, she is all soft and squishy. I love her. She is definitely coming to China with us!

And lastly, the piece d'resistance! A gorgeous red chinese brocade nappy bag. I've got a backpack for our China trip, and wasn't going to get another nappy bag... but I've been eyeing this baby off for a while now... and when you're in the mood I was in today... the bag was coming home!!! Not only is it gorgeous, but it is covered in clear pvc - so any spillage can be easily whipped off. Its got lots of pockets inside, and a thermal lined pocket for bottles. It also has a matching change mat! I think I forgot to mention - it was also 30% off, making it $37!

I do feel better. Although I sense another bout of depression, when my visa bill comes in!

3 word Sunday

I know 3 word Sunday is supposed to sum up your whole week, but I had a very boring week! H & M played "Mulan" yesterday! I heard Miss M say "You may look like a bride, but you will never bring your family honour!"... I can only assume, that H-man was Mulan?!!! Unless she was telling him what to say, which is usually the case! I think, H-man wanted to skip the first half of the movie (acting), and get to all the fighting!!!

China Holiday - Photo Saga...

You know that 8gb stick we downloaded all our photos to, and how they are all corrupted and we can't see them or use them? Well, they are gone forever. Our I.T guy has had it, tried to work his magic, to no avail. Apparently one of the "business centre" computers I used to download our camera, had a different format, and that's why I can't view most of them. The ones that I can see, that are corrupted, were put on in another format again.

I've been thinking about it, and I'll take the stick to China with us, when we go for Mini, and see if a photo shop there, can get them off - I'll get them printed.

So - word of wisdom - either don't download anything while overseas, or make sure you take all your own equipment. I was paranoid about someone stealing the camera, or something happening to the camera, so I downloaded photos every couple of days. Next trip, I'll most likely be taking my laptop, so I'll download to it, but won't erase the camera memory card, like I did last trip. If I don't have my laptop, I'll have a couple of camera memory cards, and download when I get home.

Hey, you live and learn. We ended up with a few photos from Xi'An (terracotta warriors) and Hong Kong Disneyland, as Miss M had taken some with her camera. Plus we have movie. So, although I'm still sad, I lost most of my photos - there is always an upside.

Happy Saturday!

Mr T's pressie!

It's Mr T's birthday at the end of the month. I've been researching his present for a while now... and settled on THIS!

Ahhh... it's lovely! (oh! it's on the counter, because I gave Mr T the option to open his present early... all for HIS benefit, of course!)

The grinding of coffee beans, is about the only action this house is seeing this week!

I looked!

I found a lovely sounding property, in the hills, on 2 acres... I went to the open inspection... bad move.

Ahhhh - it's gorgeous. I absolutely loved it. Mr T still isn't keen on moving. Why did I look?!!!

Here's the view:

Here's a side view of the house:

It's only 2 bedrooms, but heaps of room to extend (which from personal experience, would take about 6-8 months)... I can live with 2 bedrooms for 6-8 months!!! New upgraded Blackwood kitchen, with huge new stainless steel stove. Loads of built in wardrobes. Room for a pool. And still room for the kids to play, and ride their motor bike. It even has a large chicken coop (complete with chickens) and 2 goats!

I cannot shake the feeling or, wanting (?!) to move. Is it just itchy feet? Mr T says he wants to move, but interstate or overseas!!! Surely a few suburbs over is easier?!! We are strong believers in God, and I've been praying that God confirms/directs what we're sposed to be doing, and I just can't shake this "moving" thing. Mr T is praying too... but isn't getting the same vibe - how frustrating is that!!!

3 word Sunday x 2

And a wish for all my friends with babes in arms, grown up babes and babes in waiting... and especially to the sexy chick on the right...

Insane

It appears that for the entire month of April c.c.a.a were flat out allocating a massive 3 days worth of files. Did some one say "speed up, pre-olympics"? Yeah right.... we're going so fast, I'm giddy.



Current Logged In Date (allocated up until): 12 Jan 2006

Our Logged In Date: 22 Feb 2006

Days between current & our date: 41 days

Divide by last months allocations (to get an average in months to wait): 13 more months

Making our total wait time, for an allocation: 39 months



Another joyful factor - the Olympics - I'm betting we get a total stoppage of Allocations in August, and maybe even Sept.



Insane.



