The Supermarket Comes To us.

Along with the visitors came cases filled with goodies. Enough supplies to last us a few months and more. Lollies, biscuits, pasta, cereal, gin (a must), twisties, chocolate, tinned ham, instant custard, crumpets, english muffins, peanut butter, cake mix, pancake mix, soup mix, toilet paper and my favorite lattes. Ah, the things that make us happy. We are so spoiled.

Our Special Cargo Has Arrived

Tonight we are so excited to welcome Mum and Dad back to India. It's their 4th visit to see us in Chennai and tonight it was made even sweeter for us because their brought along some very special cargo, Eliza's BFF Lucy. (do you like my teenager lingo) It was a VERY LONG day awaiting their arrival at 10pm but certainly worth the wait. Great to see them arrive safe and well after a stressful trip to the airport in Melbourne this morning. I think my Mother may have even muttered some choice words about the traffic jam they were stuck in. GASP!!

So we have 10 days to show them the sights of Chennai before we head back to the airport to bid them all farewell, taking Eliza with them. Wow, I can't believe how quick this time has gone and can't believe I am sending my girl home for good. Then begins the countdown for us and our return home.

Summertime Fun

Schools out for the summer and we are all set to have some fun.

Starting last Friday when school finished we headed down the coast to house sit some friends. They have wonderful house right on the beach with a huge garden and an awesome pool. Along with the housesitting came a little dog named Penny, who was the main reason for us to be there, to keep her company. She is a very cute little dog and the kids have fallen in love with her. Especially Mac! If he has told me once, he has told me a hundred times, "Oh Mum, Penny is SO cute".

We have enjoyed the space to roam around in the garden and just enjoy getting away for the hustle and bustle of the city. Mac even told me the other day that there was something wrong, it was too quiet.

Saturday night at 1.30 am we had a phone call from our worried friends in town saying that there has been an earthquake of the coast in the Nicobar Islands and it had set off a Tsunami warning. Their building had been shaking quite considerably, but we had felt nothing. Still, quiet panic set in and Andrew and I got onto the internet to find out more info. Suddenly our lovely beachside holiday home lost some of it's appeal. An hour and a half later the Tsunami warning was cancelled and we could breathe a sigh of relief. No doubt about our life in Chennai, it's always full of surprises.

Lazing about keeping cool

Sam is keeping the guards entertained

Many hours of jumping, diving and splashing

I just love this garden

Andrew has had fun stalking the lizards around the garden

Last Day Of School.

Everyone kept warning us that the last day of school was a very emotional day, so I was not looking forward to it at all. Particularly knowing what a sook I am. I sat back and watched kids hugging and wiping away the tears knowing that this may be the last time they would ever see some of these friends. Friendships that become so close so quickly. It broke my heart watching these kids, boys and girls, not afraid to show their emotions and their despair.

My kids both did pretty well, till we got home later that day and Eliza had a meltdown. It was really interesting in the last few weeks to see how she started distancing herself from the friends she had made this year. Knowing she was moving on. Avoidance I suppose is easier than facing the truth sometimes.

Moving back home for Eliza is going to be different. Leaving us behind here and coming back to a new school will be a challenge for her. But like I keep telling her it's no worse than we we first arrived here in Chennai. At least she will have family and old friends there to support her.

Three of Sam's good mates are heading home or moving on to other counties. He has his class placement for the next school year and has one friend in his class. Mind you it will be a short term for Sam, with us packing up and leaving to head home in mid September.

Frustrated

Grr, we are house sitting for friends and the Internet is non existent. On for 5 mins, off for an hour. So much to blog about and lots of time on my hands while sitting by the pool being the lifeguard. Read two books, refereed many fights, taken loads of photo's, watched too many people do their morning BUSINESS on the the beach while we sit and enjoy the view.

Relaxing Time

Chill out time by the pool at Temple Bay Resort, Mahabalipuram.

We spent a great weekend relaxing by the pool enjoying being away for Chennai for a couple of days. Recharged our batteries ready for the last leg of the school year. We will really miss the warm weather when we go home. Not the 40 degree days, but just knowing you can go swimming whenever you want is great.

When it was time to go home Mac said, "Do we have to go back to India now"?

All Grown UP

You know the school year is is coming to and end when you start hearing, LAST this, LAST that. Friday night was the last dance of the year for the middle school kids.

The theme was Farmer/Formal. In other words, dress up or dress down.

Sounds like they all had heaps of fun. Eliza will miss these social dances when she gets home and starts school at her "all girls" school.

Eliza and some of her friends from middle school ready to go to the dance.