2010
Bali Again!
2 October 2010
Bali has somehow managed to change in the last month. The airport has miraculously become better organised since I was here in August for Jasmin’s 4th birthday, and I got through in under fifteen minutes (maybe because only our jumbo had landed - on time too.) The gods are with me for a change!
Now up in Ubud - no traffic jams on the way.
The rice crop is thriving - another foot high and none of the tell-tale yellow tips that indicated that the last crop was failing (and there was silly me thinking it was ripening early!) I will have to watch it very carefully in the coming weeks from my spot on Josh's back verandah. But there will be none of that possible during the week of the festival, starting next Wednesday.
The neighbour's cute baby chickens in Josh's yard, that my niece Amara photographed over and over when she was here in July, and were "toddlers", toddling along behind Mother Hen when I was here in August, are now obnoxious "teenagers" having grown fat on Josh's cats' dry food! They brazenly come into the house, flying through a glass-less top window if necessary. One of them has taken to perching amidst all of Josh's bronze wire sacred geometric forms on top of the bookshelf, sending them scattering all over the floor - I fear what this might be doing to the balance of the universe!
The cats are the same as ever. Three-legged Misty is here for the duration. Gab, having rescued two more half-dead abandoned kittens and nursed them back to health at her place, has a full quota there, so is not taking Misty back after all. Anyway Misty has settled in here just fine.
Now up in Ubud - no traffic jams on the way.
The rice crop is thriving - another foot high and none of the tell-tale yellow tips that indicated that the last crop was failing (and there was silly me thinking it was ripening early!) I will have to watch it very carefully in the coming weeks from my spot on Josh's back verandah. But there will be none of that possible during the week of the festival, starting next Wednesday.
The neighbour's cute baby chickens in Josh's yard, that my niece Amara photographed over and over when she was here in July, and were "toddlers", toddling along behind Mother Hen when I was here in August, are now obnoxious "teenagers" having grown fat on Josh's cats' dry food! They brazenly come into the house, flying through a glass-less top window if necessary. One of them has taken to perching amidst all of Josh's bronze wire sacred geometric forms on top of the bookshelf, sending them scattering all over the floor - I fear what this might be doing to the balance of the universe!
The cats are the same as ever. Three-legged Misty is here for the duration. Gab, having rescued two more half-dead abandoned kittens and nursed them back to health at her place, has a full quota there, so is not taking Misty back after all. Anyway Misty has settled in here just fine.
Went down to Jasmin's house soon after arriving - she is thriving too. Was in the pool with a crowd of Balinese kids who disappeared by the time we went in to help Jazz change into some of her new gear from Aunty Jannee - leggings and tops. When Josh lifted her up to the mirror she said "I look very pretty" - she did too. And my camera battery was flat. Another time. We saw a photo on her nanny, Lulik's phone of Jazz in baju kerudung – Muslim women's white head cover for praying - very cute. I could not get much out of her about her two weeks in Java visiting Lulik’s family. Lulik said she was fine and fitted in really well - played with the local kids and was made a great fuss of by the family. When her big sister Santhi asked her what she did on her visit to Java she said "It’s my secret and only I know". So there!
Been up since before 5am and it is now almost 9 so it must be time to rouse Josh and get going. Will visit the Festival office and Jasmin's school this morning.
Been up since before 5am and it is now almost 9 so it must be time to rouse Josh and get going. Will visit the Festival office and Jasmin's school this morning.