Kirst Afloat

We're in the Flat!

We're officially land dwellers (at least for most of the week).  We have fantastic views of Stanley Bay from every room (other than the dining room and kitchen).

Lots to do, lots to move-especially in the kitchen department.  No cutlery, pans, plates, etc.  I was going to buy everything new but now I'm wondering if I should take a few items off of the boat.  Not sure when I'm going to have time to go shopping-I guess over the weekend. 

Late hockey last night-very tired & sore today.  I haven't been sleeping much in recent days and it's really starting to effect my quality of life.  At least the commute is vastly improved.  Yes!

Claire has an extra piano lesson this morning so we'll need to head back to Clearwater Bay.  Tom wants to go to Horizon Plaza again today to pick out some more furniture.  (I'm not exactly sure what I want to buy.) 

Both kids appear to be very happy with their rooms.  Claire's bedding hasn't turned up yet but she's using a set of sheets from the boat and her duvet is without a cover at the moment  Her biggest thrill is having her own computer and printer.  She's currently making up a breakfast menu and translating it into French.  James doesn't have any furniture in his room yet (it arrives on Monday) so he's sleeping on an Aerobed.  He wanted to go to sleep completely on his own last night (YES!).

One other tidbit of good news is that Claire was successful in her Alice in Wonderland audition.  She didn't win a large role but she has a part.  She's going to be a duck (one of several).  Evidently she'll be working closely with several other girls and they try to trick Alice during the play.  Claire's taken the news in stride (I was slightly worried that she'd be upset that she doesn't have a large role this time).  She's said, "You can't have a big role every time.  And at least I won't have as many rehearsals."  I love that kid.

When He's Ready

James has always been a "he'll do it when's he's ready" type of kid.  The obvious example that comes to mind is talking (which he didn't do until nearly 3.5 years of age).  However, I don't think talking is that accurate of an example as there seemed to be other issues complicating the fact.  (James couldn't copy facial expressions, blow bubbles or drink out of a straw...) 

It is very true with many other endeavours.  The most recent is tennis.  Last year, James began tennis lessons and was surprising uncoordinated.  The most frustrating bit was the fact that he could not hold a racquet properly.  He had trouble copying the correct grip and then swung at an extremely awkward angle.

Both Claire and James spent two half days in tennis camp towards the end of the summer.  James had a FANTASTIC time.  Both children were back at their lessons at the beginning of this month.  And, WOW!  James is finally coming into his own.  All of a sudden, effortlessly (or so it seems), James is swinging properly and is developing quite a nice forehand AND backhand.

On Saturday, he worked with our favorite coach, Stephen So.  There was one other boy in the group that day as well as two younger girls (who were very new---perhaps even "first lesson" new).  James was the star of the group (at least for the day).  At the end of the lesson, two sets of parents came over to me and complimented James on his skill.  I was a proud mother at the time although his skill developed over a period of time AND it really wasn't due to anything that I personally did.

I will post photos tomorrow (when my laptop is connected to the internet).  After his lesson (and back in the marina), James models his new tennis clothes.  He also wanted his picture taken with Mariz, our wonderful helper.

Only 4 more days

Until completion...we should have the keys to our new flat on Friday!  Very exciting.  Tom and Neg will be painting over the weekend and we hope to move in by the end of the month.  There is a spreadsheet of when items will start being delivered.  We are all ready to move. 

Stanley, here we come!

A Flat with a View II

IMG_4235
Originally uploaded by KirstAfloat

A Flat with a View

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Originally uploaded by KirstAfloat

Successful Saturday

It all began with a 6:45 awakening by James who was UP!  I was hoping that he would crawl into bed with me and drift off to sleep but, alas.  That was just not in the cards.  A few minutes before 7:00, I gave up and said, "Isn't Scooby Doo on about right now?"  (This would be the Tom solution to children who wake you up early.)  We went upstairs and I was right.  James happily lay on the couch and vegged out to SD. 

