#1516 Friday 31 March

Home again! Yay!
Kaylia arrived home from school with a xylophone!  It's something she has made at school ... clearly from a kit .... her input seems to be painting the frame.  She is clearly pleased with it and she is enjoying playing it.

It's really good to be home and spending time with her after school.

#1515 Thursday 30 March

Today has been staff training day ..... teaching Arista to "see".  It's a common fault of all people to look .... but to not actually see what they are looking at.  So the morning has been spent looking at the same view .... then comparing notes about what each of us actually sees.

Evening.  I have been to Aquaviva for tea and ..... horror! .... they had no bacon .... so no cesar salad ... and no mie goreng bacon .... no carbonara either.  It was a sad night .... and to cap it all off, their wifi is not working.

It's off to the airport in the morning .... home again .... yay!

#1514 Wednesday 29 March

The drive from the coast up to Kintimani was awesome inspiring again.  In the space about 20km we climbed about 1,500 m ... much of the drive was in first gear.  The views were great, the road wound up into the clouds .... round very tight switchbacks.  We drove past many properties that were so tempting. I'd love to have enough time to buy a spot on a ridgetop.... then gradually develop an idyllic place .... views to die for and cool breezes blowing off the ocean.  Waiting for the volcano to erupt might be a downer!

Now I'm back in Sanur checking on the maintenance and fixing things.

#1513 Tuesday 28 March

It's quiet.

No sounds of cars or motor bikes ..... just birds, insects and a few voices .... plus those incredibly rude dogs!  The little community here gathers together and shares their stories.

It's very different to the usual hotel or resort.  Instead of studiously avoiding eye contact, everyone makes contact .... and an invitation to sit and talk is the norm.

8pm. All is dark.  We're allowed one light behind closed curtains as a concession.  The evening meal has been a pleasant affair ... very subdued lighting and an atmosphere of togetherness.

#1512 Monday 27 March

I'm feeling guilty about being away from home at this time .... my help in setting up the new office would have been invaluable .... but I'd booked the flight before we decided to move office .... so here I am.  I also made the mistake of picking dates that included Nyepi Day .... no wonder the flights were cheap!  Since I'd experienced Nyepi on my own before, I couldn't face it again ... so I've done a retreat to a spot on the north coast.... and what a drive it was!  I've been to Kintimani many times before but never from Kintimani down to the coast.  It's a very steep winding road .... think of the zig-zag road in Kalamunda .... but ten times the height.  It's amazing.

When we arrived, it was very hard to actually find the place!  Down a poorly sign posted track ..... but we found it.  It's a nudist resort..... all seniors ..... nice people ..... Canadian, Dutch, English.  I've been having some good chats already.

This is the sun today .... a speccy image.  The comments are that this portends rough weather.

#1511 Sunday 26 March

Happy birthday to Maxine!! You're doing magnificently .... keep it up.

Today Naomi has been working like a Trojan to get the new office up and operating ..... with a very noticeable absence of assistance from the staff who will actually benefit.  While this has been going on, I've been keeping Kaylia's routine on track.  This morning it was over to Maxine's .... straight into the bath as usual.

Then it was back to Midland.  The afternoon gave us a chance for a rest and cuddle time before we headed to the airport for my flight to Bali.  This will be the 50th trip for me since my first trip in 1984 .... 33 years!

I'm in the departure lounge and it has been an unusual trip already ..... I was behind a lady who had some strange luggage and was asked to pay for it before receiving her boarding pass.  I clearly heard the instructions from the staff .... but the passenger just took off elsewhere!  The check-in proceeded for me and we all puzzled over the odd behaviour.  I hadn't booked a seat allocation and I was pleasantly surprised to be allocated a very good seat .... much better than I would have paid for!