House Warming

Nearly two months to the day after our arrival we held our house warming with a good bunch of new friends. In typical fashion there were many cocktails and much food. The dishes included Fish Amok and a Curry which gave the night a nice link back to where we had come from. Shawn, you would have been proud of the cocktail list, with two blenders going producing Lime & Raspberry Daiquiri’s and Pineapple & Chili Margaritas. Many Cosmopolitans have been made with your shaker since our arrival also, Thank You.

Clancy’s School

When we first arrived Clancy was enrolled at the Ocean of Light, a self proclaimed International school. While it has nice grounds,on a teaching perspective it is only just adequate and we felt there could be a lot more the school could be doing. We weren’t comfortable that teacher and program development was a significant enough part of the school focus, which in turn reflects poor opportunity for the students. There is a new school being developed, led by a number of Kiwi teachers at an old derelict university. It is very basic, although internally the classrooms are well stocked and presented. However, the difference in what they deliver in a class room and what their goals are for students, versus that of the Ocean of Light, are light years apart. After three weeks at Ocean of Light we got a call from the ACTS Community School with a place for Clancy so we moved him the first week back from term break. He is enjoying it and comes home happy everyday as he did at the other school, but we are happier that he is getting a planned and well thought out education. The down side is that most of the expatriate kids go to Ocean of Light, but through play dates and our normal socializing he gets to see all of them anyway.

Anny’s Birthday

Clancy and I made a white chocolate iced pink lamington for Anny’s Birthday, served with Champagne peach berlinis. The berlinis went to her head and the power went out for two hours so the cake was all she got to eat.

The Walton-France Fashion Spectacular

Dominic and Hannah’s daughters and their friends had a creative day making fashions which culminated in a fashion parade (mc’d by the brothers), giving adults a chance to dress up and drink champagne.