The rest of the world may think it's hugely immoral that teachers get such amazing holidays ( i have picked this up from various conversations!There is some anger out there!) but you know what I think it's bloody wonderful!!
So in my 7 weeks off this is what has been happening. We all celebrated the end of term by going to a Russian Banya. You pay by the hour to hire this little apartment complete with sauna, mini freezing pool, pool table, bar, karaoke, and er pole!! Oh and bedrooms with really tasteful red velvet covers. I'm thinking a group of school teachers was not the usual clientele to this particular banya! Still lots of fun was had and much wodka consumed to celebrate 1 year in Russia. This year in Russia I plan to go to the big public famous Sandunovski Banya in Moscow and partake in 'veniki'. Being beaten with birch twigs sounds ...hmmm well interesting!!
Oh and a boxing thingy was provided! I totally took his head off!
It was due to the hangover after this fun night that i felt i could not cope with questions from the hairdresser who came to my house the next day to do my roots. I therefore said yes ( i actually said 'Da' but i know your Russian is not as advanced as mine readers of England!! ;)) to anything she said...which is why you may have mistaken me for a lighthouse for most of the summer! Just about fixed now and well, being back in Russia, i kind of blend in!!
So i had a wonderful and action packed summer starting with a lovely loaf on the canal courtesy of lovely Ma and Pa Lovegrove! Nothing like feeding swans from the window, admiring the beautiful English countryside, sunbathing on the deck (yes we had 1 day of sun!!) and listening to your parents debate the personal preferences of the dog's food brand at 7.30 in the morning! Thanks geffie Pa and Gilly Ma! :)
Then after catching up with some of you lovely people in London it was off to Guatemala to visit Trish and Karl who have managed to live the dream and retire pre 40 to San Pedro, Lake Atitlan..a gorgeous, volcanic, lakeside Mayan village about 4 hours from Guatemala City! Actually they are working very hard running their little bar El Barrio. Needless to say much fun was had, I met some wonderful people, saw some breathtaking scenery, rode a scooter with 3 people on every day ( really hurts!) and even did my first bar shift ever! I make a mean mojito now! i even managed to spend some time in the local school which was wonderful. Although i fear that the Mayan custom of school children kissing every adult they pass, which resulted in me being kissed by about 70 small children may be responsible for the weird chest cough thing i have had all summer! If you do ever get the chance to go to Lake Atilan i would highly reccomend it and Guatemala is really not as scary as the British Travel Advice website would have you believe!! Thanks 'Patricia and Karlos' xx
Every class I went into the children sang me a little song!
Trish, Karl and I over Lake Atitlan
Then it was home to 'sunny' England where Olympic fever had taken hold. Never managed to get any actual tickets but saw the ladies cycling event go past on the Fulham Road. Anyway it was all very exciting and such a lovely atmosphere in London. Tash and I went on the London Rib experience and jetted about the River Thames at high speeds to James Bond Music... very cheesy and very scary/fun...highly reccomend!
Next was a trip to a gorgeous Oxfordshire farm house for The Ditzy Daisy's hen do! all that happened there is top secret of course.
Then it was a sleazy jet flight to Nice to catch up with me birds where we sunbathed, read ( 3 copies of 50 Shades of Grey between 6 girls and I still have not read it! Ok well maybe some bits :)!!) Ate amazing food, swam in the pool, drank vino and debated many a thing from the FTSE 100 to waxing techniques!
So one week left at home and another stop to the parentals to say adios. This time they were moored in Kidderminster....just never go there....it's not nice!!!
I spent a week with my gorgeous little nieces and nephews in sole charge along with the Gilly Ma ( technically Giles was there but well!!!!) while Susannah went to do her illustration course in Cambridge ( which produced some amazing work... coming to a Waterstones near you soon I have no doubt!). 
AMAZING!
AMAZING!
It was very hard work ( not sure how i have the energy to be a mother!) but lovely to spend time with them. Being sat on the naughty step makes Finlay collapse into giggles. Never saw that happen to Supernanny!
The Finster!
Ella Bella
Oscar the Great!
Anway after such a lovely summer I was questioning going back to Russia and saying goodbye again but i have arrived back to Moscow. I have a lovely new flat with Collette and Rosy and we had our housewarming last night which was always going to be good considering the girls bought cheetos and pombear crisps as snacks! Nothing but the best here! Has been great to see everyone in Russia again and met lots of the new staff too so I am excited to be back! Spent the last few days getting the classroom ready so all we need now is the children on Monday...eeek!
If you have got to the end of this epic blog you get a gold star! You also get a gold star if you were one of the very generous and lovely people who put me up over the summer either on sofas, French villas, Guatemalan lake houses, beds or narrow boats!! you know who you are and i love you all !!!
Blimey sounds like an oscar acceptance speech !!
Bye bye x
P.S come to Russia..... i have a hugeeeeeeeeeeeee bed now!
