I do intend to write about what I got up to in the UK, I've just been rather busy since getting back to Vietnam - so much so that I haven't watched even one episode of a TV show since I've been back - before I left I was watching several a day from one of my many box sets!

I got back on Friday and Calder and Alison kept me awake by taking me for a manicure and pedicure and then a drink or two in the evening. On Saturday I stupidly gave in to the jet lag and slept til late and so didn't have that much of a day! What i did have was spent trying to unpack and then in the evening I met my mum's cousin's daughter, Basmah and her friend Louise. We went for some Pho in the Old Quarter then to Bia Minh's for a milkshake or two - they're not normally very nice in this country but those ones were good! I managed to get things done the next day after sleeping til stupidly late again and then on Monday I went to meet Basmah before work and gave her a lift on my bike round to the Temple of Literature. We had a drink at KOTO and then I had to work. After work I saw my friend Tuan for a couple of hours, and then on Tuesday after work I took Basmah round to Derry's and we had a curry and a drink or two. Wednesday I actually wasn't very social, and then on Thursday I attempted to be a tourist with Alison and Calder. I only work evenings on Thursday and Friday so have the day free to do things. As it was such a nice day they decided to get out and about so we met at the citadel and were going to go and have a look around, but of course it wasn't open. They'd even got someone to phone ahead and find out if it was open but of course as this is Vietnam the info was wrong! We walked up to the top of the citadel and went to the gate tower thing that was open, then Calder declared it beer o'clock and so we went to the pub for a few hours. On Friday after work I went to the beer hall the next street over with some of the other teachers to get some dinner, and then yesterday I went to a pot luck supper that a guy from work was having. Spent most of the evening with Alison and Calder, and my boss Emma and her husband as we didn't really know many of the other people. It was a fun night tho as now the weather is cooling a bit so we sat outside in their nice courtyard, and there was lots of nice food. I'm not normally this social tho!