Compound living

Saturday afternoon the compound is alive with kids of all ages down by the river, kids on bikes, skateboards, stollers, families, nannies, dogs. A real united nations of kids mostly chatting in english with their own accents. The pre teen girls are probably the hardest age here. Pre teen boys more involved with their bikes and skating ramps. Dogs. Who in their right mind would bring a st.bernard to Vietnam. Felt so sorry for him/her as it lumbered around being walked by a maid. At least the grey great Dane was slow but not burdened with long hair. Then there was the dog being exercised by a maid on a bicycle. I feel somewhat guilty about knowing the playlist at the massage place. Maybe I've been there too often??? I've made breakfast, washed dishes, load of laundry. Not bad for a houseguest! Don't want ms Han to run away when she comes in on Monday. I'm sure she will be tired taking care of new mommy and grandson. He was 3kg which is 6.6 lbs. 2 wks early. Quiet Sunday planned.

End of week

Never did get back to the photo exhibit before Friday. Oh well. Thursday I went to meet Ann carry at the intl ladies of Vietnam ILV christmas bazaar I. The morning. Can't say there was anything that interested me ... I was looking for a tree ornament. Just a big room with stuff for sale like cakes and glutten free baked goods, some scarfs, handmade cards, clothes. Thursday afternoon I finally got out to the factory. Probably only bc dad was giving another person (art gallery asst) a tour and that's why I was allowed to tag along. Amazing skills watching a piece of wood go thru the process to becoming a chair, table, mirror frame, etc. Back home by 4. Dinner at home of pumpkin soup and morning glory and garlic. Friday popped down to get my watch. It's a goner. Can't repair the stem. Did a little shopping too. Got back to the house about 1 ... Lunch was pho. Ms Han got call from daughter. It was baby time so she left. Had a massage, went to supermarket, met dad after his two hr massage about 8pm for dinner pizza and carbonnara. Got call from Han. Baby boy born c section had not seen daughter or baby yet. So she has the morning off and I get to do breakfast. Works half day on Saturday. Saturday morning now dad has gone to exercise. Better start my day too. Missing all. Christmas decorations starting here.

Around town

I'd say about 95% of the vehicles in town are minivans and SUVs, very few sedans, except for high end merc bez and bmws and taxis of course. Tourist seasons, lots of cruise ship groups wandering with guides. The downstairs tv and the upstairs tv are completely different channels. What's on 4 downstairs is not on 4 but on 12. Hard to get find a station without channel surfing. I've gotten very daring on my bicycle. I've been riding a lot outside the compound merging in traffic, crossing and turning into side streets etc. Now that many not sound like much of an accomplishment, but I assure you it's harder than it sounds here. Next challenge learning how to drive a motorbike. Caught an great outdoor photojournalism exhibit but then it started to rain so I'll have to resume it by Friday. Very interesting mong people and their traditions.

reflections

now that things have calmed down after a hectic summer 2012, i've been doing a lot of thinking about family stuff. dad celebrated his 64th birthday and that's a pretty big milestone. we had a lot of family evenings ... some sad, most happy. i miss my mom and still get teary over little things. but some of the best stuff also happened this summer, starting with jack's arrival, then emily and charlies wedding then the awesome beach trip. all happy family events and we are so fortunate to be able to celebrate and enjoy each other. today i was thinking about what was the most terrible event in my life as a parent ... actually i am so grateful that childhood was uneventful for the most part when raising four children. there could have been a lot more stuff. probably the most terrible occurred when elizabeth had the lump on her lymph node and they suspected leukemia. I guess everything else was minor. Whoever thought cat scratch was a real disease! And Sarah always had a good dr when stitches were required. My regrets. Many I'm sure. Probably over reacting to stuff that in the scheme of thugs wasn't major. Maybe being too controlling but I like to think of that as protective. And particularly not reading more to my children as they were growing up. This is obviously only a partial reflection which I started several times but it's a work in progress.....to be continued

In Vietnam nov 2012

Started out going to calif and staying with Sarah for her half marathon and jacks baptism at st. Edmunds or Edwards. Great Disneyland trip, Halloween night, preschool parade,etc. Left from John wayne airport on election day for San Francisco. United flight to Tokyo then to ho chi mihn city arriving on Wednesday night about 1045. Thuesday was just regrouping day but I did get 90 minute massage and we had macys group for dry ks with roger Friesen. Had lunch with Ann carry and dinner with Harvey both at Mekong merchant. Soup and then carbonnara. Don't recall Saturday but I think I did the city for a while. Sunday we were at anthony and Sally cox's for a lovely lunch...Stephen, Jenny and others were there. Then we headed to the hyatt to meet roger before he departs on Tuesday. Monday Ann carey and I spent the day exploring and shopping. We went to the glass factory that I first went to with rosemary. Got some vases and kitchen stuff. Then lunch At a coffee shop then more shopping in a new tower type mall. 3 basement levels of shops and food court and some amazing shops .. Many luxury brands too. Good day with her. Dinner was a salad plate at home that dad devoured quickly. It was very good so I savored it more. Hard boiled egg, tuna, green beans, tomato, carrot, yellow bell pepper all presented beautifully on a platter (sorry no photo) Tuesday breakfast was some scrambled eggs and tomato that were prepared with lots of flavor. Back into town to finish some things ... Needed to pick up my watch but it wasn't back. Checked out bazaar. Attacked the garden earlier today. I think the gardener is hesitant (afraid) to be brutal when pruning. And stuff grows so easily that you really can't worry. Hope that catches you up somewhat. Did hear election results on flight. Awful movies. Thet really were pathetic. I will be more diligent hopefully in the coming days.

Sicily 2012

Tuesday thru thursday so far ... Lots of cathedrals and churches. Mosaics are impressive. Hotel is good .. It's a Hilton but it's in Sicily Italy so it's interesting. Went to the coast today about 2 hours from palermo and it was so cool. Well worth the very long drive, nice to be out of the city and traffic too. Tomorrow we leave Palermo go to another part of Sicily for one night then to amalfi coast. Food is good.

Week one recap

Week one - early sunday arrival after Friday departure and flight delays as always. Two hour massage quiet sunday .. Pate and cheese, pizza deli ered. Mondaynight roger Friesen for dinner at home with Paul and Tom from TA. Pancake, spring rolls, soup, ice cream. Tuesday pool, dinner with Tom at mekongmerchant, shampoo for 30,000 dong 1.50!Wednesday pool to get some color for my dress. Wet market with ms Han for fresh food. Lizzy and mathilda came for day to keep cool since they had no power. Green soup, salad for dinner. Thursday pool, BT market, 1 hr massage, dinner tres gourmand duck confit. Friday bike, pool, read, dinner Mekong merchant. Saturday, city foot massage, MOB dress shopping, scarfs, tees, pool till rain started, operation smile Fund raiser T hyatt. Sunday, French toast, 2 hr massage, lunch cheeseburger, long walk very hot, soup for dinner, watched "man on a ledge DVD. Monday hinge out at house, rode bike, pool till rain, dinner hyatt, lasagna carbonara. Tuesday, Ann carry came to Lunch. Wonder why people have nice dogs then have housekeepers take them out for walks. Seems strange. Actaully turned on tv this morning and watched a bit of blue bloods one of my new favorite tv shows. Nice. Moving vans in compound that time of year. No memorial day BBQ here. Appreciaate all the great photos on flickr lately. Will update again just so you know Im on it.