Wagas - My Favourite Restaurant

I have just got back from lunch at Thumb Plaza which is our local centre about a 10 minute walk. My favourite restaurant there is Wagas which is actually run by Australians. The food is fresh and and yummy and they have toys set up for kids. I end up going out for lunch about two times a week with Lachy. It's nice to actually take Lachy out and have him sit there for about 20 minutes or so. It's only recently that I've been able to do this. Don't get me wrong it's not exactly a totally relaxing experience but it's nice to get out.

At Thumb Plaza they have about 20 great restuarants, shops, a carrefour as well as outdoor areas including a big pool that kids can go paddle boating in. The area is really well set up for kids. Lachy loves going in there although was getting a little rowdy today and started splashing another kid! I wasn't too pleased! He then bit me as I led him forcefully away. The biting is a concern. For the last 2 weeks Lachlan as well as a number of other kids have been bitten by a boy at school. Jase and I are going to the school on Monday to complain. I am worried his being bitten will make him start biting other kids or make any behaviour issues with him worse. Generally speaking Lachy's behaviour has really improved since coming to China and with effective use of time- out and rules for discipline he is really doing well. I don't need issues at his school regressing his behaviour.

On Monday we have a tour with the British International School. We are thinking of putting him in from Sep 2009 as he will need to go 5 days and I really want him at a school where they speak predominantly English - especially with his delayed language skills. The school has a great reputation. Only downside is the cost. Jase and I will have to chip in about $10,000 of our own money! And that's with 2/3 of tuition being paid already.Very expensive. But that's the way it is with any international school in Shanghai.

I need to start uploading some of my pics from local hangouts. I need to remember to take my camera!

On Monday we will really start testing our new driver as I will be taking him over to Puxi. We had to sack our last driver as he kept getting me lost and would pull over on the road and ask complete strangers where to go! On Monday I have to get a dress fitting in Puxi and its also where the Yu Yan Gradens are. I plan to do some siteseeing while over there! I am getting a strapless red silk dress made for the Australian Women's Group Melbourne Cup social function. The whole thing is costing me about $75 Aussie. I will remember upload some pics of me wearing it!!

Home Away From Home

Wow I can't believe I have been here 2 months already. I have been extremely slack in updating this. I have so much to say and just haven't got round to saying it. Between emails and Facebook I don't have time to update it. However, I will now make this more like a diary and make an effort to update it.

Jase is in Canton and the moment so Lachy and I have been on our own - although so far so good. I feel like I have been here for ever and so I guess I have settled in rather well. Lachy is in school 3 days although I have finally got him into speech therapy so I will pull him out for half a day on Fridays. We have also got him a behaviour therapist for attention issues and are looking at an Occupational Therapist too. I don't know if he needs all of this help when he still hasn't been formally diagnosed with anything yet but I would rather be safe than sorry. I will probably wait until I go back to Australia for more formal testing. I think he definitely has sensory processing, speech and attention issues but whether this will get a more formal diagnosis I don't know. His symptoms are fairly minor but still need addressing. Given it has been less than 6 months since I have found these things out, it has been a whirlwind of emotions. Amazingly I have met some great people here who have supplied a lot of resources and I'm lucky - in a way I feel less alone with Lachy's issues than maybe I would be at home.

I have just got back from a lovely lunch with my friend Teresa. Her daughter has an mild to moderate autism spectrum disorder and has been a wealth of information. It is so nice having time for myself. Although admittedly a lot of time is also spent finding and organising specialists for Lachy - so it hasn't been the lazy lifestyle a lot might think!

We are off to Jiuzhaigou next week, or the Valley of the Nine Villages and I can't wait! I will definitely write about it and I hope the weather is nice too. We had an awesome time at Sanya (a beach resort located south of Hong Kong) although it rained for a few days too! Like it always does on our beach holidays! I have uploaded some pics.

So we are busy trying to make another baby! Although Jase being away a bit makes it hard. I think I have to be patient about how long it will take as I'm now 35 and no spring chicken! Will keep you posted! Till next time...

Finally in Shanghai

Hey There. We'll it's been a while since I wrote. We are finally in China. All in all the flight was pretty good although just before I left I developed the cold from hell. I still have it a bit and am hoping Lachy doesn't get it. Luckily Jase flew over with me as 10.5 hours on the plane on my own the way I was feeling wouldn't have been good!

The weather is extremely humid at the moment. It was a bit of a shock and Lachy also didn't like it but he is starting to get used to it. The apartment is awesome and Jase did a great job. Heaps bigger and more modern than thought. It has 4 bedrooms, dining, living room, kitchen, 2 bathrooms, a maids room and is basically the size of our house and home in Australia, although being an apartment doesn't feel like it. Lachy likes his new bedroom. Today is my first day on my own as Jase has gone to work. It feels a bit weird. I am just hanging out at the complex today and will take Lachy to the pool and playgrounds and for a ride on his bike. I might even walk up to the local shopping centre so he can have an icecream. Yesterday we went shopping at City Shop and the local Carrefour for some basics. It was interesting seeing all the live produce in the supermarket. I think it will take time getting used to everything as eveything or most things are in mandarin.

Anyway will update soon....

5 Weeks to Go!

Hey well it's been a while since I wrote last. Much has happened. The air frieght was packed yesterday so I am left with the bare essentials until I move out of the house on the 28 July. Yes and we did finally find a tenant. A couple in their early 60's with no kids or pets. They are building around the corner and want to be in our house for up to 18 months which is great.

Things have been a tad stressful with me finding out Lachy has a mild to moderate speech delay as well as possible social behaviour issues. I am hoping his behaviour is more the result of the move to China and Jase now having been away from us for over 6 weeks that has made him unsettled rather than a more serious ADD type diagonosis. Must admit the thought of finding good speech therapists and child psychologists in Shanghai is daunting. He has been so defiant lately. I feel like I am constantly disciplining him. And his has developed this habit that gets him attention which is growling like a tiger. Topical cause we just took him to The Lion King but he seems to be doing it more and more when he is angry with me or doesn't get his own way. Outbursts are not unusual as well. It has me worried. Although admittedly he was like a new child tonight after Jase skyped us. I am thinking of aksing Jase to fly back for a week so we make the move to China together. I think he will be a lot more settled.

Anyway Jase has now moved into our apartment in Yanlord Town and its half furnished. The remaining furniture should arrive by the time I get there in mid August. He has been pretty stressed but coping ok. I think he wonders if we have done the right thing moving to China now with Lachy. I just hope its better in one way as I can spend more one on one time with him as I won't be working...