By 9:05, Jame and I were at the club for his tennis lesson.  Dave, an Australian coach, is very enthusiastic and works well with James (who had a great time).  I was able to go have a coffee and read the paper for a bit before catching the second half of the lesson.  (I'm not sure if Dave is James' permanent coach or not.  I introduced myself to him after the lesson and said that I'd see him next week.  He didn't seem certain that he'd be there.  I hope that is not the case.)

By 10:10 I had dropped James off in the marina, collected Claire and was heading to Karrie's house for piano lessons.  Poor Claire had barely practice at all this week (due to illness and the fact I wasn't home to help her).  It showed.  We will do much better this week---the countdown is on for Claire's Grade 1 exam on October 28th.

By 11:20, we were back in the marina.  Mariz and James jumped into the StepWgn and off we went to Hang Hau.  Mariz had errands to run.  The kids and I took the MTR to Diamond Hill.  We were on a mission to buy Pilly's (it's a Muldowney children obsession, I'm afraid) at the Uji store in Plaza Hollywood.  But first we headed to Food Republic (great food court!) for lunch.  Claire chose congee with minced beef, James wanted Pizza Hut (located just outside of the food court---I ordered take away and had them ring once it was ready) and I had Korean (stone pot mixed rice and a side of kimchi).  We all had fresh watermelon juice.  Yum!

We then went to Uji, purchased the snowbean pillows and walked the entire mall.  We did not find sneakers with velcro for James.  No dressy shoes for Claire's piano exam, either.  Claire asked on our return trip if we could go to a Japanese department store to look for robot pets.  Thus we headed to Cityplaza in TaiKooShing.  No robot pets but James but a G-Force Training Centre toy (what a pain to put together) at Toys R Us.  Claire later bought two Sylvanian Families animals.  We all had gelato at XTC (Hong Kong Milk Tea flavour was quite good) and we found a Geox store.  Success!  James has new trainers with dragons (or dinos?) which light up as he walks.  Claire has a beautiful black pair of flats.  (Very expensive---she now fits into adult sizes here.)  The sales people at Geox were outstanding.  I hope they work on commission as they then were on a mission to find a pair of shoes for me.  It was quite amusing.  I tried on a purple (much prettier than that sounds) pair of flats and the corresponding black pair.  They then brought out the matching pair of shoes to Claire's.  I caved in the end and purchased a black pair (but not the same as my daughter's).  My bank account took a serious dip after that venture!  It was very fun, though, to watch Claire become a mini Imelda.  The salespeople brought out three boxes of shoes at a time and Claire had a blast.

After heading home, we hung out.  I put together James' toy.  We played a Wii together, had a simple dinner and were all in bed by 9pm.

What a week!

Whew...glad it's over.  The Middle School had "Back to School Night" (otherwise known as "Parent Night") on Tuesday.  My partner and I were finishing our PowerPoint at the last minute.  We had technical difficulties-her projector went black and then we saw the dreaded words, "Replace lamp".  This occurred five minutes before our parents were supposed to arrive.  Aiii-yaaa!  After some intense praying, the bulb began working again (to our relief). 

The first 10 minutes were spent with our PCG (Pastoral Care Group) parents.  This went well.  The parents especially enjoyed seeing photos of their children.  We then opened up the dividing wall between classrooms and we presented as a dyad.  This part went especially well.  It turns out that one of the guys I played hockey against last season is the father of one of our students.

Then came the dreaded (at least by me) curriculum time.  I spoke way too fast and misplaced my notes before beginning.  I finished five minutes early and was flustered.  Hopefully most parents remembered the beginning part and not the ending.  :)  Next year will be easier as I will have taught all of the units before speaking about them.

Wednesday and Thursday night I worked late and then headed over to Repulse Bay.  Wednesday night I went to Lower Primary to meet James' teacher.  Thursday night was spent at Upper Primary in Claire's classroom.