*Root canal went well, although have a toothache and headache now.... thank goodness for Nurofen plus - a toothache's best friend!*

Gifts for 11

Miss M will be "11" at the end of the month... and I'm at a loose end as to what to get her! She got all the things, she'd planned to, in China. A silk parasol, a traditional fan, a chinese dress and a "china" doll (she actually came home with 3 china dolls - 1 china, 1 fabric and 1 wooden!) She has written a list:
Littlest pet shop figures (she already has about 20 though - how many can a girl have?!!)
a skate board (I don't really want to get her a skate board - H-man has one)
and money

Ho-hum. I'm thinking I might give her our old queensize bed, that's in the spare room. She'll get it eventually, but I was thinking, maybe we'll give it to her earlier - I've got some really nice funky linen for her too. Mr T was thinking of giving her a puppy! One from our friend's litter - they'll be ready right on her birthday. I said, I'd leave it up to Mr T to decide. The pup will set us back $400... hmmm "free bed" or "$400 dog"?!!! Yeah, I know, I'm tight. No wonder my friend's say I'm tighter than a fishes bum! So, if you have any (cheap!!) suggestions, let me know!

On another exciting note, I have my first root canal treatment tomorrow. Joy. I actually had a nightmare about it the other night - I woke up all sweaty!!!

China pics

This is about all you're going to get. Have got a "Data Doctor" programme and will attempt to restore the crappy pics.

Here's "a few" pics of our first 4 days, in Beijing. (you'll probably be thankful, the rest of our pics didn't work out, or you'd be viewing tourist pics for hours!!!)

*This is my 200th post on this blog! What a good way to celebrate!*

*!@%$#@*&^

I am beyond pissed right now. I've just downloaded all our photos.... to the 8GB stick that Mr T purchased in Beijing. I've just open the photos, and every single one of them is ruined. They have stripes of colour through them, they look as they 2 photos have merged into one. I feel sick.

I'm SOOOOO annoyed with myself that I didn't transfer the last 200 that were on the camera directly to my laptop, then copy to the stick... but no, I thought I'd put them all in one place coz Mr T will want them all on his stick, then I'll transfer to my hard drive.

I'm so ticked, I'm not even going to try and salvage a few, right now. We have Beijing on my stick from home. And they're all good.

Woo-sa. Breath in, breath out.

Another tip to add to list - DO NOT BUY ANY COMPUTER GEAR IN CHINA. MAKE SURE YOU BUY AT HOME - AS ITS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR HOME SYSTEMS.

G'Day Australia!

We're home! Sorry didn't post from Hong Kong - but we were SO busy, meeting Mickey & his friends, watching the wicked stage shows, lining up for ages for rides, swimming in the "piano shaped" pool, sunbaking, and of course buying tacky materialistic-mickey souvenirs!

Oh! Within the hour of publishing, my last post, (sprouting off that no-one had been sick) - I was hugging that porcelain bowl like it was my long lost friend... nasty! Damn that Murphy's Law!!! Once I got rid of everything (and then some), I was much better. AND I had to do it all in the dark, because Mr T was out having a massage, and took the key card with him - so I had no power in the room!!! Now that's some skilled heaving!!!!

Yes, I do intend to take my laptop on the next visit, as we'll be leaving the kids at home, and will need to "sk.ype" them! PLUS, I know you'll all want to be seeing the "main attraction" (Mini!).

I thought I'd do a quick run down on our experience in the "Great Orient".

Things that surprised me:
*how "clean" Beijing was - assuming they're in overdrive for the Olympics?
*how few people speak english
*how many people can "read" english, but not speak it?!!
*how many trees were in Beijing (I expected a concrete jungle)
*how much pollution was in Xi'An
*how hard the beds were (everywhere)
*how we could find our train gate, without speaking a word to anyone (showed our ticket and did lots of hand-signing!)
*the sense of "awe" when standing in the same shed as the terracotta warriors
*how humid Shenzhen & Hong Kong was!
*how "mountainous" Hong Kong was!
*Hong Kong Disneyland is SO clean - you could eat off the ground (I didn't.)
*how beautiful the country is
*our city has been established since 1836, we saw places that existed 6,000 years ago!!!
*how much I enjoyed the "local" cuisine
*Snickers are delicious no matter where you eat them!
*Disney Hollywood Hotel has no room service... is it ok for the kids to eat a Mars bar for dinner? (only on holiday, of course!)

