Ballet in Jakarta

Isn't she gorgeous....
Ballet in Jakarta is so different to what I remember from my years of study.
I studied under a wonderful lady in Sydney of Russian descent.
Madame was lovely, but a perfectionist.
Chelsea's ballet class is nothing like mine.
Chelsea's class is about having fun and dancing around in a pretty tutu.
She is slowly learning all the correct positions and she is having a wonderful time doing so.

We need to talk about Kevin

I have just finished the most amazing and disturbing book.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We Need to Talk About Kevin is a 2003 novel by Lionel Shriver, concerning a fictional school massacre. It is written from the perspective of the killer's mother, Eva Khatchadourian, and documents her attempt to come to terms with her son Kevin and the murders he committed. Although told in the first person as a series of letters from Eva to her husband, the novel's structure also strongly resembles that of a thriller. The novel, Shriver's seventh, won the 2005 Orange Prize, a UK-based prize for female authors of any nationality writing in English.

It has twists and turns and is SO powerful.....
I really recommend it BUT, think hard whether or not you want to put yourself through it because it will stay with you for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONNG time

Jakarta, Indonesian earthquake 12th September 2007

All OK, didn't feel this one either......
Traffic horrendous and phones are down.
We are all fine.
I hope everyone is also.

Necessities for dealing with a broken ankle

These are the two things that I have found enhanced my life this week.....

My upstairs water dispenser, with a mini fridge.......perfect for milk (for my coffee) and soda water.


My mode of transport.........I zoom around upstairs really fast now. A Croc on one foot helps me get up great speed,LOL
I still have to go and or down up two flights of stairs on my bum, but at least upstairs I can get around!
I have put a bag on the back of my chair for my hand phone (not called mobiles here?), as it only ever rings when I am too far away.

Butternut Pumpkins in Indonesia

I am a root vegetable addict.......I will eat potatoes in any style, pumpkin soup is a staple and roast pumpkin and sweet potato (Kumera) is a delicacy that I will never tire of.......
Indonesian pumpkin just doesn't do it for me.
Imported pumpkins are Very, VERY expensive. A small piece of butternut pumpkin can cost around around $5.00

We were in Ranch Market a few weeks ago and we found butternut pumpkin seeds.........for about 11 700 RP ($1.60).
Look at how these are going!!!!!!!!!!!!
We will have wonderful, tasty, homegrown pumpkins soon.

After seeing how well the pumpkins are growing the girls and I have gone back and bought some more seeds. We have now got onions, basil, rosemary, carrots, cauliflower, watermelon and a few other things I have forgotten.....






This is the small plot of land next door that was an overgrown rubbish tip.
The owner said I could use it if I cleared it....so I did. (well I paid someone to do it LOL)
We now have a veggie patch that the kids, our staff and next doors staff can use.
Samino is going to build a bamboo cubby house for the kids once I organize a fence.

Traditional Indonesian massage on a broken ankle

Can you see why we call it "IT"..........

Broken ankle or what...I still had the pedicure for the ball.......

Smile its torture time!

Ibu A working her magic

When my Indonesian friends heard about my ankle they all asked about whether or not I went for a massage before going to the doctors.......I must admit that I thought that they were all out of their minds.......When I was at SOS, silently SCREAMING for drugs an aides identity tags fell and touched my ankle.....I stopped being silent at that stage.....how could any one bare
having a massage???????

Through a friend we have come in contact with a lovely Indonesian Lady who comes and does massages in your home. When she has a break in her schedule she rings to fit GJ and I in. We usually manage to get 1-2 massages in per month.

I know.....I live the life of a privileged princess....

Ibu A came over today and when she saw my ankle she broke in to a huge, fast paced diatribe of Indonesian which I had no hope of keeping up with.....
I am in big trouble for not calling her last week and I will be suffering for far to long because of this!
No massage for my body, I had one whole hour JUST ON MY FOOT!!!!!!!!!!!
Ibu A is an expert, 220 million Indonesians can't be wrong about the benefits of massage, right???????
Do you like the photo of my face trying to smile.......

Now before I start to describe every iota of pain let me tell you about how I feel now.
It has been 30 min since my massage has finished, I have consumed 2 painkillers and half a glass of wine and my ankle feels REALLY GOOD, or as good as a broken one could feel LOL

Now if I can forget the pain part, it was fascinating to see Ibu A massage the swelling away.
But, it was excruciating....I knew it was doing me good, but I kept leaning forward telling her to stop. The last five minutes were unbelievable...she kept saying lima, sakit and something else....5, sick and ?????
Oh My Goodness, Ibu A grabbed my ankle and did a deep tissue massage....five times....I was counting in Indonesian adding a loud "TIDAK"-no!
But I got all five.......I feel like I am describing some horrible, torturous, corporal punishment regime....

