Well if the last week or so can’t be quantified as a ‘linguistic week’, I dunno what can!

I’ve started back to Spanish lessons, with a new teacher, my Colombian friend Ana Maria.  Every Tuesday morning and I’m really enjoying it.  She’s a great teacher and I’m already starting to use basic conversation – not bad going after only a fortnight!

Also, I’ve taken the plunge back in to brushing up on my French.  I studied French in school, from the age of 11 right through to my A-Levels at the age of 18, I’ve not used it since (I know, I know, for shame!!) I went to Laurence’s French conversation group and managed ok.  I got my point across and the more I spoke, the easier it came back to me.  I look forward to using my French more going forward.

I’m from a pretty linguistic family, my older brother Robert has a degree in Spanish and Russian (and speaks a smattering of other languages on the side – including the ever elusive ‘American’ LOL!), my other older brother Rory is fluent in French (and again can probably take a stab at other languages too).  I feel most compelled to get my lingo-mojo back!

Anyway, aside from language groups, out of the ten days or so, I’ve spent at least five out of commission, in bed sick.  I’ve no idea with what, but I’ve had a fever, chills and varying ailments.  It hasn’t been nice at all!

Thankfully I live with a pretty well qualified ‘nurse’, and, as always, my wonderful hubby took great care of me during my ‘plague’ days.

In spite of trying to save for our trip, we’ve eaten out a lot this week, when I’m sick, I don’t cook and Col is the ‘won’t cook’ but claims he’s the ‘can’t cook’ of the Can’t cook/Won’t cook spectrum.

Friday night, was one of my worse days/nights so Col picked up a Chinese from one of our favourite Chinese restaurants here in Sugar Land.  Panda Garden is delicious! It’s cheap, it’s close to the house, portions are great, food is always tasty, fresh and piping hot.  We tend towards the cashew chicken every time we eat there – whether he gets it, or I get it, it comes home with us – it’s lovely!

Saturday I slept, a lot.  I did manage a two-hour trip to Walmart for a pre-Singapore provision shop and I also bought a Groupon for some tourist activities while we’re in Singapore.  For a midnight(ish) snack and a wee thank-you for saving me from the plague to Col, I made some chocolate filled croissants, find the recipe, here they were quick, easy and an absolute resounding success!

Sunday was another day at home, the quilt found it’s way back to the sofa and we just watched the Grand Prix and Lost all day (or, at least, the parts I was awake!)

Monday I was feeling a little better after a seriously lengthy sleep, so I did my cupcake baking for Ana Maria’s birthday and made a start on laundry for the week.  For dinner, Col and I used the last of our Pasta Points and hit-up Carino’s for it’s half price family platter dinner.

As always, we ordered Chicken Fettucine Alfredo, normally priced around $26.  But, because it was half price Monday a cheap-as-chips price of $13! Not only that, but it fed both of us and had plenty of left overs – the portion was massive, and it came with 2 salads! Excellent!!

One other thing I love about Carino’s, is that they do mini-desserts for the reasonable price of $2.  They normally come in a small little teacup or a wine glass and they are just enough, either for you to share, or enjoy by yourself.  I didn’t even finish all of my turtle cheesecake (and it’s not like it’s big!)

Tuesday night was our monthly SSA Dinner group, a group that’s always smaller than I think it should be.  It’s a great activity, but under attended.  It’s a once-monthly trip out to a local restaurant, not a chain, just an independent, hole in the wall, kind of place.  It’s a great way to discover new places to eat in the greater Houston area!

This month, was the British-Indian delight, the London Sizzler.  For those of you unaware, I love Indian food, but since moving here, I’ve discovered that I love N.Irish Indian food – which isn’t 100% authentic…and that’s how I like it! LOL!

I’ve been on a mission since we moved here to find a ‘proper’ home Indian.  Last night, we hit the forerunner!  I had the chicken tikka masala and although it wasn’t as good as home, it was the closest I’ve found in Houston (I’d probably order butter chicken next time!).  Hubby and one friend had the chicken korma which was delicious – as were both the rice and the garlic naan – Oh My GOD, the naan!  The naan was so good we ordered a second one mid-meal!!!

Our server was fantastic, she even continued to offer us drinks refills for the hour we spent chatting after we paid the bill.  This is practically unheard of, once you pay the bill that’s it, they ignore you, or sigh and impatiently glare at you til you leave – not here, we loved it and this would be one of the top reasons we’ll definitely go back.  It was also reasonably priced!

Wednesday was my pre-trip blitz day!

It started early, we got up before 5am to take a friend to the hospital to have surgery, after breakfast with the hubby, he dropped me off at home (where I promptly went back to bed, four hours sleep is no good to anyone!)

When I got up (again!) I washed and dried all of the stuff we need to take with us (that isn’t already clean), stacked the dishwasher (and run it), did dishes, cleaned the kitchen, started to set out stuff to take with us on our trip, started a ‘Magz pile’ of stuff to give her before we leave, tidied the living room and flopped on the sofa in a puddle to wait for Col to come home from the Sugar Land campus, where he was spending the day.

Our friend was supposed to be ready for pick up at 4pm, at 4.30pm Col’s texting me, asking if I remember the name of her surgeon (uhm, nope? She didn’t give us his details), he has no idea where she is in the hospital, has no idea what she’s in for (and can’t go through all 500+ physicians in the hospital) and was there for 45 mins trying to find someone who knew where she is (nope, she was not on the surgical floor!)

Last night, the night before flying (and given that I’d cleaned my entire kitchen, including the inside of my fridge door and the outside of my dishwasher), we decided not to trash the kitchen, we’d eat out.  Yes, again.  So bad!

We decided to go to Chili’s, which, as it turned out, didn’t end up being a wise choice.  They got my order wrong.  Not just once, but twice.  GRRR!!! It worked out in my favour, cause they ended up comping my meal and I got it for free, but still…Col had practically finished his dinner and mine was just arriving (and wasn’t even particularly hot!!

Our server was like, ‘Are you ready for your cheque? I’m sure you just wanna get the hell out of here, I don’t blame you, I screwed everything up for you and I’m sorry’ LOL!! Poor girl!

After Chili’s, we went to Dunvale cinema with the Maddens to watch Senna – I fully intend on writing a blog post about it (yes, another movie that’s moved me to blogging about it!) but it was a great film and I had a good night (poor Magz however was unable to get comfy the whole time!)

When we got home, we started our packing process (I’d set out most of the clothes etc I wanted to pack) for tomorrow’s trip!

Yes, readers, our trip is upon us! Can you believe it’s come so quickly? I certainly can’t!  Our flight is 23 hours and we’re away for two weeks, when we went to Malaysia, we took a bunch of goodies in our carry on luggage, snacks for the flight, out and about around the city, for the hotel room in the evenings, at the track…etc…etc and it worked out great – cheaper than buying them in a shop over there.

This time, we decided to do the same…(you can tell which snacks are Col’s and which are mine! LOL!)

We quit our packing around 1am (still some stuff to get in HEB to bring with us for the Stevensons, but we’re pretty much good to go!) for a cuppa and a wind-down before bed!

My case, Col’s case, case of Nappies for Stevensons and cabin snacks case! Just hand luggage to go (and it’s been started)!

I have to say, I’m seriously excited and, if reports are true, I’ll not want to get off the flight!! LOL!

See y’all in two weeks and be darn sure I’ll be back with plenty of pictures and tales of our adventures in Singapore!!