The War of the Roses

   My goodness this seems very strange to be using a computer again after nearly 3 weeks of not touching one. I was determined to not open my computer when I was home and I managed very easily with all the other things that had to be done. The time in France passed very quickly and I haven't done so much physical work in quite a while and am feeling the withdrawal symptoms as I sit down at my desk again. Andrew and I, with the help of Naomi for a week, have managed to make  La Ferme des Vallots looking more loved than it has for a long time. I systematically went around the "garden" digging, cutting, weeding, pulling, hacking and then finally planting in the hopes that it will look colourful when the 12th July arrives. The roses were out in all their glory and since Ï had done quite a bit of manuring and preparation last autumn they seemed to be at their best.

Me in among the flower beds!

 Of course most of the roses will be over in July which is a shame as the scent of the roses literally fills the air around the farm at the moment. Andrew was equally busy painting, repairing, clearing, cutting grass, strimming and making lists of things to be done and Naomi was the expert high pressure hose user who transformed green mouldy decks, furniture, patios into cleaner more respectable looking things. There is still quite a lot to do as the barn where part of the wedding celebrations are going to be held was only emptied last Saturday and Andrew has been busy cleaning and clearing since I left on Thursday.

The clean deck

  I won't bore you too much with all the things that we achieved but I came back with bruises, stings and scratches and was planting things literally 5 minutes before I left to catch the train and looked with horror at my very dirty and broken fingernails as I left Lisieux on my way to Paris. It was lovely to be home in June and it was my first time in 3 years and so it was like rediscovering the wonderful colours, scents and daylight of summer. The reality that night doesn't fall at 6.30 pm opens up so many possibilities and even though the evening were chilly, they were lovely. Thank you dear friends who I managed to see over the two weeks and apologies for those who I didn't. I will be back in 3 weeks for the final countdown and the actual wedding so I will look forward to seeing you then.

Cherries just ripening

Our neighbours' cows

My New Indian Family in KL

My New  Friends

I was waiting for a taxi after the conference and I was chatting to two pre-school teachers, also sisters, who had been attending. Their father arrived with mother, husband, daughter in the car and they insisted in bringing me to the hotel in their car and this was the start of a delightful encounter while I was staying in KL. They were an Indian family and they insisted in going to an Indian vegetarian restaurant where I could taste the best coffee and chapatti etc…I had been eating all weekend but of course couldn’t resist an Indian curry, dahl, chutnies etc. I learnt that the mother had a food stall and cooked every day except Sunday and perhaps I showed too much interest but anyway they invited me out again the next evening to visit the stall. I accepted the invitation and they dropped me off at the hotel, reminded and amazed at the kindness and generosity of Malaysians even in urban settings. 

The view from my window

 The next morning after a delicious breakfast in my very smart hotel, I went over to the British Council office where I was spending the day with the Director of the ELTDP project. The office was very modern and completely open plan with everyone at a desk station which changes every day. What struck me was how multicultural the staff seemed and how  high tech the classrooms were-a far cry to teaching in a small primary school. Anyway it was very interesting and I spent a very pleasant day there. 

The curry stall

The evening arrived and my lovely new Indian friends came to collect me. The mother’s food stall was in a suburb called Cheras and was quite far out of the centre. The mother of course wanted me to try many things and I patiently sat there eating with everyone watching to see if I liked it. After I could eat no more and thought the evening was finished they said they had another surprise for me and off I went to Brickfields or otherwise known as Little India.  I was taken to a little shop where they insisted in choosing and buying the essential spices needed forthe wedding curry – curry paste is my usual solution but now I have to go about it the Indian way. We said our fond farewells and promised to keep in touch and that I thought was it but no!!

Petronas Towers at night

The next day I got a phonecall from them saying they wanted to take me to the airport. It would have been far easier to go by the express train but they wouldn’t be dissuaded and so we arranged that they would me at 7.30 pm. At 8.10 they arrived and I was starting to mildly panic and despite being a long drive and me wondering why I had agreed to this, they got me there in time. “Just leave me at the airport” I said , but would they listen? No, my adopted Indian family stuck to me until they could go no further and then they found a place where they could wave to me. I was quite overcome by their kindness and genuine desire to make my stay in KL memorable. They were not after anything and were just a lovely family and I feel very humbled by their kindness. Thank you.

