Surely not a year.. OMG - A year.... Jaysus.... thats gone quickly! You still sound like your having a holiday rather than working!!! Your blogs have accompanied me on many a long journey on the train to and fro from Brighton to London! I shall miss them... My question would be... will you do it again?
Im sure Jenni has missed you as much as the kids...
Mam and Da are well, and so is Jane, Pat and the kids.... Talking of which Siobhan is 18 this year!!!! Her last year at school so its a massive year for her too.... no doubt an invite will be in the post for the debs she will have in August..
Well enjoy your last 3 weeks and have a safe journey back home... xxx
Life enhancing Hi gillian you will find it so strange back here but I am sure that as you are so resourceful and have faced so many challenges in China it will feel great to be back on the otherhand perhaps all this travelling as set off more desires to work elsewhere in the world - who knows???
Yes you do seem to have packed loads into your year and made lots of friends so I am sure you will be returning at some point.
I am off to Oz on Thursday and am looking forward to some hot weather, well not too hot!! I return on the 19th Feb and am being collected by my middle daughter and then coming back with her her new chap and the children as they are staying for a few days over half term. Not ideal ....but she assures me that she will be using us as a base and does not want me to worry about food etc.. as I shall probably take a few days to reacclimatise as this was is usually the worst for jet lag.
So when I return you will be home - where are you going to stay? I suppose you will have to find another place to rent ...
Dance in Devon appears to have been carrying on very successfully so hopefully you won't have any problems to sort out! Are you having a break before resuming work.
Look forward to meeting up with you again and hearing all your news.
Hope the next 3 weeks are fun and you have a good journey home.
LOl Jacky and Peter
Inspirational Thats all I wanted to say..inspirational!It all looks so fascinating and demanding!
Maybe we'll hear all about it in person soon,
Take Care
Cathy
x
Your true vocation Your energy is astonishing - you know they are going to try to persuade the international expert to stay on - in fact I expect you have already been approached!!! But is does sound that work of this nature in China remains totally voluntary despite how much good you are all doing. No doubt thisexperience will have been life changing for you and I wonder if you may have outgrown your current job here ???
Lovely to see how happy you are
LOL Jacky
waynes world lucky you! your trip to shanghai looks fantastic! Ryder cup in wales wigan v st helens rugby league final in manchester today eddie and i are going! What a contrast!! with luv sue xx
What a fantastic place Hi Gillian
Really pleased that you enjoyed your week so much with Wayne. the photos depict such a serene and artistic place. I love the Uk pavilion - fascinating. I wonder if Wayne's visit will inpsire some future masterpiece! Chin up you are on the last leg now but I bet it feels as if you have been away for ages as you have packed so much in already.
All well here but not looking forward to the long nights of Winter !
Take Care
Love Jacky and Peter
envy envy envy!! Hi G,
It all sounds fascinating and life changing! Knew you wouldn't be able to steer away from dance!So great to read your entries and see you ..vibrant and involved as ever.
Love
Cathy
xx
Getting around Hi Gillian
As ever interesting reading - and I think you are very philosophical about how things often are in what sounds surprisingly like a capital of huge contrasts - I will say no mores. How beautiful some of the architecture is. You are certainly taking up every opportunity. How is your Chinese script - I think it is all so beautiful yet so complex.
All well here - dreadful August weather wise we wouldn't mind a bit more sun at present - sort of 3/4 days rain then a sort of all right day and then back to rain!
