Big Girl

This week, after much anticipation and discussion, Hannah turned 5 years old.   We tried to make it a nice occasion even though Hannah is so far from family and friends.

I came home early and we had a small family party.  The birthday cake was a chocolate cake from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel cake shop.   Great packaging.

Video:  Happy Birthday cake

The cake came complete with a 'cake machette' which Hannah used very well.

 And it was very tasty, although perhaps not as good as the one Baba got from the Ikadaba cahe shop.

Hannah was very excited to receive presents.    From Mummy,  a baby car for Hannahs dolls, which she had been asking for for some time.  

And from Daddy a gun.  Or rather a water gun for playing in the pool.  
Video:  Hannah was excited to receive a water gun

Granny and Grandad sent Hannah some nice books and t-shirts.  Hannah liked her sheep t-shirts very much.  And we later found it to be very functional for camouflaging spilled yoghurt and whipped cream.  

Hannahs 'shimajiro' course also sent her a birthday card, a book, and a video explaining her responsibilities as a big girl.  

And Hannah's mandarin teacher had the class sing the  Happy Birthday song to Hannah in chinese.   This sounds a bit like this link.

We had hoped to take Hannah to Ocean Park amusement park in the weekend but didn't due to a combination of bad back, bad weather and bad planning.  

It is a bit shocking to think Hannah is already 5 years old.   They certainly grow up quickly.

Swimming Lesson

One of the pluses of being off-work for 3 days was the chance to see how the 'other half' live.   Which seems to be mainly 'by the pool' and sometimes 'on the tennis court'.

This is the Oasis pool on a weekday afternoon.  Gender balance 95% female, 5% male (excluding staff).

I also got the watch Hannah's swimming lesson.   Here she is practicing diving.

Rika and Leo-mama

Hannah was working very well with her instructor, and following his direction carefully.  Here he is telling her to close her mouth and blow out through her nose when she puts her head under water.

She is now swimming confidently without floatation aids.

Hannah swimming under water.  Another milestone.  I was so proud of her.

Video:  swimming lesson

Video:  practicing going under water, and directing the camera crew.


And some shots of Hannah swimming in the weekend with her 'Bobbin' life-jacket

Video: Hannah swimming

Back Out

As Hannah has got bigger and bigger I've continued lifting her and swinging her about.    She is now 18 kg so I've been amazed I could continue to do this without aggravated my bad back.

Vidro:  swinging Hannah into the baby carrier

Well on Saturday my luck ran out.   I jarred my lower back while swinging Hannah onto my back.   And then compounded the damage by walking around all day looking at apartments

On Sunday I couldn't get up and even lying down all day didn't help much.   So on Monday I had to limp back to the hospital for treatment.

It took quite a lot to put Humpty Daddy back together again.   Daily sessions of physiotherapy for 4 days.   Electric therapy - microcurrent and interferencial - to stop the muscles spasming.

Then spinal manipulation.   Acupuncture and heat.

Apparently this helps my cheese circulate correctly

Then traction.  This is a very mild form of the famous medieval torture 'the rack'.  If this doesn't work,   they move on to 'drawing' and 'quartering'.

And of course anti-inflamatory pills and plaster.   Optional painkiller (for girls only).    Most importantly - four days and nights solid bed-rest, to let the inflammation subside.

And a corset to support my back for the short periods I was standing up.  When it is really tight it pushes my beer-gut up under my armpits.   Not a good look.

Lying down for 4 days was a good chance to finish my book of chinese history.  But mainly I just slept and waited to get better.