A Conference in "Creativity in Early Education"

The Eminent Speakers at the conference

It’s 7 am in Paris and I’m just sitting in a café waiting for Naomi’s flight to arrive in a few hours. In some ways it is good as it will give me time to reflect and distil what has happened since I left Sabah on Friday afternoon. 

 I arrived at my hotel in Kuala Lumpur about 9 pm and that gave me some time to work on the presentation/ workshop that I was doing on Sunday at the conference on “Creativity in the Early Years of Education”. Yes I know it was leaving it rather late but I was so busy before I left and I just had to work on my powerpoint a bit and as I’m rather a novice with that sort of thing it takes me ages to work it out. Anyway, having never been to a conference outside a British Council event I wasn’t sure what to expect and I won’t bore you with all the details but just to say it was fantastic. There were about 150 people attending, mostly from Malaysia , but the speakers were from Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Brunei and they all seemed to be very eminent in their field except me! 

They say these conferences are all about networking and that is indeed what I did. I met some lovely people who were very passionate about Pre-school education and at last I knew why British Council had given me those business cards! The presenters were treated to a lovely meal in a fish restaurant in the evening and then Sunday arrived and my 11 am slot approached. I was hoping that there might be less people on a Sunday but my workshop /presentation on “Critical Thinking in Storytelling” was full. I felt a bit nervous to start with but once I got going it was fine and there were lots of good ideas and stories that were told at the end. 

Storytelling in my workshop

The rest of the day was full of lively and political discussion which is unusual in Malaysia and there was a passionate appeal from a lady who represents UNESCO, to get pre-school education recognised as an important and separate issue for the UN. There was a closing ceremony and presentations and fond farewells and lots of promises to keep in touch – and I hope I will as there were some wonderful people attending.

Monday morning and good intentions!

Mount Kinabalu - I can't stop taking photos of her!

So I have started my Monday morning off with great intentions which I expect will not continue! I awoke with the morning prayers at 4.30 then a text arrived from Andrew at 5 am, because it is 7 am in Papua New Guinea, and as sleep was going to escape me, I decided to get up and do a little run. I am not a keen jogger and especially in this heat the only way to get some exercise is either get up very early or do something in the water. The water alternative is preferable to me but as there is no swimming pool nearby I think the running is the only other alternative for the moment. One of my colleagues is going to be a bridesmaid at the end of July and she has a 6 week swimming programme all printed and very detailed in order to look slim and gorgeous on the day. I certainly haven't got any great expectations for myself but it will be my first time being "the mother of the bride" and so I feel I ought to do something to tone up the flab! So I feel if I write it on my blog I have declared it to, not quite the world, but at least to some public who read it. I find it interesting that there are so many people that read my blog that I don't know. My main audience seems to be the USA, UK and Malaysia now and France is lagging behind hugely. I initially started this if you remember as a way of recording my adventure and keeping family and friends up to date with what I was doing. I had never looked at a blog before and had absolutely no idea how to set it up, let alone put a photo on it. I suppose I would have made it a private blog if I had even known that you could do such a thing. Anyway, I'm not intending to change anything at this stage as I don't know how to and there are 934 people who read my blog this month. So whoever you are - you are very welcome to read my ramblings!

   Last week was a very varied one as usual and I had the pleasure of visiting Ranau and seeing some of my old schools which was lovely. Ranau still feels so much like home when I go there and I haven't the contact with the schools in Tuaran as I had in Ranau, which makes me realise what an icebreaker children and schools are. When we moved to Livarot the school was the place where we made our social contacts and lasting friendships and I think if you haven't got children when you move into a community, you have to make an extra effort which I haven't done yet in Tuaran. I am going to stop now as my good intentions are to be at my office desk at 8 am to start my week and write the weekly bulletin to the mentors. Next weekend I will be in Kuala Lumpur at a conference on " Creativity in Early Childhood" and I will also be one of the participants so that will be an experience to recount I expect!!

A beautiful beach near the Tip

Another Wedding!

Congratulations Tanya and Anthony!