Well good on you - half way through - glad you have some friends and an accommodating bolt hole. Pete and I loving our cycling. Both well Love from us both Jacky x
still following yr blog! hi gill so pleased you are still having such a great time! I can't keep up with you! Must have been lovely to see the girls jenny and matthew! We are just gettin over 3weeks of kathryn tim esme and oliver living with us because of building work at their house! So many broken nights and early mornings but will miss them!! Esme is so funny now and never stops talking do you remember that stage? oliver is 6months old now and so sweet sitting up and grabbing everything and putting it in his mouth! We had a lovely week in our house in spain in july and we are all going in september looking forward to that as the weather at the moment is rain rain and more rain! Look forward to your next blog can't believe you're half way time flies! lots love suexx
WOW! Great to read your blogs Gill and I did wonder when I saw you and your family together in lovely surroundings whether you would want to return to your concrete jungle. But as always a people person plus your spirit of adventure and wanting to see a job well done ethos has inspired you to continue and it looks like you are now a world authority on volunteering - I should have been so nervous with such a short time to prepare a presentation so well done! How did it compare to the kareokee - blind spot forgot how you spell this!!! Very late but wanted to respond.
Will write more another time ...lots of love Jacky
Lovely colours NIce pix Gillian, keep them coming. The weather here is scorching, and everyone seems to be absorbed by football fever! Tomorrow is England v Germany, should be a classic.
Take care
Geoff
Well, what can we say? Well Aunty Gill, It is good to hear you are filling your time up and being well entertained. How I would love to be with you and taking it all in. I am sure the girls are missing you and also a little worried. BUT they can stop as you sound to be so settled and taking everything in your stride. Nothing changed here, hit and miss with the weather and looking forward to going away for three weeks for SUN, SEA, DRINK and relax....
Work is good and busy, learning lots myself and getting totally involved in new role. Busy, busy busy. You keep enjoying yourself and we'll all be here when you have had enough. That is if you ever come back?
XXXX Jane, Pat, Siobhan and Ryan
hi gill hav been followin yr blog looks like you have settled v well and really enjoying some exciting and fascinating things your photos are great and we can get a real sense of the places you have visited! was good to bump into olivia in plymouth last month was so surprised to see her she seems happy and settled! we have just come back from bognor regis butlins spent a few days with kathryn tim esme and oliver we had a lovely time esme is so funny now and oliver is really coming on such a sweet little baby! with luv sue xx
Party girl Have caught up with all your news. Wow you are getting about a bit and making good use of your time and it does seem to me that you are making quite an impact, Don't beat yourself up about having time to work on one task at a time as I am sure you are earning your money!
Are there opportunities to let your hair down and have fun? Have you had any interesting encounters/ liaisons outside of the working day? How is domestic living now?
Photos are very interesting and yes I'll sponsor you - not sure how to do this from the web site link ..... perhaps I didn't look hard enough but I'll give you £10.00.
Good luck and am enjoying reading your blogs
love Jacky x
Hi Ji Li An... love it! Your bringing back so many happy memories of Hong Kong for me. I had a yo yo in my class and i often wonder where the youngsters are now /.... prob not so young now though if I am honest!
Sounds like China suits you my friend .... lifes experiences which will, no doubt, be fond memories one day ... so enjoy and be safe and happy.
D
Great Pent House ! So when is the house warming Gillian ! Well I hope you are still enjoying your stay and have made some good acquaintances. What do you do in the evenings ? The flat certainly looks bijou ! I suppose you have added your personal touches by now. I hope the weather is warming up for you. Its been lovely here the past few days, lots of sunny days. Its predicted a bumper summer, so fingers crossed. I just spent a couple of days in London and then visited the Exeter food show at Rougemaont Gardens and the castle, it was good, and · I have some friends showing their products, and went to a couple of cooking demos by top chefs. Its great to hear your updates, I mention to a few people at IVC when I decide to go. Keep enjoying yourself.
Geoff x
Michelle Dale
non-member comment
Surely not a year..
OMG - A year.... Jaysus.... thats gone quickly! You still sound like your having a holiday rather than working!!! Your blogs have accompanied me on many a long journey on the train to and fro from Brighton to London! I shall miss them... My question would be... will you do it again? Im sure Jenni has missed you as much as the kids... Mam and Da are well, and so is Jane, Pat and the kids.... Talking of which Siobhan is 18 this year!!!! Her last year at school so its a massive year for her too.... no doubt an invite will be in the post for the debs she will have in August.. Well enjoy your last 3 weeks and have a safe journey back home... xxx