Change of Weather

This time of year in Hong Kong is always delightful.
After a long very humid hot and stormy summer the weather changes to cool nights, dry sunny days and clearer skies.
Walking up the hill to the bus is no longer a sweaty chore, sitting on the balcony in the afternoon is pleasantly breezy and warm, and hiking becomes the pastime of the week.
I have just returned from attending Year 5 and 6 Camps. Week One - Year 5- was spent up in a National Park where we hiked around the island of Tap Mun (Grass Island). We were rewarded with this stunning view looking out towards the east coast of the USA.
Week Two- Year 6 was spent on the island of Lantau, where we visited the Big Buddha. I loved this sign, displayed in the gardens around the Monastry, and will enlarge the photo to stick on my fridge at home.

Photo Update!

* - MY POST - MY POST - MY POST - *



KOH SAMUI
top: katherine, katie, maddie
bottom: julia, fiona, luke, yoyo, jackie


AUSTRALIA
alec on the beach in his $17 wetsuit :]


AUSTRALIA
all of us on the beach, alec, helen, mum, catie, julia


AUSTRALIA
auntie cate's house before we left... julia, catie, alec, eliza, helen


MANILA
at 'intramuros' the walled city (with our historic hotel in the background...)
alec, mum, helen, catie, julia, dad


CEBU
mum on her wedding anniversary... <3 <3 <3 AWWWW


CEBU
there was a massive typhoon so we were indoors A LOT
this is my creation: alec in my jumper HAHAHAHA doesnt he look happy


CEBU
dinner! catie, dad & julia


CEBU
dinner with the whole family!
mum, helen, alec, catie, dad, julia


* - THE END - *

Anon Comments!

Now anyone can comment on our blog. I helped Mum sort it out, so you will all be pleased to know that.

Hong Kong's Next Top Model

This is our favorite photo of Isaac (the GR we rescued a few years ago from HKDR). He had his first 'photo shoot' yesterday as part of the HK Dog Rescue's Tribute Book to raise money for the current and future rescue dogs.
Family can all expect a copy for Xmas or you can order one through the blog. P&P free!!

My Sailing!

Just last week, I went sailing at the ABC. There was a lot of wind, but it rained most of the time. That was o.k. because it's the monsoon! Anyway, mostly we sailed around bouys and did '8' and ∆. We learnt alot about beating, running, reaching, leward, windward, tacks, jibes, no-go-zone, port, starboard, ect, ect.


That's us playing 'sink the boat'- testing how many people can get into an optimist before it sinks.


That's me and the rest of the course participants sailing like ducklings in a pond.


And that's me, far, far ahead while the rest of the participants got towed by the speedboat back tto the slipway.

(Edited and written by Alec. Photos taked by Anne)

More Australian beaches

Helen's first appearance on the blog- this is Warriewood Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches. It was sunny but a stiff, cold Westerly wind was battering us. This was one of the most sheltered of all the beaches we visited that day.
The empty beach is Boomerang, up near Smith Lake on the coast of NSW. Much better weather up there.
It's all about beachcombing, reading newspapers, soaking up the sun, sketching, sandcastle building, picnics, fish and chips, Chumby Ball (a game invented by the kids- ask them for the rules....)

Beaches are for the Mind

We have just come back from a wonderful relaxing holiday in Thailand and Australia.
My favourite parts of it all were the moments with family and friends, and spending some valuable relaxing hours on the beaches of Sydney and Pacific Palms (near Forster.) Those beaches are so beautiful- I have loved them for years- and clean and fresh. They figure heavily in my meditation and relaxation moments (like lying in the dentists chair- I close my eyes and go straight to the beach).
Anyway, here is a sketch of a seashell found on Boomerang which will have to do until Catie and I put some holiday snaps onto the blog.
And for Kate: here are seven things about me- guess the untruth...
1. I have helped birth over 100 babies (only four of them mine)
2. I have helped several people die
3. I love thunderstorms
4. I am a whizz at parallel parking
5. I love playing golf (but not in a thunderstorm)
6. I sing off-key but insist on doing so in the car which scares my teenagers
7. I have an unhealthy (and expensive in HK) addiction to interior design magazines