Planning Visit to UK, August 2004
We are planning to visit 'home' for the first time in over 3 years. The last time was the very cold Xmas/New Year of 2000/1. Being used to year-round temperatures around 30 degrees Celcius, that was a bit of a shock to our systems.
So, in the hope of more comfortable weather, we are heading for the Green & Pleasant Land in August this time.
The other big plus will be the long summer evenings that we never have in Indonesia as the sun sets around 6 pm every night throughout the year.
But most of all we are looking forward to see all our family and friends whom we miss very much and most of whom have only seen once or twice in the last 9 years.
Mum, you will need to stock up with Cumberland sausages and all the ingredients you need to make a large batch of your ginger biscuits.
Tim, prepare to get licked at Scott's Park bowling green - and for Sean to out-playstation Gareth & Christian. Sharon can have the consolation ready for you all. Jane & Ken, please consider changing the dates of your holiday in France !! Mark, prepare Sam for a jam session with Sean ! Lilian, hope you are gargling in preparation for our visit - you wouldn't want to have laryngitis such a time !Marianne please be back in Lancs for a few days in August.
Golf bags will be with the luggage, so don't expect a bearing of many gifts from the East ! - the excess rates the airlines charge are horrendous.
Student Concert, Ambara Hotel Music Lounge, 13 June 2004
Sean played a couple of short numbers on the piano at the Student Concert and Gathering. The event was organised by a group of music teachers to celebrate the achievements of their students and to give them some experience at performing in public.
It was a very enjoyable way to spend a Sunday morning watching so many youngsters of all age groups playing for us and Sean surprised us with the confidence of his performance. He was presented with a nice trophy for his efforts and even Steve & Anita received a prize for 'the most supportive parents'. We then went off to our favourite Chinese restaurant, The Dining Palace, for a delicious dim-sum lunch.
Although it was hugely disappointing, watching England snatch defeat from the jaws of victory late that night in their Euro 2004 match against France was not bad enough to sour our day. England live to fight another day and the performance during the 90 minutes of normal time was good enough to keep our hopes alive that they can go all the way !
Football: Sunday, 6 June 2004
Sean played for ESE FC Under-8 team in a 4-match tournament on Sunday. Steve was delighted to be asked to stand in as coach for the day and Anita, as ever, was cheering from the touchline and making sure we had enough fluids. (Yes, the coolbox contents included a couple of beers for the stand-in coach !)
The highlight for Sean's team was a resounding 3-0 victory over the eventual tournament winners. Their only defeat (0-1) was to a very soft goal and meant they missed out on top-spot by just 1 point.
With temperatures around mid-30s Celcius, it was exhausting but a good time was had by all.
(ESE is a football coaching centre of excellence set up in Jakarta by ex-Lincoln City coach, Dean Wheatley. They have several qualified coaches on their staff and they are doing a great job with the kids in all age groups.
