criplomats

After a whirlwind of a day trying to get ready to leave, we took off from Islamabad Friday night and flew to Bangkok. After a 12-hour layover (thank goodness for day rooms and massages), we took off for an 11-hour flight to Auckland, New Zealand…a three-hour layover then on to Blenheim, in the heart of Marlborough on the South Island.

It was rainy when we arrived. We made our way to Brookby Cottage, a little cottage on a small working vineyard. Host Richard and black Lab Brookby welcomed us and got us settled in our digs. Amazingly, the view of the vineyards below and mountains in the distance (eerily reminiscent of the Golan Heights) looks just like advertised. And quiet. Complete privacy. Wonderful. Thanks to our friends Carolyn and Konstantin for sharing this lovely find with us!

It was Sunday by the time we arrived at the cottage. After a quick look around, we made a run into town for groceries. We were exhausted – so much so that I slept until Monday afternoon at 2PM – and probably would have slept more if John hadn’t made me get up! We read on the back porch most of the afternoon, then watched a gorgeous full moon come up over the hill.

Tuesday (today) we drove into town to get a local phone, then made a 30-minute drive to Picton, a pretty little town on the edge of the Sound. We had lunch, then took a windy mountainous road home. An hour and a half to get back, with lots of switchbacks and crazy incredible views of the Sound. Back in Blenheim, we stopped at a vineyard for a tasting, then ran by the grocery store on our way home. The rest of the afternoon we’ve been reading and working a jigsaw puzzle with a glass of wine.

The week leading up to the trip was pretty hectic. I worked all day last Sunday, writing employee reviews, and continued to work on them throughout the week. Made it to the gym each morning – even tried a spinning class last Sunday morning, which I really liked.

I went to the MFA one afternoon with my new manager for introductions. Thursday, the NIV team met with the U.S. Education Foundation of Pakistan – a great group that’s paid for by the Department of State and who works primarily to tout U.S. universities to young Pakistani students.

Saturday was a gorgeous day in Islamabad, and the perfect weather for an outing with my photography class to Rawal Lake. Around the lake there is a big park, with an amusement park, picnic areas, vendors, beggars, an aviary, boats to rent – you name it.We walked around for a couple of hours taking photos. We were certainly the object of curiosity from the locals!

John and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary on Monday! We went out for sushi to celebrate. It really is hard to believe we’ve been together that long! We sure have had a lot of fun and look forward to many more!

 

 

I took my Spanish test Wednesday night and am still waiting for the results. Normally they tell you at the end of the test, but because this format was a bit different, they told me I would not get my score at the end. I expected to have heard by now, but I haven’t! It’s agony. I felt like it went better than the first test, but it was still on the telephone (not DVC) and there’s just nothing like face-to-face. So, I think it could go either way. Hopefully I will know something soon!

Meanwhile, it feels great to not study, or not feel guilty about not studying!

We braved a thunderstorm and went to dinner with Howie and Petit Thursday night, along with Mike L. – we were all together in Tel Aviv and here in Pakistan. We had a great Thai meal and Jack did an awesome magic trick. After spending every tour of ours with Petit, it’s going to be so strange not to have her here or at our next post!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday was Consular Leadership Day, so we closed up shop and spent the day at the DCM’s residence. It’s a good day to recharge your batteries; we did team-building exercises and things like that. One highlight was listening to three young Pakistanis who had gone to the U.S. as part of a U.S. government-funded program for international visitors. They had traveled all over the U.S. for three weeks, meeting with folks in their field of technology and social media. It was fun to listen to their impressions of Americans – overall very positive. They especially commented on the openness of American society and how friendly people are.

At the end of the day, a bunch of us went to Brad’s for a happy hour. John joined in, then we moved on to a going-away party for Petit and Howie. Our intention was just to drop by, but when we left at midnight we were some of the last people there! Fun party!

