Corinne and Tim's Adventures

It seems that our blogs entries are becoming smaller and few and far between.

Our recent adventure took us to Europe and we had an amazing time.....a relaxing time. Some could almost say a coming of age as we realized we not longer enjoyed the backpacking dredge from public transport to hostel via tourist site and instead enjoyed the finer things like lazy days in Tuscan villages or wandering through the French alps.

So, with a few more kilos (salami and gelati to blame) and a much more relaxed demeanor we returned to HK.

Check out our photo's......

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11469&l=3f1a0&id=614836677

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11614&l=7cb85&id=614836677

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11406&l=3309f&id=614836677

Until Tim and I get around to adding our photos and comments on our recent trip to Yangshou with Mum and Dad, check out their blog to see some pictures of the area...

http://tak.travellerspoint.com/8/

Well just to spice things up a little, this blog entry is not in fact aimed towards our Aussie pals whom which we love informing of all the things we get up in this hemisphere but instead this entry is for all the HKers who sadly missed our engagement party!

We had a wonderful trip back to Aus filled with Christmas, lazing around and of course our long awaited engagement party. Although we were thrilled to be surrounded by all our old mates and family we did however miss the Hong Kong masses that could not make it to the Melbourne Aquarium (in hindsight any efforts to fly 9 hours to attend a party really would have been outrageous!)

Anyway, for their benefit - here are some of the shots of my two Christmas', the beautiful Zoë and I and the party.

My trip started off with Christmas Eve with dad's side of the family.

Still full from the night before, we spent Christmas day with the Buttigiegs.

I lost my voice so spent a few days chilling at home and playing with Zoe - such a beautiful girl!

With my voice almost completely back, we laughed, ate, drank and did a whole lot of smiling at our engagement party...

My Cousin Bec and I (some people say we look alike?)

My Beautiful Mum!

Mum and Dad

The Bowman Clan (and a couple of ring ins)

The girls!

For the past month as the weather has begun to cool and Hong Kong has been getting tizzed up in Christmas decorations I've had the beach on my mind.

Not the kind of beach where you get to lie in the sun and feel the white sand between your toes, no, a different beach. A beach that needs cleaning!

I wanted to have an event that would bring together the students in Hong Kong that DO actually care and what better way to do that than to have a clean up day. Under the banner of Roots & Shoots I invited all the current groups and rallied together teachers that seemed keen to get groups started.

A months worth of risk assessments, liaising with the FEHD (Food and Environmental Hygiene Department) and scouting beaches and we were ready. A 75 strong army of students and teachers from primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong and even one group from Mainland China came together at Mui Wo to do our bit.

The day was a huge success with sunny cool weather, St Johns First Aid on hand just in case and a load of keen kids really giving it their best!

Advertising R & S while waiting for groups at the Central Ferry Pier.

The whole Roots & Shoots Gang

Well, i've survived my second annual school sports day. Running the relay again (and coming last - again!) but we sure did have fun.....

Yin Yin and I

Little Leo the Champion Sprinter

The lovely Ada and I

The parents, teachers and past student relay participants.

The English Teachers Relay team - the only team of all females - go girls!