A great Sunday afternoon

Yesterday we took the boat out, and took our friends the Scotts along, for a bit of swimming and bisquiting.
It was super nice! The sea was gorgeous yesterday, the kids behaved well and had a fantastic time - even Linnea was jumping off the back of the boat like she had done that a million times before!

Both kids went bisquiting and kept saying "faster, faster!" when we drove along. We were out for most of the afternoon, having brought supplies in our cool bags, so the parents were happy too! Then we finished off with a yummy dinner at the Yacht Club before going home and putting some very worn out kids to bed...

Here is Adrian, Lucas and Amelia just before they went "submarine"... They forgot to hold the front up, so the bisquit submerged and gave poor Lucas a fright because he of course was holding on for dear life and went under for a bit... Bless.



We got him back on again though, with Daddy.



Linnea jumping off the back:



Adrian, Linnea and Nathan on the bisquit:



The Scotts kids on the boat:

Whanau Day

We have had a FANTASTIC afternoon today, in every way. So super!
It was the New Zealand Association's 'Whanau Day' (Family Day), and it was organized down at Tungku Beach.
About 100 kids were there with their parents, and there was lots of different games and challenges, face painting, colouring competitions, free battered hot dogs and even a visit from Santa - who came on his bike!

Lucas and Linnea had an absolute blast! They played in the waves, on the surf boards and on the beach with all their little friends; they got to say hello to Santa who had brought gifts, it was great!
What a way to spend an afternoon... aaahhh!

Founders Day Hash

On Tuesday, we had a very special hash. It was Founders Day - the day we say goodbye to the old committee and wrap up the hash year, and say hello to a new committee and start a new hash year.

We had a run up at the Yacht Club, and then we all got changed and there was a big buffet dinner, a DJ playing music, and a big party.
Since it was also hash nr 2100 - the theme was "Hashing in the future", and most people came dressed according to the theme, futuristic and spacey. There was space themed cocktails and a space quiz and all the decorations were space themed as well. As usual, I was amazed at what lengths some people had gone to with their outfits! There were some absolutely incredible creations, very impressive!

At the down-down, there was awards for different happenings over the year, the committee did a little sketch and sang a song, we had some new members and a birthday - and then we danced the night away!

Teddy Bears Picnic

This morning I stayed on at school and took part in this years Teddy Bears Picnic with the kids. All the children were dressed in their house colours, and had brought along each a teddy - also supposed to be dressed in the same colours!

Lucas' teddy was dressed in his Swedish kit, and Linnea's teddy got dressed in one of the dolly's dresses:



Linnea's class getting ready to go, with all their teddies:



They then gathered in their colour groups, all the kids from different year groups co-operated in finding clues that were spread out all over the school, to eventually find the secret location for the picnic.



Off they went:



Once arrived at the secret location, they had some sweets and their snack - it was good fun!

More guests!

One of my best friends, Erika, have booked her trip here now - jubii! It's not until in February, but we all know how fast time flies, she will be here before we know it! Yay!

A morning at the Yacht Club

This morning when the kids and I rocked up to the Yacht Club, there was no one! Just us, and the two pools, just for us! Lovely!

The kids played with the water guns we got them in Singapore, I practised some of my newly acquired photography skills and we had yummy lunch.
Mmm... lovely!

Ah yeah, Lucas lost his 2nd tooth too! So time for another visit by the Tooth Fairy tonight I guess!



Now we are off to the cinema to see "Madagascar 2"! Just another weekend for you!

My biggest vice

One thing I have learned to drink while we have been in Brunei (apart from endless diversities of cocktails) is fresh lime juice. In the beginning it was a bit too sour for me, but now I love it - and everywhere we go, that's what I order, every time. It's really good especially if you eat hot and spicy food, takes the edge of a bit.
It's a bit of an addiction, I must admit - but it's sooo good!

The perfect gift

While my parents were here, we took over 1000 pictures all together. That's a lot. Personally I delete a lot of photos already when I transfer them from my card to the computer, then another lot after going through them carefully. I only keep the really good ones, worth showing or printing.
I know my parents have a hard time deleting any photos, so they always have far too many when it's time to show someone...

