Mummy helping the Moo open her presents

Minxy Moo trying cake for the first time, she loved the mess not sure of the taste!

To make it even more special, Lisa’s brother was with us for the year whilst working in Dubai, so Isabela was fortunate to have her Uncle Lawrence there too.

We then extended the celebrations with a back-packing trip through Cambodia with your wonderful friends, Paul and Phalla. The country is just amazing with its rich and sometimes tragic history.

Greg even dabbled in some diving whilst we were there though it is not high on the ratings of dive sights in the world.

Isabela found her feet in Cambodia and has not stopped running yet—she only knows two speeds—stop (i.e. sound asleep) or full on adventure.

Her love affair with the mode of transport, the ‘tuk-tuk’ has now been firmly established!

Isabela and Mummy on a Tuk Tuk

Whilst home, Isabela keeps Kimba and Ballu, our four-legged VIP members of the family, very busy with games and general chasing around. Kimba and Ballu are very well and enjoying the winter in Dubai.

Greg’s PhD is in the home straights……

Greg has been working just about every corridor of his regional role – from Tunisia to Egypt to Saudi to Bulgaria – and Lisa and Isabela popped over to Cairo to catch up with him for one of the trips.

This year also saw Greg venture over to Westpoint in New York, accompanied by Lisa and Isabela, for a stint with his mentoring Professor for his PhD and we took the opportunity to head down to Washington DC for a long weekend, which was a great sightseeing experience.

Isabela got her first load of snow sprinkles though is suitably unimpressed with the number of layers one has to wear in snow-like conditions. We also had the chance to catch up with some sorely missed friends in the Big Apple, Ken and also Jerry, and also one of Lisa’s old mates from her regulatory days, Marty, which was a wonderful opportunity. Greg’s PhD is nearly the end with the final submission due in March 2010 so a few tough months at the books are scheduled between now and March 2010.

Lisa smelling the roses whilst bouncing between countries

Lisa finished her Masters in Law and is now taking time away from the books to just smell the proverbial roses and support Greg through the home straight of the PhD though she doubts she can add anything intellectually – just keep cracking the whip!

This year has also seen Lisa work in Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait with her Dubai based role.

She continues to do ad-hoc technical assistance work with the International Monetary Fund and has recently taken a sabbatical from her Dubai job to undertake a major IMF project to help Thailand improve its Anti money laundering & countering the financing of terrorism regime.

This sees Lisa in Thailand for significant hunks at a time so Isabela is in tow and enrolled in an international nursery in Bangkok along with her regular nursery in Dubai.

Nothing like being a jet setting baby!

So anyone who wants a nice base in Bangkok for a holiday, ask Lisa for her work schedule!

To have familiar faces and friendly visitors to show around and you may even bump into Greg on one of his hops over to Thailand as well. Our base though is still in Dubai so anyone thinking of popping over for a stay, always welcome too however now you have two holiday options – Dubai or Bangkok – instead of the paltry single option. We try to be accommodating!

So you have two holiday options – Dubai or Bangkok – instead of the paltry single option. We try to be accommodating!

Garuda is the symbol of Thailand

The main drawback is that our puppies, Kimba and Ballu, cannot travel every month with us though they are well loved and looked after by Sampath in Dubai. If we moved to Bangkok or anywhere else permanently, they would be the first on the plane!

Italy and Greece—what a wonderful opportunity.

Greg and Lisa celebrated their birthdays with a trip to Athens in June and then followed up another family break to amazing Italy in August.

We hit Florence for a few days then met up with our best friends, Helen and Steve in Lake Como, where we shared the world’s smallest and steepest house. Lake Como is a beautiful district and we had a wonderful though memorable time….Just as well we are all our best mates as imagine four adults and a baby squeezed into a room 2mx 2m and you get the picture.

Through in a scorpion and some other fine insects, fine Italian red wine and it was a holiday to remember. Greg, Lisa and Isabela then left Helen and Steve in peace and explored Rome. What an amazing place and we will definitely be heading back to Italy at any opportunity.

Minxy Moo and Papa at Zues's temple

Minxy Moo, Lisa and Greg at the Colosseum in Rome

Island time

November saw the Kelaart-Courtney’s’ in Fiji via Brisbane. We had a very brief opportunity to catch up with immediate family in Brisbane though had no time at all to catch up with friends, which was a great pity.

We were lucky enough that Lisa’s Mum got to join us in Fiji after being chronically ill with H1N1 however Greg’s idea of recuperation was for Dorothy to have copious amounts of a cocktail called Barefoot Runners, which were renamed Barefoot Mammas.

The mornings were two great dives with Isabela enjoying kids club and becoming acquainted with Grandma or as Isabela says “Neeemmar”, which we think is a cross between Nemo and Grandma!

With Grandma, who Isabela calls “Neemmar”. We think this is a combination of Nemo and Grandma.  The afternoons were always “Fiji time” which was basically just chilling out around the crystal clear waters and pristine beaches.

Sharks and Garden Eels near the Supermarket - Fiji

Minxy Moo ready for a day at the beach - Castaway Island - Fiji

PP, Minxy Moo and Neema playing in the pool - Castaway Island - Fiji

Lisa about to decend into a cave off Castaway Island - Fiji

Picasso Triggerfish - be very careful!

Xmas in Australia

We were very fortuanate to have Xmas with our family in Australia, dad put on a great spread and we had our family over.  Isabela met her cousins for the first time in eighteen months.  It was great to be home, nothing beats having time at home with our friends and family.

The 'family' at Christmas 2009 in Australia

It is was our first Christmas with all the family and their children, Isabela was wild with excitement especially when she saw all the presents under the tree.

All the cousins (cyclones) - Liam, Eloise, Isabela and Megan - Christmas 2009

This is the first time that all the cousins had met when they were old enough to play togehter and they went through the house like a natural disaster!  It was a fantastic time to be had by all, plenty of christmas cheer, dark and stormy and lots a great tasting treats.

The Minx has been very fortunate this year with having Xmas at our respective parents place, Dubai and in Thailand.

Santa’s coming!

Whilst on the short stop over in Brisbane, we had the chance to pop into Santa’s grotto and whilst Isabela was slightly unimpressed with the big guy, she was thrilled with the add-ons such as the stuffed reindeers and the train. She also charmed all of Santa’s helpers in getting three rides on the train, which made her day.

Mummy, Santa, Minxy Moo and Papa

Minxy Moo having a fantasitc time on Santa's train, being spoilt by all the elves!

Now the festive season sees Lisa and Isabela in Thailand for work and Greg coming down Christmas Eve to ensure that Santa finds his way to our semi-permanent Bangkok home.

We will then do another “Santa” visit when back in Dubai early January 2010 with Kimba and Ballu and their presents under the tree!

We wish everyone a wonderful festive season full of laughter, love and happiness.  To all of those that we have not seen in awhile, pack your bags and pop in sometime! To all of those that we have been slack with on correspondence, always remember you are in our thoughts and hearts.

Best wishes to all

Greg, Lisa, Isabela, Kimba and Ballu.