1st anniversary

Today marks one year since I first met Olivia and what a lot has happened in that time. A year ago at Sentral I don't know what I expected but it has been a joy.

#1 d in l spent very little time in her room, she was home at 2 a.m. and up just after 7.  We could just have had 1!  Olivia and I on the other hand had a great night's sleep.  There was very heavy rain during the night and it was still overcast first thing so after breakfast we went back to the room and 'watched' 'Baby Geniuses' which at least had little kids and speaking noise.  She watched, a bit.

We then walked up the school to see progress.  Funny watching them plan a community consultation event, something I have done so many of.   The plan is to redesign part of the outside area which is used by the school kids and the local Chinese community.  Pangkor has a declining population, a fishing community and the young people don't want to stay and carry on the trade.  Added to that the fishermen are under attack from Indonesian pirates who steal the boats and the ransom the crew, Thai fishermen who take the fish and fish stocks are declining.  A common tale throughout the world. 

The community are being asked their views on what should be done with the area so today, 'the crew', were colouring in low tech story boards and preparing plastic bottles that people will be asked to put their thoughts in and hang them on fishing nets.  I helped with the bottles, Olivia 'helped' too. No beer was drunk!

Then we went a taxi tour of the island.  Doesn't take long - just over an hour including stops.  I think I got 'done' by 20RM, £3.  Hey ho.  we saw the sights, the Chinese temple and the Dutch fort and monkeys. 

Then lunch at another beach resort and then Olivia had her first experience of the sea.  It was tricky as the beach shelves quite quickly and there was quite an undertow so we didn't stay long.  I didn't want to lose Olivia in the Melaka Strait. 

Olivia fell asleep on the walk back so it was a couple of hours by the pool. I had an 'adult' swim and then once she woke we had a great time in the baby pool, getting rid of the sand as well.  A last look at the beach (no ice cream this time) and then back to the school for the lift back to Sungai Pinang Besar and an early dinner.

And then time for us to catch the 6.40 ferry and go back to KL with Sharon and her daughter in WH's car.  Tomorrow is a public holiday, Eid, and the traffic heading north out of KL was really heavy. Luckily we were going south. We got back after 11.30 and Olivia slept all the way but luckily was happy to go to bed.  Good day.  I really liked Pangkor and it was great to see sun and no haze.