Christmas 2010 - some ups and downs

Hi everyone,

Well firstly let me wish all friends and family around the world a truly wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Some bumps in the road at the moment. Ollie and I are going through some counseling because we are struggling to talk re Mum. Ollie is bottling up feelings and not wanting to show sadness to me so represents a "I'm happy" persona even if he is sad. So counseling for the two of us to get us to a position of sharing thoughts honestly. It's tough I have to say as its sort of back to the beginning talking re Nina and her death, and having a VERY young pediatric Dr telling me some of the decisions I made may not have been for the best. I still stand by those by the way, and sorry Dr but there was no manual handed out or previous experience of anything so catastrophic to me and my family. Again I stand by all the decisions I made then as the right thing at that time and under those circumstances.

I mentioned this to my very dear friend in Australia, Syl and she sent me a book to read called "Tuesdays with Morrie", by Mitch Albom. I would recommend this to anyone as it is a heart-warming sad/happy book that really makes you think about death, but NOT in a morbid way. It truly is worth reading. Some of the take aways I have from the book are;

I constantly think about Nina and what was an amazing marriage we had together, that we always said that that would be it, that we had found our soul mates and that we'd grow old together. Sadly now that cannot happen, but in the book is this section which I completely agree with because Nina and I absolutely had it all. When Morrie was asked is there some kind of rule to know if a marriage is going to work?

"There are a few rules I know to be true about love and marriage; If you don't respect the other person, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. If you don"t know how to compromise, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. If you can't talk openly about what goes on between you, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. And if you don't have a common set of value in life, you're gonna have a lot of trouble. Your values must be alike."

So VERY VERY true! Ni and I had it all, and then had it snatched away! Tragic!!!!!

When Morrie was nearing the end of his own life, he made this amazing statement;

"As long as we can love each other, and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away. All the love you have created is still there. All the memories you created are still there. You live on - in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here."

WOW, powerful words I think you'll all agree and absolutely what I feel every day re Nina. Constant love and wonderful warm memories that I hope will never subside or wain.

And now as the title suggests to the highs. We went away with Mary to The Philippines for Christmas. Two stops, firstly to Bohol and Tagbilaran, and then a short ferry trip across to Cebu for 3 nights. Then back to Bohol for one night and then home to Singapore.

Bohol was at Bohol Tropics Hotel, really nice and in the city but also near the sea, So ideal. Cebu, wow! An hotel with its own waterpark, wave machine, lazy river, waterfalls, Captain Hook's water adventure playground etc etc. WOW!

Wonderful time was had by us all, great to see Mary's family and kids again. Desired effect was achieved which was a Christmas to remember for fun and laughter, and not to be sad without Nina (although that it is ALWAYS there of course). I think you'll see in the faces of the kids how much they enjoyed themselves and me and Mary too of course!

I'll try to pop some narrative in there too next to the photos to explain. See the next blog for photos and videos.

Here's hoping 2011 is a happy and safe year for us all.

Much Love Bri xxxx

Just like Mum

Amy,

You have amazed me yet again honey.

How did you know your mum's favourite film is The Sound of Music?

For those that know, you know how mad Ni was about this film. Un-prompted Amy has taken a MASSIVE shine to the film and one particular song (again Ni's favourite of the film). It's just uncanny. Ni lives on through the kids for sure and this is one major example of how that happens, and happens with no prompting, it just happens.

Love you for this Amy, it gives us all yet another wonderful memory of your Mum through you. Daddy xxx

Mixed Xmas photos with Mary the kids in Singapore

Wow there's a lot of jumbled photos here so rather than place separate blogs I though I would be best to create one blog for all. So here we go.

OK I go invited to a Chinese wedding on a Tuesday night, strange night for it I hear you say, so could not attend the Costa Rhu Mum's outing to the Xmas lights with the kids. So Mary and Adeline got everything together for me and off they went including a meal at Hard Rock Cafe (picture top right), and then it snowed - oh my goodness (ha ha not really, there's one of the shopping malls that spray LOADS of foam in to the air so it looks like snow. Have to say it's quite impressive, but notice my kids are wearing shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops. NOT what you'll be wearing in the UK, NY or Tokyo at the moment anywhere snow related ha ha!) Looks like great fun was had by all, EXCEPT, a certain Amy Kennett - look closely at her face in the bubbles with Mary (who is doing a great job trying to get Amy to smile ha ha!)

Also we have Ollie standing up for poetry night. Everyone had to wear black and "be cool", as it was designed for kids to feel comfortable reading their poetry to a number of family members, who all had to sit on the floor picnic stylee). So I am laying on the floor on Mary's lap for those funny photos with Amy. Just Dad and Daughter messing about waiting for Ollie to speak. Great night with some funny highlights of open mike sessions for the parents, when one guy got up with his two daughters and it turned in to a God pushing session. Hi I'm so and so, and I believe in God, he's our saviour type thing, and then sang a long long song all about God and airplanes. Even Mr Dennis said to me afterwards; "hmm I think we may need to vet the parents before they speak next time". Rather odd to have that at "POETRY" night. Great fun though still and Ollie did not cease to impress as always with his public speaking and great poem, so much so that little sis Amy spent half the night on the stage with him and his school mates and even at one stage went for the open mike session to sing Twinkle Twinkle, but got stage fright and collapsed to the floor despite being encouraged by her brother stood right behind her.

So here is the poem of Ollie, one of them, that he read. Read on and I think you'll all agree again how brave this little lad is to stand and read this in front of 100+ people.