Another challenge this week was Claire's continued illness.  The poor kid had been unwell off and on for over two weeks.  On her third visit to Matilda, Claire had a blood test.  (The process was unfortunate, I'm told.  The nurse did not do this procedure quickly and matter-of-factly.  She stressed Claire out for over 15 minutes and Claire become more and more upset  Not good.)  Claire's blood test came back negative for glandular fever and her white blood count was normal.  End result:  Claire returned to school today after missing more days than she has attended. 

By the end of this week, I'd say that James has settled into a routine at his school.  It's still an ongoing process for Claire.  I am feeling much happier now, though.  Happy children make for happy parents.

Soon to Be "Kirst (Sometimes) Afloat

We're moving!  Working in Tai Tam with the kids going to school in Repulse Bay has been challenging.  I've commuted from Clearwater Bay to Tai Tam before.  Without kids, it is do-able.  However, it's not fair to the kids at the moment.  We have to leave the boat by 6:20, park at the high school, walk down to the middle school field to the bus.  It leaves somewhere between 7:10 and 7:15.  The bus then winds it way around Tai Tam before heading to Repulse Bay.  My kids are spending hours each day on the commute and it's been trying.  (That's assuming that I actually leave work around 4:00---something which seldom occurs.)

Thus we went flat hunting and were able to procure a flat which we LOVE!  We will be living right in Stanley.  The flat has a wonderful feel to it and the original floors.  (I LOVE the old-style Hong Kong floors.)  There are three bedrooms, a living and dining room, kitchen, and helper's room/toilet.  Two other bathrooms (one ensuite).  We're all getting excited.

I have photos but they are on my laptop.  Will post later.

We'll still have the boat and most likely will be here on Fridays and Saturdays.

:)

Early Saturday Morning...

It's Saturday morning, early and no one else is up yet.  There is no place that I need to be today.  (This seldom happens.)  Piano has been canceled by Karrie because Claire has been sick for the entire last week.  She is now on antibiotics for tonsillitis.  (Both Claire and Tom were at the Matilda yesterday and neither has flu of any variety.  Whatever nasty virus Tom has contracted is becoming bronchitis so he also has antibiotics.)

On Thursday, the 6th grade LA/SS team frantically worked to design "virtual school"  (of sorts---it's really not up to that standard yet---no classes via Skype or utilizing Blackboard for example).  I have become fairly proficient with posting on MyDragonNet.  I did realize yesterday morning, though, that I was missing two key folders containing tasks I had mentioned in an email.  I also had a Geography Skills folder posted which I quickly changed to invisible.  This contained maps which I would like to integrate throughout the year.  I did not want my students to work through these in one go.

I'm really enjoying being back in the classroom.  My students are such characters.  It is wonderful to be able to work with them.  The thing which would most improve the quality of my life (as well as that of our family) is moving closer to Tai Tam/Repulse Bay.  We are heading in that direction.  It appears that we will close on a flat in Stanley towards the end of September.  Yes!!!  I LOVE this flat, absolutely love it.  It feels like home.

Claire (who did not want to move at all) is now counting down the days.  (I exaggerate slightly here.)  The commute is difficult for both Claire and James as they must be up at 5:45, leave the boat by 6:20, catch the bus by the middle school at 7:15 and don't actually get to school for another 20-30 minutes.  Too long.  I was able to make one small improvement to this yesterday.  Instead of waiting for their bus to return to the MS near 3:40, I walked through the high school and waited.  In the afternoon, the first drop off for their route is near Red Hill Plaza.  By about 3:15, I had collected James.  This might be our new routine.  We could grab a snack at the Wellcome and head back to the MS.  It would cut some time off of their commute (although they would still need to wait for me to finish working). 

We are also very excited by the news that my mother is coming to visit.  YEA!!!  She hasn't been to Hong Kong since our wedding in 1997.  I believe she'll be here for about two weeks in late Oct/early Nov.  We haven't nailed down the exact dates yet but she will be here during the period when both Tom and I are out of Hong Kong.  (He has to be in the US and I will be in Beijing with my students.)