    Each time I have visited a mentor this week they have asked me the same question "So which do you prefer being a project manager or being a mentor?" I obviously show my enjoyment of being in a school and having  contact with the children too much and it is a difficult question to answer. I  miss being in schools and teaching and feeling a part of the school community. I loved the job of being a mentor and feel still very engaged in the teaching development process, however as I said to everyone, there are many amazing opportunities that I am experiencing in this new role that I never would have normally had the chance to do. I do feel that we can't have regrets and wish we were somewhere else all the time.

A bridge I had to cross in Pitas

 I have always had the philosophy that whatever life throws you just see it in a positive way and put it all down to experience and another chapter in your life. One of the lovely things about my new job is travelling to quite isolated schools that normally I would never have had the chance to visit. This week I was in rural Pitas, Kota Marudu and some very small schools in the hills of Kota Belud, as well as the very different schools in urban Kota Kinabalu. I even had a Year 2 class in the tiny school of SK Tintapon who sang a song for me which was performed on the stage just like I was a VIP!

   This week I have a family announcement to make that there is going to be another Wright wedding next year!! Tanya and Anthony got engaged last week and the wedding is planned for next summer again at La Ferme des Vallots. Tanya and Anthony met at St Georges, London while training to do physiotherapy and medicine respectively  and we're all thrilled about another wedding and enlarging our international family. Anthony's parents are originally from Malaysia and I'm delighted that the connection with Malaysia will continue.

Along the coast in Pitas

Yesterday was Naomi's birthday which she spent in Montreal, Canada and very soon she will be returning to Scotland and then we fly into Paris, both on the 28th May to be reunited after over a year. After that if you are following we will go on to Lille to celebrate Lisa's birthday- not long now!! Meanwhile I am on standby for a birth. One of the mentor's wives is about to have a baby any moment and no I'm not being to asked to deliver the baby as their Project Manager, although my experience in lambing could be useful, just babysit for the their 20 month old daughter ....but you never know!!!

House-Warming and Kuching

A traditional sampan for the tourists

Another week over and I'm thinking with the Duchess of Piasau post last week I didn't even get round to say that Andrew came to Kuching last weekend and we had a short but lovely time soaking up the relaxed atmosphere of charming Kuching. As soon as the fun in Piasau with Sayeeda, (who never even said hello to me!) was over, I flew to Kuching for an induction of some lovely new mentors and then stayed on until Sunday. We went on a river cruise by accident and had a nice wander around the lovely colonial buildings that have survived in Kuching. Andrew is now back at La Ferme des Vallots after 3 months away and having spoken to him on Friday night from Kuala Lumpur airport it makes me realise that I am only a nights sleep away from home and of course quite a lot of money too! I am flying back to France on 28th May so it will be upon me before I know it and I'll be getting my gardening and cooking hats on and forgetting about all my other responsibilities for 2 weeks at least.

Fishing boat for catching prawns 

China town

 On Wednesday evening, before the Labour Day holiday, I invited my Sabah North mentors to a house-warming party which was very quickly thrown together but despite the lack of planning it was really nice. Everyone brought something to eat and drink and despite my house not really being ready for viewing it was lovely getting everyone together. We had three children, a very pregnant mother and mentors from late 20's to late 50's all enjoying each other's company. In the mentoring job one has lots of contact with the schools and teachers but really seldom do we all get together on a social basis and I think it is really nice to do so. I have a great group of people in Sabah North and I think another social event is being planned in Kudat area in the future. I'm looking forward to it!

The old court house

The Police Station

  I have had another very sociable week so today and yesterday I am trying to catch up with the DIY that has been neglected. I have painted the bathroom blue which is more in the co-ordination spectrum of the tiles than the previous orange walls and I intend to do the little washing machine room with the rest of the paint and then hopefully some sewing. So that's it for this week I think. It is interesting that my blog is being read by new mentors arriving and they know all sorts of things about me before me meet! I'll have to be careful to not to reveal too much about myself!