Take with you:
*disposable razors
*ladies sanitary products
*packets of lollies (we like the "jelly" lollies, China like hard lollies)
*the "right" charger for your phone (yes... I'm a moron, and packed the wrong one... what a tossa-pot!)
*SMALL suitcases - ours were awesome. All 4 fit into every boot of every taxi.
*poo-stop pills
*spew-stop pills (will be taking some of these next time!)

Leave at home:
*hmmmm.... don't know about that - we used everything we brought! (except my phone charger!)

Something to think about next time:
*don't go the first week of May or the first week of Oct - China has a national "labour" holiday - they ALL go to Disneyland!!!! OMG! It was so busy in Disneyland. Lucky it's (apparently) a relatively small Disneyland!

My Summary:
I've decided to call it "an experience" rather than a "holiday". We didn't have time to relax - but I wouldn't change a thing about our trip. It was ALL an experience. I loved that I organised the whole thing. At one airport we were talking with some American's who were on a "tour". One lady wasn't that chooffed with the "tour". She said some people weren't physically able to "walk" around some sights, so they didn't go. We booked a couple of "main sight" tours, and winged it, the rest of the time! We hung out with the locals, at their parks, flew kites, cracked whips (video to come!) and ate in their restaurants. Our next China trip will be very different. I'm SO glad we had the opportunity to do this trip. From start to finish. Awesome.

Videos & slideshow will be coming... we only took about 600 photos - so I'll try and narrow it down!!!

Ni Hao Shenzhen!

Zia Jian Bejing! Ni Hao Xi'An!
Yeah Man, we're really getting into the language here... that's our entire vocab!!! Oh, and Xie Xie - which is thank you (pronounced in Australian as "She Sh!t"!!!)

Somehow we reached our gate at the Train Station, to catch our train from Bejing to Xi'An. Holy cow - there was the entire population of Adelaide in there!!! We were some kind of sideshow at the Train Station with every pair of Chinese eyes watching our every move! NO ONE spoke english there, so we managed to stop 5 different people, at various points, to point us in the right direction of our gate! We managed to make out our carriage no. & bed no.s on our ALL chinese ticket, too! We were very relieved to plonk ourselves down into our little cabin (2 bunk beds and a little table.) We were very fortunate to have and english speaking Chinese couple, who'd lived in Canada for a little while, in the next cabin - they offered to help us get out of the station in Xi'An and get us a taxi. We didn't sleep very well on the train - I was paranoid we'd miss the station in Xi'An! And the "beds" were pretty much a plank of wood with a few pieces of material on it... hard doesn't seem to really describe it! BUT don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining - just describing... it was an amazing experience, and we're so glad we did it. We arrived in Xi'An at 650am. Our hotel there was pretty ordinary. What a snob I am!!! Oh! I forgot to mention, that as we emerged with the huge crowd out of the train station, a man came up to us, and said in perfect english "You want a taxi?" We spoke very good english, and offered to come back later to take us for a short tour of the city. Our Hotel looked out to the "City Wall" - which was just amazing. Its higher than the "Great Wall" and wider too - about 20m high x 7-8m wide (my rough estimation) - with a moat around it too! The taxi man came back after we'd had a shower and took us to Maccas (we were starving!) then took us to BanPur Village (not sure of spelling) - it's the site of a village estimated to have been inhabitated 6,000 years ago! We even saw dead people (their bones, anyway!) H-man was all a bit scared - he's watched too many cartoons where skeletons come alive, and was worried, they'd come get him!!! Next we went to a Pottery place where they make replica "Terra-cotta warriors"... naturally we were persuaded to buy a set at a ridiculous price!!! They are so persuasive!!! Weather is great too. Around 30 degrees.
The following day, I'd booked a tour to see the Terra-cotta Warriors. ABSOLUTELY.AMAZING. It is all you'd expect and more. And you'd be proud - at this momument, I kept my dinner down!!! It is so incredible to be standing there, looking at these figures, that were hand-sculptured so many years ago. I wondered what the people were thinking when they were creating these masterpieces. We also went to the City Wall, where Mr T and the kids rode bikes around it (in the 30 degree heat!). I rested in the "shadow" (otherwise known as the shade, at home!!!) The next day, we went to the airport to fly to Shenzhen... here's where we hit our first snag.
My online booking (and PAYMENT) for our flights... didn't seem to go through - and the "wonderful" (*note: huge dose of sarcasm here*) neglected to let us know. THANK THE LORD, we were there very early, and decided to check with the ticketing counter, whether we needed a physical ticket. No one spoke english, so the girls hunted down someone who could - and she let us know we had no booking. The girls behind the counter rang the "booking agent" and then handed the phone to me. The girl, in very broken english, explained that they could not book the ticket. "I've paid!" I said. She said they refunded the money. I was NOT happy. Thankfully, we were informed we could book a ticket. 4140 yuan (about $600)... CASH. We kept telling them we only had credit... no... cash only. What the?!!! Steam was now coming out of my ears. We were pointed in the direction of a cash machine. We could only take 2500 yuan max out of one card - again, THANK THE LORD we brought 2 cards with us!!! We finally got the cash, and our tickets. *breathe in - breathe out.... it'll all be ok*
We arrived in Shenzhen to a FANTASTIC hotel "Best Western Felicity Hotel". Stunningly luxurious for our tiny $70 something dollars per night!!! We are on the 23rd floor!!! Yikes!!!! AND it has a glass lift, so you can enjoy all 23 floors... I haven't enjoyed it yet, my sweaty hands are clinging to the hand rail, and I've got my eyes squeezed shut) I love Shenzhen! I forgot to say - Xi'An has amazing history, but also has amazing pollution. Really gross. Shenzhen, is lovely! Hardly any pollution.
We met one of our suppliers (for our business back home) today. I asked if the huge building across the road was for shopping, she said no. But when we went over there it is! Instead she took us to the "shopping mall"... Louis Vuitton, Choppin, Porsche, Gucci and all the other hideously expensive shops are!!!! I want the "knock-offs" - not the real thing!!! Think I'll be walking across the road tomorrow, for my knock-off!!!

