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Published: December 7th 2010
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Hi folks,
Hope you're all doing well and have got your thermal undies on! It's been a bit chilly over here too, Saturday actually dipped to 27 degrees. Our rains not stopped quite yet though, but it's getting less and lighter so it can't be long now... except that we've been saying that for a month already. It seems global warming might be doing strange things to the seasons over here as well!
So what's new? Well this month (actually last month) was all about visitors. We had a holiday at home with the parents and some of our own Nottingham folk made it over as well. When I say holiday - we were still going to work in the day but just enjoying going out every night with great food and company. It gave us both a real lift to see familiar and much loved faces, and it makes everything seem fresh again when you are doing it with new people. That sounds a bit rude don't it, but you know what I mean!
So starting with the outlaws, oops, I mean inlaws ;o) Both Chris and I were very impressed with how Keith and Lynda got
stuck into Vietnamese life without batting and eyelid. They could be found to be zooming around like locals on xeoms (motorbike taxis) after just a day or two in the city and for those of you that know what the traffic is like here, that is a very brave thing to do. Actually, we were most impressed with their holiday attitude in general (except for the snake snack business..?!) and found it especially amusing that the young traveller folk on their train tour adopted them both as 'Mum and Dad' throughout! Posher outings saw us enjoying a fake Christmas day and pigging out on a posh brunch followed by sleepy cyclo tour through the city (yes it does get slightly sleepy on a Sunday)
At the same time more visitors to HCM arrived in the shape of Rachel, Roz and Joe. Unfortunately Joe suffered a particularly agressive attack of man-flu (his words!) and was genuinely really ill, so we only got to catch up with him for a few hours, but better than none at all! Luckily Rachel and Roz had a bit more time to spare being as they are bumming around SE Asia for a few months,
How impressive
Just don't ask to take it home as they'll get another 2 week's usage out of it! and we were able to have a good and proper catch up, which was very nice indeed.
Last weekend was the Saigon Classic Bike Run which included 300 odd old Vespa's, Lambrettas and some bigger bikes all heading out of the city in convoy (no fear of getting lost - just follow the cloud of 2 stroke oil exhaust fumes!) to a 'resort' (like a park with a lake and restaurant) for lunch and mutual admiration time. Then we scooted down to an orphanage and Santa delivered donated gifts to the children whilst the little Lamby tried her best to look pretty and win a beauty competition (she didn't, but still it's the taking part that counts). Then home in the rain and BBQ for tea.
Well, it's a busy time of year so I won't take up any more of your time, I'm sure there are presents to be wrapped and cards to be written. We're not partaking this year so please don't be offended! However, we will fill you in in a couple of weeks with our christmas contribution of the hilariously outragous christmas lights and fake snow that they have all over the city centre
here.
Chris says hello and is very much looking forward to seeing as many of you as he can while he is back (working I'm told) between the 13th ish and the 22nd ish of Dec. Me, I'm hoping to be on the beach for a couple of days when school finishes so I'll be sure to not be wearing my thermals. Then a box set of Grey's Anatomy and a day of festering in the apartment awaits me. Ummm ummm :o) Oh with maybe a trip or two out on my motorbike, yes you heard it here first (or second) I can ride a motorbike too now! Beep beep, out of my way losers!!
Anyway much love and mushy stuff,
Chris and Lucy x x x
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