So, when they had left, I made a photo book for them and had it sent straight to Sweden.
Lots of companies do these over the internet, it's really easy. I have found a favourite in Snapfish, I have used them before and they are really good quality and has quick service. (They have pages in lots of countries).
I made a book with all the favourite photos from their visit here, it took about 175 photos and 74 pages to showcase everything they had been up to. It's great because you can choose your own layouts and backgrounds and really influence the finished look of your book.

I'm proud to say it turned out really great, I was very pleased! Now they can bring that along to their family and friends, and it's easy to show off the photos!

Lazy week

After having had visitors and being going full on for a while, I have had a lazy week this week, doing absolutely nothing other than just hang out and relax while the kids have been at school.
I have watched some of my TV-series that had been piling up, caught up on my blog rolls, been for nice lunches and coffees with the girls, played around with my photo course; I've had my nails done, been lying on the sofa reading magazines - purely recharging my batteries.

Now I'm ready to hit the gym again and get stuck into my never-ending to-do list of things to sort out. The end of the school year is near, so is our upcoming trip to NZ and let's not forget CHRISTMAS, less than six weeks away! And before all this there is still a lot going on so we are busy all right, as usual.
No more time for laziness!

Forfilling a goal

For a long, long time (ever since I got my first analog SLR camera back in 1995) I have been wanting to do a photography course, to learn more about all the different settings on the camera.
Until now, I have used the "idiot proof" green square, the fully automatic setting almost every time.

That is all going to change now! I have got the best Christmas present (in advance) from my parents, a place on an internet based photography course, that I will be following for the next couple of months.

It's held by one of my scrapbooking icons WoopsieDaisy, who is not only a superb scrapper but also photographer by trade, and she knows her way around Photoshop like no one else!
I'm really looking forward to this course and I hope it will get me to know my camera inside and out and make me a better photographer.

I have started a blog, just for all the photos I will be practicing on. If you are curious check it out here (I have also added it as a link in my link list).

A Sunday on the boat

THIS is why we bought a boat, check out the kids' happy faces (oh, and Nathan's):













(Thanks to the Turners for the photos!)

Ahlgrens Bilar

As I told you I had bought Ahlgrens Bilar at IKEA, for the kids "traveling around" on International Day. These cars are classic Swedish candy that have existed since 1953.
They proved really, really popular and lots of the kids came back over and over again to have more of these little marshmallow-like green, white and pink cars.

I got two bags left over, but they wont last long - both the kids and I are crazy about them, especially when they are fresh and chewy like these, mmm!
Definitely one of Sweden's best exports!

Clumsy queen hits again

On the bad side, I put a water bottle in my bag today, apparently without screwing the top on properly - so I flooded the bag, with everything in it... Fortunately, both my SLR and Nathans camera survived. Unfortunately, my phone didn't.
(Nathan got support for his argument he had during a recent discussion we had about getting a waterproof or non-waterproof camera next though...)

On the good side, it means that I will now need (need!) a new phone. Pronto. Bring it on.

Photos from Singapore

Here's a little slide show from our trip to Singapore this time:

International Day 2008

Today we celebrated International Day at school. It's the favourite day of the school year for many, as it's a such a nice morning and it really shows exactly how international school JIS is.
First all the classes in Junior school gathered in the common ground for a parade - showing off their different costumes. Some came dressed in national dress, some dressed as known characters from their countries. Lucas was a viking with helmet, sword and shield; and Linnea came as Pippi Långstrump (=Pippi Longstocking).

Class by class the kids went up on stage, and they then told us which countries were represented in each class. One class had 13 different nationalities, Lucas' class 10! It's quite amazing!
Everybody, even the teachers and some parents, were dressed up and it was great to see all the cool costumes!

After the parade, the kids got to "travel around the world" in the playground, where some of the parents had been preparing tables with things from their different countries.
Anne and I were sharing a table, showing things and photos from Denmark and Sweden; the kids could also "go to" England, Wales, Ireland, France, China, Brunei, USA, Germany, Cyprus, New Zealand, Australia and Tunisia.
They had little passports, where we glued in "stamps" from each country, and they got small presents from some, and taste some local food from others. I had made meatballs (halal though... so not 100% "Swedish" ones...) and had brought "Ahlgrens bilar" (=candy) from IKEA - very popular!

Like last year, this was really popular, the kids seemed to enjoy it a lot, and so did the parents - it was a super nice morning. Here are some snapshots:

Sightseeing + shopping = Singapore

We are now back from three great days in Singapore, and while we came back last night, have had some sleep, been celebrating International Day at school (more about that later) and are about to have lunch - Mum and Dad are still on a plane on their way home... It sure is a long trip for them...

