October 2012 - the first 2 weeks

The first 2 weeks of October was spent with all of the kids sick.

Everyone took at least a week off school & was at home with flu like symptoms... Basically it sucked & by the time they were getting better I was starting to get sick... Tim escaped sickness as he had 6 days in Tanzania.

We also managed to wake up one morning & find some slug (which they call snails here) on the roof in the lounge room!

Tim spent 6 days in Dar es Salaam which is the capital of Tanzania which is on the coast. Here is one of his photos from the trip.

Tim also bought the kids a Tinga Tinga painting each done by a different artist. They are fabulous!

Last day of school before midterm break was sport carnival for Zane.

He was an absolute champion!

He even came first place in a race.

And he & Tim went in a race too which was 25m run for Zane & 75m run for Tim & they came second!!!

And then came my birthday... I had a fabulous day & got some great presents.

From Tim I got 2 cook books - a signed copy of thai food by David Thompson (a great Australian!!!).

And an Asian cooking thermomix book:

With recipes from Alvin from Masterchef season #2!

I got a gorgeous soapstone bowl carved into the shape of a hippo from Zara...

From Zane I got a set of stainless steel hot pots in various sizes to keep food warm.

From Zoe I got 3 different packets of chocolates which the kids pretty much ate on me!

Tim cooked pancakes for breakfast.

We went out to lunch with our friends Erik & Jen whose kids Linnea & Garret are the same age as Zara & Zane. The kids played on the jumping castle & playground at the restaurant while we ate lots of food.

Then we came home & had some of the people here come over for cake. I had made an orange & almond cake for adults to eat & chocolate cake.

So, I have survived my first birthday here!