We are all doing great. Other than, we all have a cold (Mr T had one, then we all shared the train cabin... also shared the bugs!) - we haven't been sick (other than my chuck on the Great Wall... but I don't count that - that was me... not the food!) Our little wheelie bags have been marvellous - and I'm planning on how we can squeeze our stuff and baby's stuff into 2 little baggies for the next trip! We've met 2 families visiting here, from our own city, in Australia - which is AMAZING! And another Perth family were with us on a tour. On of the families from Adelaide were travelling with their 2 kiddies, adopted from Korea. They'd spent a week and half in Korea and one week in China, and were just one their way home. It was so good to speak to people from home!

I'm sorry to bore you with our sightseeing...but it's SO cool! We're having a great time - although exhausting. It certainly a trip that we will never forget.

PS I haven't been able to actually "view" my blog, so thank you, if your commenting, I can't wait to read them when we get home!

Knee How from Beijing!

(yes, I know I spelt it wrong - I did that on purpose!!!)　擦！I think this computer wants to type in Chinese?!! OMG！ Monday, we travelled all day - we were up at 4am (although some tossa rang Mr T at 1am, so I was actually up at 2am! And didn't get into our hotel room til about 10pm. A loooooong day! The kids did awesome! H-man only got up a couple of times, to stretch his legs, and slept for about 2 hours as well.



Tuesday, our first day as tourists in the Chinese capital. Ｉ had scheduled a tour for our first day, but changed it about 3 days before we left home, thinking it might be a bit much to be touring our first day! THANK GOD I DID! We got up at about 730am, thanks to H-man, waking us all up, and went down to an amazing buffet breakfast. our hotel Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven, is fantastic! The service is great, beds are a little hard, and pillows a little too soft - but hey, when in Rome - right?!! The Chinese Sports Institute here have put in some new rule, that in all public pools, swimming caps must be worn - so we had to buy hideously expensive swimming caps from the hotel... all to look like condom-knob-head morons to have a swim! Note: It was NOT hot outside, a chilly 11 degrees - but the indoor pool was lovely! We went for a walk to find "Temple of Heaven" only to wander the streets, with no idea where we were going! We found a local park, where we were definitely a sideshow, then had lunch at a local restaurant, where we were put in the front window... on display! I've since found out - there are no other "International"Hotels in the area!