Title; I Oliver Football Lover

Lover of Chelsea, video games, football games and having fun,

Who feels sad when mum died, a lot,

Who fears bats in my house and the dark,

Who would like to see people be nice to me,

Who would like to be a famous football player.

by Oliver Kennett

And the final video clip is self explanatory, yep school choir night and again a certain Mr Kennett putting himself fowards to volunteer for this. See how much effort (despite NASTY cough) to still sing, he really goes for it doesn't he. Lovely little night all sitting round watching the kids and teachers sing, even had a little Xmas Nativity play too.

Happy Xmas everyone. The kids are having a busy, giggly Xmas month of December.

The Xmas party organised by the Mum's - MAYHEM ha ha!!!

Yes it's Christmas time, even in Singapore, ha ha! So the LOVELY mum's in the condo came up with the idea of renting one of the common rooms and having a kids Xmas party complete with cakes, pizzas, party games etc. Just such a giggle seeing all ages mucking in to the fun from tug of war, limbo and musical statues. One game "failed" (sorry Shelley) as it's called sleeping rabbits or something where the kids have to lie still and not say anything. Anyone who makes a noise/moves is out - guess what telling 40 kids to lay down and be quiet, it was a mass walk out with like 35 of them going to the toilet ha ha!

I love some of these videos, check Ollie. Clearly ants in his pants or too much food colouring ha ha. Keep moving Ollie Boo, great dancing son!

So here go here is some wonderful video and photo footage of our trip to the amazing island of Nikoi in Indonesia. You basically take a ferry from Singapore to Bintan, then drive for an hours across Bintan to a small port and join a speedboat/ferry thing for 30 minutes or so and hey presto Nikoi. It's a privately owned "eco" island = check it out at http://www.nikoi.com . Really good friends of ours suggested the idea months and months ago, and a big gang of us all signed up to go. On the island is a mere 15 eco "cabins". I can't think what else to call them they are like 6 star tree houses but on the beach facing topaz sea. No air con, TV, mini bar etc. everything centres at the central bar where reggae is played and cold drinks are a plentiful.

The next thing that made it wonderful was the group of friends that came with us, kids and all. We had such a wonderful time with them all, at all ages. The kids played and played, we played and played (as there were baby-sitters, and a nightly kids film shown so the adults could eat in peace) and we relaxed and soaked up this wonderful wonderful island, it's lovely people and staff, delicious food and stunning views and scenery. WOW, Nikoi, you are amazing!!!!

Thanks to all our friends that made this a truly unforgettable experience for all the ages in the Kennett family. We MUST do that again!!!

Completely out of order now as the first picture is the lst as clever me forgot to put battery in the camera for trip out. So this is the disappearing view of Nikoi not the arrival, but check it out. So so beautiful. This is literally it, the rest of the island is still jungle. Beautiful.

Some comments now on the photos and as always me being non-technical I have to add text here and number the photo;'

Photo 1;

Is Amy playing on the floor of the restaurant, yep you heard me. You sat at dinner barefoot, scrunching toes in white sand, munching on yummy food.

Photo 2;

Brother and sister about to eat their dinner at 6pm, followed by huge bean bags and kids films at 19:30.

Photo 3;

Dad I love Ballet, Look I'll even do it in my swimming suit - Ha Ha!!

Photo 4;

A great mate of mine, Uncle Keith, with his partner Adeline's little one. This is SO cute, check out the pouty face. Gorgeous.

Photo 5;

Amy in a daze, see the film screen behind her that the kids would watch films on.

Photo 6;

It's BUBBLES. Amy and Ollie's new found friend. Always now if John and Z are going to meet us at something - BOTH kids will shout "is Bubbles going to be there?"

Photo 7;

"Er Tracy love I think we're lost", "clearly as you're the only one paddling darling!"

Photo 8;

Scuba son and Scuba Dad, which ones which???

Photo 9, 10, 11 & 12;

Ollie and I went on a kayak adventure around the island, and here are the photos that he took from the front of the boat, apart from the one of he of course! Not bad photos at all Mr Kennett.

Photo 13;

Z and the kids, so so cute. They played so well together we were all very proud of them, all sets of parents. Well done kids you were BRILLIANT!

Photo 14;

Rambo?

Photo 15 & 16;

Again the kids just getting on with it in the sand at the club house. They really were all so happy with each other which I think you sure can see in their faces.

Photo 17;

Can you believe it the room from the main bedroom of the cabin, breath-taking!

Photo 18;

No words needed. Ged what could you do with this photo? CUTE!

Photo 19;

So this is Dad of Bubbles, our very good friend John. Is she thinking "If I grab Daddy's throat it makes him sleep, look!" Nice photo John, love it mate!

Photo 20;

The dining room, yep ONE massive bit of timber and all of us sat together. We literally took over a whole half the island and this was team Eaton's private dining facility. Even afterwards and over to the bar for drinks, not another sole apart from our party and Bob Marley.

Photo 21;

Woo Hoo sexy, Ollie showing off HIS room. Yep this was all his. When booking and there being me the kids and Mary I though best get a two bed villa thing. Well that actually comes with 7 beds ha ha! HUGE.

Photo 22-26;

Views of the villa, views from the villa, views standing on the beach outside the villa - AMAZING is all I can keep saying about this place!

Video clip;

Check this footage out (my new camera - amazing!). Ollie and I decided to go scuba and under the pier ran into this shoal of what I think might be baby mackerel? 1,000' and 1,000's of them at touching distance!

Photo 27;

To then end, just more and more lazy days shots on the beach, alseep (bless you bubbles - so cute), walking round the island, iPod rock, and the journey there video and final pitcure.