i’m starting to put my summer together. it’s a bit complicated.

we are planning on leaving hong kong pretty much the minute school gets out. the reason for this is because when school ends for the year, everyone pretty much scatters, and it gets pretty lonely. all the kids programmes are very expensive and not so interesting. last year we stayed in hong kong for three or so weeks after school completed, and we will not be doing that again. it was pretty drab for them.

so what are we going to do? charmaine called the other day and said, "i really want to spend time with you and your family this summer. how can we make this happen?" she offered her home to me, but let’s be honest, if i come, it is going to be for a month, and that wouldn’t work. her husband would definitely get tired of having us in his house and i am sure that charmaine would too.

she suggested that she find me a cottage. now, given that we had such a great experience a couple of years ago when charles’ sister carolyn located us a "three family cottage" , this is highly appealing. however, the cost of flying the kids across the country (flying to canada is prohibitive enough!) makes me realise this likely isn’t going to happen.

so i am looking at alternatives. my incredibly generous friend heidi has offered me her place at whistler, but it is nowhere near a park and doesn’t have a backyard. pam has said we can stay at her place, but i don’t want to impose on her. but you can’t expect people to jump around for you, and they have their own lives too!

not having a driver’s license is a toughie come summer time. the kids want to do summer activities but unless they are within walking distance or the bus, how can i get them there?

another option we are exploring is going to thailand for a while. that might be a good plan because it is cheap to fly there and there are kids tennis and swimming lessons.

i am not angry at epilepsy, but at times like this i sure wish i could drive. or that canadian cities had better bus systems.