a list of 20 things

1. We are going to China and Vietnam in less than two weeks.
2. Our walking training regime where I make the girls walk kilometres around our hilly suburb to practise for the Great Wall has dropped off.
3.  I think I am not as fit as I could be.
4.  Not sure if 2 and 3 are related.
5. I have to pick which puppets I am going to take.  I have been asked to do three puppeting/storytelling workshops in the city we are visiting.  Pretty excited.
6.  Dizzy is too big to come, even though she has repeatedly asked.  I mean she has her own suitcase with numerous accessories.
7.  Gabby has been dligently learning introductory Chinese from youtube videos.  This has been unprompted by me.
8.  I expect her to do all of our bargaining in the market.
9. I have instructed the family that we are eating down the fridge.  We will not be buying any more food before we go.
10. Except milk.
11. And medicinal items.
12. Like chocolate.
13. The fence needs to be completed before we go because the PUPPY ARRIVES the day we get back.
14.  Very excited about the puppy. It is a red and white border collie (this is her mum).  Chris still has naming rights.  I want to call her Rose Tyler as a Dr Who homage.  Still seeing whether this will fly.
15. I have started packing my bag.  So far I have a pair of shorts, two shirts and a towel.  Everything else needs to be washed.
16. Can't believe in less than two weeks we are catching the midnight flight to China.
17. I hope to be much more regular with blogging while we are overseas.
18. We are still waiting for our visas for China.  I handed them in last week.
19. I am going on long service leave for the rest of the year.  I have 6 more days of work.
20. Praying for our time in China.

In the count down phase

It is now only 5 weeks until we go to China and Vietnam, and I feel my preparations need to step up a notch. So far I have bought some shoes, got immunizations and learnt to count to 5 in Mandarin. This should take me quite far, but there is a growing list on the fridge of things I need to get collect prepare gather buy do.

The plan is to visit with my friend Keryn in Wuhan for two and a half weeks, then visit Beijing, then have ten days in Vietnam. There are real concerns here, like how many jumpers to pack.

But probably what I should be doing most is talking with Kerryn, finding out what we can help her with, and praying for her. I'll put that on the top of the list on the fridge, then everything else should fall into place.

And get hand sanitizer.

And an international plug.




And...


Okay that's enough.