Wednesday, Great Wall / Ming Tombs tour day! We had to be out front by 745am, so had to be up by 6 to shower & breakfast. Ming Tombs wasn't as "cool" as I expected... maybe I thougth we'd actually see the dead guy?! The Great Wall, was all and more than I expected! OMG! It was soooo steep. I've read it a thousand times in people's blogs/stories... but being there, looking up at it, and then chasing your 6 year old son up it - totally different story!!! We all made it to the top! And if you asked my kids what was there memory of the Great Wall? They'd say with much pride and gusto "My Mum puked at the top of the Great Wall!" Yes, you read that right. I puked. It was horribly embarrassing!!! I don't know whether I'm sooo unfit, that my poor old body, just couldn't cope with the exercise, or whether it was the heights or whether it was the massive buffet dinner we'd just consumed... but one thing is for sure - I left something of me, on the Great Wall!!! Of course our diligent guide, made sure we stopped off at the local Jade and Cloisonne factories! i scored a beautiful jade bracelet for Mothers Day & the kids got a pendant each. I'm sure we were hideously ripped off.... but hey, I got a beautiful piece of jewellry - and longevity, now, right? We didn't get any cloisonne (my hubs is now stone broke!) And finally today, we saw an acrobat show which was absolutely amazing - I highly recommend it, if in Beijing. We got the DVD, coz we couldn't take photos or movie. We flagged down a cab to take us back to our hotel, and hit the jackpot with "Mr Loony Toons"!!! I swear this dude was high! He actually spoke good english, and loved to sing. He'd break into song mid sentence! We filmed him, he was so hilarious. Poor H-man was so tired, he kept asking if the guy knew where he was going!!!



So far - it's been an amazing trip. Hope to post again, from Xian - we go there in a couple of days.

Photo above: "pre-pukage"

*sorry tried to download more photos, but I can't compress them here, so they're not downloading!

　

Zia Jian (did I spell that right?!!)

Bags Packed

4 Little baggies, all in a row. Lets hope, in the cabin, they will stow!
(I just realised, they're all very colour co-ordinated aren't they?!!)

Clothes Packed ~ check

Camera packed ~ check

Vegemite packed ~ check

DVD player ~ check

Kid's DS packed ~ check

Phone charger ~ check

Passports and tickets ~ check

Cash ~ oh sh!t, we don't have any money!!!

*note to self: set alarm for the wee-hours... must be at airport at 430am*

Yes... 430am... what crazy fool booked our first flight for 6am (and then forgot you need to be at the airport 90 mins ahead of an international flight)?!!! BTW, my in-laws are staying at our place, and there's the psycho-Kujo-like attack dog, just in case your thought you might call in whilst we're out!

Well folks, this is it...

"hi-ho hi-ho its off to China we go!"

*EDIT* Its 3:09am - I've been awake since 1am, when some toss-pot phoned. After an hour of tossing and turning, I got up, and having been reading blogs.... only about 90 mins before we need to be at the airport! I figure its ok, to be up now, I'll have plenty of time to sleep on the plane!

Week wrap

Another crazy week, its 20 to 1am, Saturday morning - I'm a bit blury, so I won't bore you with the details of the week!

2 more days til we board that plane! Can you believe that I've packed 4 little baggies, each weighing only 7kgs (15lbs)? 7kgs to get us through 16 days! 3 little plastic baggies with our liquids in, to show at the checkpoint. I'm not taking my straightener... which could make for some scary pictures, but I don't want the airport to confiscate it, or worse, have it blow up in China! And, I've decided not to take my laptop. I'm going to try and use the business centre's at the Hotels. I'd like to download photos to a memory stick while I'm there. So hopefully, I'll be able to get it to read in English, so I know what I'm doing!

Here's my 3 word Sunday

As busy as I am... I can't help feeling "jipped". (ripped off/its not fair/duped) I'm not feeling overly positive or enthusastic about our file collecting dust in China. I've got an awful gut-feeling that we won't be seeing Mini til next year. Which just sucks, well and truly.

I'm totally psyched that we're getting on a plane on Monday morning, to go see the awesome country, that China is... but the closer it gets, the more sad I feel, that this isn't the reason we initially bought the tickets. Maybe I'm all sad, coz its quarter to 1 in the morning, Mr T is snoring, and I can't sleep. Maybe its PMS. Maybe I'm just a loony. Whatever the reason, my heart is feeling sad tonight.