A bank

Baroness Warsi and the Duchess of Piasau

I hope none of you are thinking that I was welcoming Barack Obama last week at one of schools. I'm afraid it was a much lower key affair but an experience all the same! The mystery guest visiting Kampong Piasau last Monday was....(rolling drums)....Baroness Warsi! Who I hear you asking? Well I expect last week there were lots of people like me searching google to find out more about this lady. She is in the cabinet as the Minister for Faith and Communities and Senior Minister of State to Foreign Affairs. A Yorkshire Muslim lass from immigrant Pakistani parents.; right wing and a non-elected member of the cabinet. She was made Rt. Honourable Baroness Warsi in 2007. I could continue but you can look on Wikipedia too! Apparently she had asked to visit a project school which to me sounds unlikely but for whatever reason here we were in Kampong Piasau waiting for her arrival.. Piasau I hear you asking? Yes, the small kampong is a few kilometres from Kota Belud on the road that twists towards the mountains alongside the River Warin. It is a sleepy village  inhabited by wandering cows and water-buffaloes with an assortment of wooden houses on stilts and the amazing backdrop of Mount Kinabalu.

The Baroness

 







      
The school had been informed a week previously about “the visit” and during that week there had been a whirl of activity. The security guard shed had been painted; the toilets fixed; the grass watered, the satin curtains stapled; the plastic chairs hidden; the meeting room transformed ; the curry puffs made; the makan cooked and the invitations sent. The whole village was involved. “Why our school?” the headmistress, Betty, had asked. Which in reality was a combination of many factors. Firstly, Sk Piasau had been 3 years on the ELTDP and was happy to welcome David Kellaway to continue on the project for another 2 years.; It was rural and picturesque and secretly the real reason was because the Minister of Urban Wellbeing and Housing, who was accompanying the Baroness, was originally from Kota Belud.

The morning started early for all the teachers and helpers and despite a busy buzz of activity everyone seemed to be calm. The Sumazau dancers were keeping cool in the heat and the  Level 1 Action song performers were patiently waiting, having their make-up touched up as it melted in the sun. Parents from the kampong started arriving and more and more cars began filling up the padang.

Finally the siren of the police escort was heard and the Year 6 pupils lined up ready to welcome the Baroness to their school. The cars drove into the school and out stepped the Right Honourable Baroness Warsi, or Sayeeda to her friends, She wasn’t quite as we all imagined her to be. She was young, pretty and was wearing a pale pink punjabi. She charmingly talked to the pupils, doing her best to ignore the cameras clicking and made her way onto the stage followed by the Minister and deputy High Commissioner.

The welcoming show started with the Sumazau dancers followed by the Action Song performers. The children sang and danced beautifully and captivated the audience with the Baroness leading a spontaneous standing ovation. Then the speeches which by special request from Nigel were kept short - the Education Director, the minister and finally Baroness Warsi.She spoke firstly in Arabic and then talked about having several identities growing up as a Muslim with Pakistani immigrant parents in the United Kingdom. She appeared genuinely charmed by the warmth of her welcome and thanked the people and school of Piasau for giving her the wonderful experience of visiting their school.  Everyone warmed to her.

Next on the venue were the refreshments or "discussions"  in the school meeting room where satin and bows had transformed it into a palace. Being a little underling I was sat with Nigel and few other people from the foreign office and then suddenly the Baroness and company were off and I hastily texted a message to David the mentor , who was waiting in the class and before he got it, Baroness Warsi was in the class. 

She sat down, produced the collection of lovely books she had brought for the school and asked the pupils to choose a book for her to read. One of the girls was lifted onto the Baroness’s knee and the rest of the pupils listened intently while she read “How to catch a star”. We all sang “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and she talked for a short time with the mentee and then she was off and by the time I got round to the entrance again, the sirens had started and the Baroness and her entourage were on their way for lunch at the local restaurant of Mayang Sari.

The bemused parents!

It was all over and everything had been fine. We could all relax now and that is when the fun began! We all went and filled our plates with noodles and curry puffs, sat in the thrones pretending to be VIPs and I had endless photos taken with everyone in the village. They obviously decided to elect me as their royalty as no one else was left.  Fiona, Duchess of Piasau, yes, it has a sort of ring to it! Well I can honestly say that I would be very proud to have the title if it was on offer. Thank you everyone in Kampong Piasau – you were all wonderful.

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