We have been doing a little bit of something for everyone in Singapore this time: Morfar got taken to Sim Lim Square (six floors of technical gadgets) and got left there to browse around in his own pace, Nathan got to do some gadget-shopping, Mormor (well and Morfar) visited Raffles Hotel and the Japanese & Chinese Gardens, I went to IKEA (of course!) and we did a Ducktours City Tour with an amphibian boat/bus-thing; we also did Orchard Road, Plaza Singapore, Parkway Mall and some other shopping spots of course.

The kids got to play with their friend Wataru, and the Holmes twins, so they were pretty happy too!

I will post some photos a little bit later. Still have a bit of unpacking to do.

Mixed feelings

Today is my parents last day with us (this time), and we were talking today about how time has flown by while they have been here. Well, at least, that's how it feels on one hand, on the other we have really done so much these last few weeks, and it feels like forever since they arrived!

At least they say that they are very happy with their stay, and feel that they have covered so much and really experienced a lot. So that's good, I must have done a good job! Once a tour guide always a tour guide, haha!
There are still a few things we will do next time they come - but of course, the main reason they are here is also just to hang with us, see our life, and play and spend lots of time with the kids.

It's really been great finally having some guests in our home; and also to see Brunei with some fresh eyes again. My parents had never been this far away, never been to Asia before they came - so they have really been on an adventure! And it's been nice for them to see where we live, and how our normal everyday looks like - now it will be easier for them to understand when we skype together etc, what we are up to.

Three weeks is a long time though, together with anyone, and it's also going to be nice to get back into normal routines again and have some time, just for me..!
Of course it's going to be really sad to say goodbye too, especially since I haven't planned my next trip home yet, and for different reasons that might not be until summertime - which is really a long time away...

We are off tomorrow to finish our time together with a few days in Singapore. We are flying out early in the morning and I wont be blogging for a few days - so see you later!

Relaxed weekend

We have had a lovely relaxed weekend, after our ordeal on Friday...
Yesterday we went down to the Empire (Hotel & Country Club) in the afternoon for a swim and a walk around the hotel grounds:











Today we had yummy cake with our friends Claudia & Linn, they wanted to celebrate Linnea a little bit since they had been away over her birthday. Linn had made the cake, and they had lovely gifts for both her - and Lucas!







Then we spent the afternoon at the Yacht Club, swimming, playing - and eating ice cream:





On the way home, we stopped by Muara Beach. It was the perfect time of the day, late afternoon, to go for a stroll on the beach, collect some sea shells and play a bit on the playground.
Muara Beach has been cleaned up and renovated lately and really looks good now, with a fantastic play area for the kids, picnic spots, benches and bbqs etc for people to use. We were far from the only people there on this Sunday afternoon of course.
Lucas found a pretty sea shell, "-Hello?":

Happy Halloween!

Due to our sick day yesterday in the Watson house, no one was able to take the kids to their Halloween party they had been invited to...
Really a bit of a shame we thought, so we had the kids dress up in their Halloween outfits today instead, and we had a bit of a trick-or-treat play, just one day late.
Everybody happy!

Darth Vader:



A cat, saying "boo!":



Happy Halloween!

Celebrity spotting

HRH Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are in Brunei for a two day official visit at the moment.
We haven't been directly affected by this at all, but in the British community the buzz has been on for a while - since there was a luncheon held today, and some of our friends in the Royal Navy, RAF and Loan Service teams had been invited. Until last minute, they were all trying to sort out their outfits and proper attire, hat or no hat? :)
(I heard afterwards, that sadly most of them didn't even get to chat with the Royals, cause they ran out of time and had to leave. So our friends waited for 3 1/2 hours, for nothing...)

I took my parents to the Empire for a swim this afternoon, and I'm not sure if HRH and Camilla were still there, but all the special security measures sure were anyway. We had to pass an x-ray machine to get in to the hotel (!) and there was guards and security personnel everywhere. Quite exciting!

If you want to read more about the visit, check out these links from our local newspaper:

Royal banquet after audience

Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall to attend Islamic art workshops at UBD

Prince of Wales meets British forces in Seria

Crown Prince greets Prince of Wales

Prince of Wales visits Badas Forest reserve

Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall arrive today