Moving house and living like nomads

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Well, this blog finds us writing from a different location this week....we found ourselves homeless this week as we decided we would leave our apartment a little early in order to ensure our financial security. Landlords are well known for not returning deposits and we were so concerned about this we left our place 2 months early to ensure we didn't lose out. However, during this week, we have been living in a rather cosy hotel room in Hong Mei Lu (good location!) where Ian slept on the floor for 2 nights as there weren't enough beds. Luckily, we have made some wonderful friends out here and they have all helped us in some way, shape or form during this difficult time.

Our friends Linda and Sam first came to our rescue last weekend when we delivered pretty much all of our stuff to their garage where it will be living until we take ownership of our new place on 12 August. They also gave us a gorgeous traditional Indonesian dinner to help us understand their roots and to remind Ian of years ago (and I mean YEARS ago!!). They helped us out once again last night when they invited Sophie to go and sleep over which meant that Ian finally had a bed for our last night in the hotel! Tonight, she is staying again, although we have been rescued by our good friends Suzanne and Mark now as they have jetted off to Thailand and left us in their brilliant apartment in Zhongshan Park. I am currently typing this while looking out onto nighttime Shanghai from the 14th floor...beautiful. We can't say enough thank you's to both of these people, they really have just made our lives so much easier.

Also, my friend Ms Karen (aka Sophie's Math teacher and my gym buddy!) has let us store a load of kit at her place, and Ms Victoria and Mr Kevin also. Added to which, we will then be using Kevin and Victoria's apartment as our home for a week when we first return from UK at the beginning of August. There is likely to be another thank you in the making, as we have another destination to add to our list from 28th June - 2nd July as Suzanne and Mark return from the Thai beaches on 28th. Location to be confirmed!!

I have to say that we are so lucky to have met such wonderful, warm, welcoming people who have really helped us in our time of need.

In other events, last weekend William's school had a Children's Day party which saw William demonstrating karate in the 32 degree heat at 10am! Also, we went to watch our school production of Peter Pan last night and it was absolutely fantastic. There was a full house and everyone was very impressed. It is on again tonight, but I declined another evening of ticket selling for a touch of relaxation family style! We are into the last week of term next week, which should be fun! We are organising a Grade 5 Final Assembly, swiftly followed by a Graduation Party on Wednesday (also to celebrate my birthday of course!) and then a Graduation Ceremony on Thursday. Graduation is a big thing out here, in true American style. Even the kids leaving Kindergarten to move to Primary school have graduation ceremonies!

Friday we finish the term off with Parent Teacher meeting day and then we have tidy up day and Staff Olympics on Saturday! We will have a couple of days relaxing and doing a bit of tourist type stuff after that and then we jet back to UK early on 2nd July. We hope to see some of you while we are home!

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Comments

[Christine&David]

Joanna, Just a line to wish you a Very Happy Birthday! I'm sure you'll have a good celebration. Not long now 'til you're back in the UK. Hope everything goes well with the various moves. Lots of love.