I now have a difficult decision to make.  Shall I begin the morning with a cup of tea or shall I fire up the cappuccino machine?

Middle School Closure

The big news tonight is that the Centre for Health Protection has closed the MS division of HKIS.

	Here is the statement from our Head of School: Urgent: Middle School will be closed beginning Thursday, August 27   Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Dear Parents, 1) Following the visit today of medical staff from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), we have been asked to close Middle School for seven days starting tomorrow (Thursday, August 27). Please do not send your Middle School son or daughter to school tomorrow or to after-school activities until further notice. 2) High School, Upper Primary and Lower Primary divisions will hold classes as usual. Their absences are within the normal expected range. CHP treats each division of HKIS separately because each is housed in its own building. Therefore, CHP will take appropriate action based on the situation within each division at HKIS. 3) The CHP medical staff visited today in response to the higher number of student absences due to illness in the Middle School. They are satisfied with our cleaning and other procedures that help prevent the spread of disease. They are calling parents of absent students to ask about their children’s illnesses. CHP cautioned there are several different viruses in circulation. Clinical tests are required to confirm the presence of the H1N1 virus. Previously we reported six cases of H1N1 based on parents’/doctors’ reports. CHP is in touch with each family to learn about each of the above six cases and confirm the diagnosis of them. So far they have confirmed only two cases. The Hong Kong Government Department of Health's (DH) assessment of H1N1 continues to be that it is a new virus and transmitting easily through the population, but it causes relatively mild illness in most cases. Please be assured that we are taking all possible steps to safeguard the health of students and staff. Maintaining a healthy school environment is our highest priority. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will keep you informed of any developments. From tomorrow, for High School, Upper Primary and Lower Primary we are stepping up daily temperature monitoring of students and staff at school gates. Any student with a temperature or those who appear unwell on arrival at school will be sent home. This applies to all in our community - students, faculty, staff and parents New Health Procedures for Students From tomorrow (Thursday, August 27) parents must check their children's temperatures before they leave for school and fill out the temperature check form here.Students must turn in their forms when they enter school.  Children should not attend school if:  - Their temperature is over 37.5 degrees (99.5 F), or  - They feel unwell (coughs, sore throats,       headaches, general aches and pains). If children become ill during the school day, they will be sent to the school nurse. The nurse will notify parents and ask them to pick up their children from school.  To reduce the risk of spreading H1N1, we also require you to pay attention to and carry out the following measures:   - If your child develops symptoms of H1N1, you must notify your child's divisional office immediately to facilitate our taking appropriate measures and notifying the CHP and the Education Bureau.  - If your child has had H1N1, he/she should not attend school unless he/she has fully recovered and is cleared to do so by the CHP. No child should return to school unless they have had at least two full days without a fever. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support in providing a safe learning environment for your child. Sincerely, Richard W. Mueller Head of School I've also found this on the RTHK website: Swine flu hits school and care home 26-08-2009 Health authorities have reported outbreaks of swine flu at Hong Kong International School and a residential care home. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed swine flu cases in the territory has risen to over 10,000. The lower secondary school of Hong Kong International School in Southern District will suspend classes for seven days, to stop the possible spread of swine flu. Of 32 students in grades six to eight who developed flu symptoms over the past week, two have been confirmed with the virus. A separate outbreak at a residential care home for the disabled in Tsing Yi has so far infected at 15 residents and two staff members. Four others have exhibited flu-like symptoms including fever, cough and sore throat since last Friday. One of them has been admitted to hospital, while the rest are in stable condition in the home. Over 10,000 people have now been confirmed with swine flu in Hong Kong - 333 in the past day alone. RTHK English News Faculty will be reporting to work tomorrow.  I'm sure it will be a busy day creating "Plan B" for student learning during this time.