Saturday my photography class took a field trip to Saidpur Village, the original little village before they build Islamabad. It was a lovely outing. To be basically in the middle of Islamabad, it feels isolated and rather primitive, including tiny walking paths through the “commercial center” that includes butchers, barbers, and tailors. As I was photographing, one vendor thought I would likely enjoy him cutting the head off a live chicken – I ran away but heard the squawk and subsequent THUNK behind me. The people are shy but don’t mind being photographed since it’s become something of a tourist attraction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The distemper we found in that one poor little kitty last week seems to have (so far) been isolated. We’ve gotten most of the rest of them vaccinated. Reeses, the one with the respiratory infection, seems to be doing fine and is back on our compound. Hopefully they will all go back to being fat, happy and lazy again!

 

Well, there’s not much to report this week. I’m in the countdown for re-taking my Spanish test, so I have tried to stay home and study as much as possible. I had sessions with my tutor Wednesday night and Saturday morning.

I went to an interesting brown bag lunch this week at the Embassy where a couple had a slideshow about their travels to Burma. John and I had looked at going there for our next R&R, but the weather will just be too hot. It looks like a beautiful place with lots of temples.

We also had  meeting for mid-level officers at the DCM’s house on Thursday after work. It was fun to see some of our friends and colleagues and visit with them.

Friday after work I went to the IT happy hour for a while, then came home for dinner with John.

Saturday I skipped my photography class so I could concentrate on studying. It was sort of an overcast day anyway, so it was nice to just stay home. Last night we ordered pizza and watched the newest Woody Allen movie, “Blue Jasmine.” I thought Cate Blanchett’s acting was incredible.

Today I’ve stayed in and studied while doing laundry – then made a quick trip to the grocery store.

We had some bad news about the Embassy cats this week. One little kitten died of distemper, so now we are on a campaign to get them all vaccinated against it – we had just been getting them rabies shots when they get sterilized. Luckily we have an energetic Marine who has been taking them to the vet, bless her heart. And a couple have had different kinds of respiratory infections. As it stands now, we have one with a serious infection in her lungs at the vet – I hope she pulls through.

I found these lovely red glads waiting for me when I got home Friday afternoon – what a great husband I have! They are really beautiful.

This was a pretty good week, all in all. It’s been a little slower at work with less visa demand. It’s nice to have a bit of a break and not be at full tilt every day. We celebrated President’s Day at the Embassy on Thursday night with the big annual event. John was in charge of it last year; this year, other people took the reins, but John has been sort of a mentor to them throughout the process. By all accounts, it was a big success. John was in charge of one of the parking lots (parking and traffic are always the big logistical problem). I rode back and forth with guests on a shuttle bus all evening (a cleared American has to be an escort).

Our longtime Consul General and good friend Dan departed post this week. We had a pizza lunch on Monday to say farewell to him and to welcome our new CG Kristin. Dan and I have worked very well together the last 18 months, so I was sorry to see him go – but I’m sure Kristin will do a great job as well. Change is part of the game in this job!

LJ celebrated her 89th birthday this week! Happy birthday, mom! She sure doesn’t look or act her age!

We had several social outings this week. Last Sunday was a nice brunch at Bridget’s house, although John wasn’t feeling well enough to go so I had to go solo. Saturday night, we went to a very nice dinner party at Adi and Cecelia’s house. They are lovely hosts, and Adi treated us to a mini-concert on his piano – wow, is he talented. It was really wonderful to hear him play. Then Sunday afternoon, we went to a rooftop BBQ at Howie and Petit’s – they have a lovely view of Margalla Hills. Good food and fun talking to Carolyn and Konstantin, among others.

Saturday afternoon I went to my photography class. We went outside and took still life pictures, then came back inside to critique them. Our objects were mostly fun and colorful pieces, done “truck art” style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We watched a couple of movies this week. “Captain Phillips” was excellent, and last night we started “Wolf of Wall Street” – to be continued tonight.

Today is a holiday for us – John went to Joseph and Sunera’s for board games, but I’m staying home to study Spanish. Not too much longer till I test again.

Here’s a nice photo of John from last night.