Having weather

When we left Abu Dhabi Ian said that he looking forward to having some weather.
I blamed him for the arrival of Typhoon, T8, after typhoon.

So having had typhoon season, we were looking forward to the nice autumn weather.
In fact, we turned off the air conditioning and slept with the window open, listening to the insects singing.
We had the aircon off for about a week and then it got cold. We had the heaters on a week later.
HK houses have no insulation, no heating and no sense of sealing round doors or windows. Freezing.

So that was 3 lots of weather by Xmas. Xmas was crisp, with coats required.
"It is never cold for long in Hong Kong" said all my students as I came to class with my coat on.

Next it was freezing in the mornings, but hot by midday. In the car one morning it was 4 degrees, but 28 by home time at 4pm!

It gradually warmed up through Feb, and I ditched my coat last week, and my jumper this week.

So now it is dreary season!! Misty and overcast. Went out in my Tshirt and got soaked when the skies opened. At least it was warm.
7pm at night the windows are open to let a bit of cool air in.

Apparantly we get rainy season next before moving on to Typhoon season again.

I liked it in AD when we had to be told that rain is caused by clouds!!
Ian asked for weather. He will never be allowed to forget it.

Twelfth Night Pictures

Here are the 12th night pics











Mmm fondue...
Even Ian smiled.









Wonder what I was thinking...?

Twelfth Night

Nothing compares to our 12th Night experience

12 couples, 12 wines, 12 courses,...

12 hours lost the next day.

An invitation that made us tremble with excitement.
Here is how it all works...

Twelfth Night

Origins:

The ‘Twelve Days’ only make sense if Christmas is seen as a season and not merely a workless holiday. Mid-winter festivals have, of course, been celebrated for thousands of years: Saturnalia, for example, being the most widely-held Roman feast.

Over the centuries the significance of this mid-winter festive time became slowly whittled away until only the first two days (associated with the birth of Jesus) retained any popular meaning.

The many religious festive days include:

Christmas Day,

Boxing Day –the Feast of Stephen,

The Feast of the Innocents, and

Epiphany –the day of the visitation of the Magi to Jesus.

Twelfth Night is the conclusion of Christmastide and the true beginning of the new year.

Instructions

So here’s what you need to do:

Arrive 5.30pm for 6.00pm start

Do not bring your car: after sampling 12 wines you will have difficulty standing, let alone driving! If you do drive (and plan on leaving your car) then you will need to let us know your car reg. number to get into the country park

Military precision.

Please prepare as much as possible beforehand: There is only ½ hour between courses served (including its’ eating!).

Remember, even though there are at least 24 people to eat your course, you need provide only small portions (unless you want to take it home).

After serving your food and wine, please do the clearing and washing up in preparation for the next course.

Please bring at least 3 bottles (estimating 6 glasses per bottle) and if your course is a bit easy, then please up the stakes on the wine!

What to bring…

Your course (enough small portions for 24/26)

Your wine (which should pair with the course)

Your plate and glass (something you will recognise)

Your appetite (don’t eat at all on the day)

The MENU

Food and matching wine

Course 1 6.00pm

Crudités

Cocktails

Course 2 6.30pm

Tomato Consommé

Semillon

Course 3 7.00pm

Sushi

Sake

Course 4 7.30pm

Salade Niçoise

Grenache Rosé

Course 5 8.00pm

Cheese Soufflé

Albariño

Course 6 8.30pm

Orange Szechuan Chicken with Chillies

Gewürztraminer

Course 7 9.00pm

Lemon-mint Sorbet with Red Peppercorns

Prosecco

Course 8 9.30pm

Yemista

(stuffed peppers and tomatoes)

Zinfandel

Course 9 10.00pm OUR COURSE

Pork Fillets with Stilton and Cider

Cider

Course 10 10.30pm

Chocolate Fondue

Banyuls

Course 11 11.00pm

Sherry Trifle

Amontillado

Course 12 11.30pm

Biscotti

Vin Santo

Turning 40

This 26th December, I turned 40.
Why do you turn 40? Is it the alcohol that makes the room spin?

I was not impressed to say the least - 40 seems very old. Inside I am still a teenager, then I look in the mirror. Catching up with school friends on Facebook doesn't help. When did they get old?

Fortunately we had an invite to go to Ko Tong for a Philippine whole pig roast. The piggy had been slow spit-roasted over coals since 6am. They guy who sells them had been up turned the spit, it has to be done by hand. Piggy was served over a bed of banana leaves.
Delicious.

Everyone took a dish of food and a great feast was had. It was a lovely way to spend the day.

Christmas in Hong Kong Part 1

We knew we'd be staying at home for Christmas, but for the first time in 3 years I would not be working on Christmas Day. I was excited to be spending time with my girls.

Christmas Eve we were invited to the next village to partake in the carol singing. There was mulled wine and jollity. Richard, a neighbour and teacher at KGV, is a great pianist and I took down my flute.

Mulled wine - check. Song sheet - check!

Fabulous online toy

http://www.zefrank.com/dtoy_vs_byokal/

Found this very cool website that makes a kaleidoscope.
Give it a go...

Promotion.

I arrived at my school last August 08. Quite quickly the management realised (with some prodding) that it the maths posts had been under-rated. So both posts would be upgraded from next August 09. We have 2 heads of maths as the school is so big.

Exciting though the though of more money and fewer teaching hours was, the only problem was that I had to apply for the post all over again and interview for it. The whole process took nearly 2 months. After the interview I spent a sleepless night but heard the next morning that I was successful.
This means that I am Head of Middle School Maths.
Again...
The only difference will be that I become more autonomous and have greater authority to get things done.

Phew - now I can settle in comfort for a while.

It has been too long

It has been far too long since I last blogged. About time I got up and running on this blog again. Here we go...
I will be missing out some pics on this first batch of postings. I'll add them in as I can.

Heather speaks beautiful Chinese

Here is what it all means:

I have four in my family.

Daddy, Mummy, Big sister and me.

I like red and chocolate.

I am English.