Saturday 5th February 2011….a sporty day!!

Which started at 7am this morning as I got up to watch live soccer from the UK

Then it was off to tennis I got a call yesterday from someone I don’t know inviting me to make up a foursome…it was two hours of competitive men's doubles that I really enjoyed!!

Back home to pick up Sara who had made lunches as we were scheduled to pick up the girls to take them to the water park just outside of town.

At Casa Hogar we were again informed that Daniela had not done her work to the satisfaction of the Madre and she would not allowed to come with us…as much as I do understand the system and admire everything about the home I was very disappointed that she could not come….Paola was allowed to come and she brought another friend with her, Carmelita, a lovely girl.

The first stop was at the restaurant where they have bicycles and Paola was on her bike in a flash and gone…

It was Carmelita's first time on a bike and she needed a little help but she did well!!

This girl didn’t need help…

The girls rode for about 30 minutes and were tired at the end…

Next was to check on the stables and the horses…

We drove the few miles to

and the water park…sit back and watch these girls have fun in this beautiful and well maintained park!!!!

I managed to convince the girls to go on this  slide above but only if I waited at the bottom to pull them out so imagine my surprise when the shoes were the first things to come down the slide!!!!

Thank goodness the girls followed shortly afterwards!!!

We all had a great time and the girls were so good and happy.  We then took them back to the house where they wanted to eat cup of noodles…can you imagine we offered to take them to McDonalds but no they wanted instant noodles which Sara doctored up for them with lemon and salsa and they watched the penguin movie Happy Feet again…..Sara braided each of the girls hair and they looked so cute don’t ask me why I didn’t take a photo!!!!

I drove them back home and then picked up Chinese food on the way back and I finished the night watching a hockey game!!!!

It was a lovely day but just hoping next time both my girls can come out to play!!!!

Friday 4th February 2011…your lucky day…you get a free Pearson tour!!!!!

The tour starts about a 45 minute drive away at this farm…

This farm is a community farm shared by 6 women and all the grounds are very beautiful and our host Cynthia was so happy we came and told us we could walk anywhere we wished…

A new beautiful addition being built..

The main entrance…

It was  a very interesting visit to see how inventive and adventuresome people can be!!!

We then drove into the main little square..this town less than a hundred years ago was a thriving mining town with a population of over 50,000 people, today less than 2,000 people call this home and many buildings are just abandoned

 

No matter how deserted a town is you can always rely on you know who to find a store!!!

The shop owner…

It worked out well for Sara because she has signed up for a silver jewellery making course next week and she found some great stones in this store to make in ear rings and a pendant!!

Croft do you recognize this store?

You should you dropped 1200 pesos here last year!!!!

A very photogenic town and it was fun to see it again!!!

We arrived just after 6pm and we enjoyed the outing.. a quiet night with a movie to watch in a few minutes!!!!

Thursday 3rd February 2011….dentist day!!

Had a lazy morning drinking tea, doing computer work and watching the hummingbirds out side the front window!!

 

We then went to Casar Hogar to pick up the girls I had booked a dental appointment for Paola.

 

We were taken aside by one of the Madres and Daniela and Paola were present when the Madre informed us that Paola still was not doing her homework to the Madre’s satisfaction and that Daniela was not doing her chores around Casa Hogar.  We had asked to take the girls all day on Saturday and the Madre told the girls in front of us that they must improve their work tomorrow or they would not be allowed to go.  The Madre was very good with the girls and she asked Paola and Daniela to tell us why they would not be allowed to come and they did.  It was a moment of reflection of how hard it must be for 5 Madres to be in total control of the running of the home with 45 girls of differing ages.  Both of the girls were humbled but accepted what was said and we were allowed to take them out.

Sara had arranged to go to a movie at the library so we dropped her off and then the girls and I went to a different dentist than before and it took us some time to find the office but we eventually did…

Paola was a little up tight but she was also brave and Dr.Laura was very good with her and Daniela and I were allowed in the room….

Paola checking out the equipment!!

She was done in about 15 minutes she had a filling but the Doctor told me that she needs another tooth pulled to make way for her new tooth….so that will be in a couple of weeks.  I was very impressed with the Doctor now wait for it…..the cost of the filling …..150 pesos…about $12.50 cents unbelievable…Sara and I are making appointments next week to have our teeth cleaned!!

We then drove to the park passing these two forms of policing on the way

and the girls thought that ice cream would be a good idea….who am I to argue with them!!!

I then dropped them off at Casa Hogar and they promised to be good tomorrow so I  hope they can come on Saturday.

I then went to the big local park close to the RV park where there was a huge plant and pot sale going on all week…

In the park a school band concert was taking place and our friends Karen and Rob had invited us to join them.

These kids were very talented here we are with family of one of the musicians…

The four of us then walked to a Texas longhorn restaurant for a wonderful steak dinner, it really was good and thanks to Karen and Rob for treating us!!!!!!

Yes I am holding the Margarita glass but not drinking from it, guess who that belongs to??

We didn’t get home till after 8pm where does the time go?…..I have to admit that today was the first day since November when it was not sunny and warm, overcast  but not cold!!!!

Wednesday 2nd February 2011…Usual Wednesday!!!!

Two hours of tennis this morning and 4 hours of poker this afternoon..here are two of the guys I fleeced again today!!!!

Yes a big winner again… another 40 pesos into the coffers!!

This morning as a treat to Sara for finishing her Spanish course and a bon voyage and Valentines present I sent her to this spa out in the country

Where she had a yoga lesson, lunch, massage and and afternoon by the pool and after poker I went to pick her up.  She said she really enjoyed the day!!

A quiet evening with the TV…….oh and yes another beautiful day!!

Tuesday 1st February 2011…..an easy day!!!

Not much on the agenda today Sara and I had a late breakfast and then I took Sara to the Tuesday market whilst I did errands she bought lots of great fresh vegetables and all these incredible best ever I have seen strawberries…

Cost of the berries 50 pesos!!!!!   Not even 4 dollars!!

What a small world whilst Sara was in the market buying some produce there was a lady next to her who looked at Sara and said to her that she knew her face from somewhere, after going through the usual places they may have seen each other the lady asked Sara if she was on a blog and sure enough this lady reads my blog and recognized Sara!!!!!

Back home I was “allowed” to watch a great live soccer game from England

and then Sara and I played 5 games of Backgammon……I won’t tell you who won but I am being treated to dinner and a show next week!!!!!

I cooked a really good supper tonight fresh pots, carrots and green beans and BBQ’d chicken breasts!!!!

Again we went to the small church theatre group and the play tonight was a great little comedy!!

Finished the night by stopping in at my favourite hole in the wall bakery..

Not a bad start to the month!!!