Ibu A is canceling some of her regulars to come back and visit me this week.......She is hoping to get two treatments in this week.....Oh my goodness will the cure be too much!

I also have to get Sarinah to make me a special rice and ginger poultice.......

2007 ANZA Charity Ball at the Ritz Carlton

We had a wonderful time!!!!!

The dress turned out wonderfully....I hadn't posted about how worried I was about my dress. I had sent out a desperate plea to all my special friends via email when after the first fitting I looked 59yrs old and extremely portly! But all the suggestions and subsequent alterations fixed all the problems.

GJ had a wow of a time....

This is our friend T as she won the major raffle prize of 2 return flights to Europe !!!!!!

Highlights

• Managing to colour co-ordinate my ball gown to my wheel chair
• Friends taking turns to push me around in Champagne fueled speed derby's in my wheel chair, at one point I was driven around the stage and offered for auction.....
• Being at such a fun table with all my friends.
• Seeing all the beautiful outfits that people had spent so much time on
• Once again the Ritz Carlton Jakarta proved to be a wonderful Host, The Grand Ballroom was spectacular.
  

Disappointments

• Being seated next to one of the few tables filled with ignorant pigs who smoked inside the ball room all over our table (despite being asked not to), who put out their buts on plates and proceeded to puff on cigars.
• No dancing.......
• My poor foot was not impressed by the lack of horizontal activity...I will post a photo tomorrow of how bad "it" looks.....

I couldn't last past 12.30am, my foot was just too sore. Because of "it" (my ankle is too alien like to be part of me, so we call it "It") we had asked our driver to work overtime instead of catching Taxis.
GJ was most impressed by being able to put me in the car safe in the knowledge that I would be ok (except for the bit about dragging my self up two flights of stairs on my bottom in a ball gown...LOL). He was then able to go back upstairs for the midnight supper and dance with all the single women (ones that he knew...not strangers lol).

MRI at Pondok Indah hosptial

I had my first day of freedom yesterday. I made it downstairs for the first time in five days.
I had an appointment at the SOS clinic and was then referred to Pondok Indah hospital for a MRI.
Besides being poked and prodded far to vigorously it was an alright day.

The MRI was very relaxing.....I have never had one before. You are strapped to a very comfortable gurney and fed into a HUGE machine for 25 minutes. As the machine is very noisy I had huge ear muffs on as well as a soft blanket...I fell asleep almost instantly.....I hope I didn't snore! LOL.
I only was inserted in about half way, I don't know if I would of been so relaxed if my head was inside as well. I will get the results later today......or GJ will, I am off for a Cremebathe, pedicure (one foot only..) and manicure for the ball tonight......
Gj hired me a wheel chair for the night......all my friends have nominated my chair as the handbag haven.....

Expat Interviews!

I have just been interview at a web site for expats

Welcome to Expats Interviews!

We interview people who are living abroad. Here you will find the thoughts and observations of expats living in countries like Thailand, Philippines, Holland, India, Australia and a lot more. We find that it's always exciting to know about what motivated people to live in another part of the world, how they generate their income, how they manage to live there, and what they’ve learned from their experiences in a land that's become their new home.

Here is the link to my interview

abject misery

This is a shot of a little girl, so excited about going on her very first school camp.
Georgia was off to an adventure park in Bogor, she has had her bag packed for days.
Unfortunately she has also had a very bad cough for nearly two weeks. When she could not finish her breakfast due to repeated coughing fits the really tough decision was made.
resulting in this face...

It would not be fair to Georgia to show the other photos or videos of the ensuring one hour.
I am sure most could guess the depths of despair that a 8yr old girl (to be a GROUP LEADER @ camp) would endure and how loud and physical the tantrum would be......
Georgia will be sharing my 2nd story prison for the next two days.........
I hope we both come out alive.

How I broke my ankle in Jakarta

I had a full, fun day planned for last Saturday; quick trip to the shops for a new mattress for GJ and I, meet my girlfriends for their last ball gown fitting, quick lunch with them followed by a trip to the Roberts furniture to help them choose a new coffee table.
The day was going to finish with on a high note at Lia and Edo's Indonesian wedding.

Well I got as far as The American Mattress shop on JL Fatmawati......I did find a super, dopper, divine King Koil mattress, but it is WAY out of our price range.......

