Our Christmas and New Year - 2nd and final instalment

I couldn't manage to fit all the photos on the last blog - so that's why there are two instalments!

Luke is always attentive - ready to flash a smile at anyone who will give him eye contact. This is the most recent photo of him - aged 4 months and 2 weeks. He's at the stage of learning to sit upright, so now holds his head well all the time. He has just started to turn onto his front from his back, but has only managed it twice in the other direction. He is very determined to move and makes all sorts of noises (and pukes a little bit) while 'swimming' on his tummy and sticking his cute bottom in the air, trying to crawl. Favourite toys are a soft colourful ball and some textured plastic links. In this photo he is modelling the latest in Thai baby fashion - I had such a good time shopping at Christmas!





In December we went to the Association of British Residents' Christmas Party. Joe cried at Santa Claus like last year, but this time recovered enough in time to retrieve his gift! He was not enamoured with the magic show, but boogied on down to Jingle Bells, and liked the hand painting (smeared on his face in this photo).






Mike teases me that in Colombo all my friends are British - here Joe is running with his friend Josh (also at the Christmas Party, held in the British High Commissioner's house and garden). Josh has a baby sister for Luke to play with - Evie.











Here's Joe in our garden with his friend Joe (this Joe also has a baby sister for Luke to play with - Isabelle. He was not at the Brit's Christmas party cos he was ill, but he is British). They are playing on his favourite Christmas present - thanks Auntie Heather and Great Grandma!!!






What Colombo looks like. We live near the water front. We never go down there as it is fairly grotty, with a railway line running along the beach.











Furniture removal in Colombo









Look, we have a Belgian friend - Milan - but he is imported only occasionally from Galle.

We have discovered some nice short walks round the quieter streets near our house.








Anneka Rice at the grand opening - did you spot Mike on the Challenge Anneka Tsunami Boxing Day Special? He did all the work, honest, not that ITV team.















Sarah and the boys on a boat in Laos

















Mike and the boys waiting for a plane in Bangkok - wearing warmer clothes cos of the air conditioning. It wasn't that cold there.

Our Christmas and New Year - first instalment

At Bangkok's new spangling airport 23rd December

It takes 3 and a half hours to fly from Colombo to Bangkok. We spent a day enjoying the wonder of the amazing department stores with their Christmas decorations, Children's play areas, baby changing rooms and delectable food halls. Joe loved the Sky train. After a night in a hotel we flew on a 50 minute plane ride to Udon Thani, where our friends met us and took us over the border to Laos.

Little Christmas Pudding



















Pre-Christmas baking - Chocolate Crispies






















Our friends that we spent Christmas with

Beanie and Luke


















Guy and Joe











Guy and Beanie love Joe and Luke and vice versa, so Mike and I enjoyed a relaxing time while our kids were entertained. We loved catching up with Jason and Lindsey, James and Kate and we managed a few trips out to cafes, restaurants, a river walk and a boat trip on a river. We love Laos and it is always a pleasure to visit it. It was considerably cooler and less humid than Sri Lanka (unusually cool even for Laos), so we loved having a duvet at night and the cooler air in the day.

Christmas day was great - Jason and Lindsey had imported cranberry sauce, bread sauce, Christmas pud etc and had found a turkey. A great time with good friends! New Year was spent on a plane returning to Sri Lanka!