There is no OHS standards or standards of any type in regards to buildings and/or safety. There is also no liability here, so I bear all the costs associated with my injury (I hope I get a discount on a mattress though!LOL)

Out the back of the shop the floor level drops down about 1.5", I missed seeing it and tripped rolling over on to my left ankle before crashing to the floor in a very undignified heap. I knew instantly that I had done some major damage......
It took me a few minutes to regain the ability to breath, stay conscious and not vomit (I am a big woosy girl...)

I could not move my leg at all, it looked like something was sticking out my ankle under the skin and my foot was crooked. I was alone with people that spoke very limited English....... And GJ's phone network was down.....

I thought I made some good decisions...I got the driver in, calmed him down over his shock at my ankle and sent him for GJ. I got the shop assistants to call SOS (medical clinic) and arrange a pick up for me. I though that this was the best as I could not move let alone drag my self to our car and get in it to go to Emergency...GJ would be waiting for me and all would be fine in the world......

After 40 minutes one guy in a jeep arrives from SOS (only located 7-10 mins away) hands me a pair of crutches and asks the two sales girls to help me up and out to the car. The two sweet sales girls were both the size of a 10 yr old Aussie girls. I asked him to politely get over his sensibilities towards touching women and get me off the floor.... which to his credit he did, but I still had to crutch it out of the shops dodging steps and beds.

Luckily GJ turned up before I was half way there after a VERY exciting dash in the car with Yadi. This is where I lost it, falling to pieces about it all.....GJ was very nice and held off on the jokes for a good hour or two!

The emergency section of the clinic was great but very different to Australia. I was put into a wheel chair and they all wanted to push it but kept banging my foot or the chair into walls and doors..........I lost it again when I was pushed into another corner for another wait.....

The Xray was bearable, as was the exam but what really got me a bit hot and bothered was that there was NO BLOODY PAIN RELIEF.........not even a tiny panadol....... I wanted Morphine, general anesthetic, happy gas, what ever just something ( I am a VERY big woose).

The wheel chair would not fit into the consultation room so GJ got all the details from the team of DR's (my fat ankle was very popular). We finally made it home to discover that our medicine cabinet had panadol in it and nothing stronger......

So here I am confined to the upstairs of our house.....The stairs are too hard unless I go up and down on my bum which jars the ankle....

My saviour is my office chair, its on wheels, so I slide around upstairs with ease. My other knee is still too sore to use the crutches.

It was not too bad today, a mixture of reading, catching up on some blog reading and TV when the power went out for nearly two hours......

Tomorrow I am going to go through the girls jewels and hair accessories to find something to jazz up my cast for the Ball on Saturday night. I had found the cutest high heels for a ridiculously cheap price that would of looked great......., one will look nice on a foot.LOL






Unrecognizable as my foot....

I have had my first day of tedium...........

I would even rather do playground duty @school than this (and I hate playground duty....)

GJ is at work, the kids are at school and I am stuck upstairs.

I can't get up and down the stairs by myself.

I have a little bell beside my bed to tinkle if I need anything......

I am by nature a chatter, I like to talk.......upstairs is very quiet.

I had better get used to it as broken ankles and ruptured ligaments take a LOOOOOOOONG time to heal.

Some friends have sent over some pain meds , Nurophen PLUS so at least I can get some sleep.

I will compose my funny mis-adventure at the emergency clinic tomorrow. In hind-sight it is a bit of a hoot.........

Indonesian wedding.

I was so excited about the wedding we were invited to on Saturday night. It was to be my first Indonesian traditional wedding.
All I got to see was these lovely photos and hear Ben and GJ describe it to me. I stayed at home with my foot elevated and the girls stayed with me to help.

GJ told me how spectacular Lia and Edo looked and how much fun he and Ben had. At the reception the bride and groom sat on the dais and guests walked down the red carpet to greet them. Ben thought that this was great fun and did many "laps". Ben and GJ both wore matching Batik shirts (this is equivalent to a suit and tie) and Ben was once again very popular.




Below here I had a photo of my foot, but I have removed it. It is too disgusting to put on the same page as beautiful wedding photos.

I have wirless internet and a broken ankle.....

I have good news and bad.

Lets start with the good, for some reason today my wireless net work decided to work, for the first time ever in Jakarta.

Which is especially good as I now have something to do in bed while my broken ankle heals......


Yes I was out shopping and missed a hidden step and cracked my left ankle. Not a major bone broken just a floating fragment or two and some major ligament damage. Too much swelling at the moment to see much, I will have a MRI next week.

The strongest pain meds we have here is panadol.....I would kill for a panadine forte!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I am coherent again I will tell you the very funny story of Indonesian emergency ward and patient collection..........


Oh my ball gown for next weeks ball is going to look wonderful with my plaster cast.....GJ said he will get me some diamonties for it...