HELLO STILL ALIVE :

It has been a while and I am sorry for that but many of you will have heard that illness took over big time and looking back I had 6 weeks where I just was not right . It developed from a nasty flu ( not the 48 hour kind ) to pleurisy and a double ear infection .
Steroids and antibiotics finally got me on the road to recovery and I am glad to say that I am very much on the mend now . Thank goodness .

DID IT HOLD ME BACK ?

That was probably why things got so bad . I did not stop and slow down .
I want to tell you so much detail but as time has passed it would take too long to get through everything. So since my last blog and my visit home I have been to see the DC Cardinals playing ice hockey. BRILL
Went to Richmond for the day ( capital of Virginia )
Saw the Edgar Allen Poe Museum . School had been the day before but was not invited to go !! And went round the Capital building . Feeling terrible but determined to carry on !!
Went to NY for the weekend to celebrate Emily's 2nd birthday . She was in great form as the photos will tell .She made me feel so much better .
Had a Fulbright visitor teaching in LA for a week .We went to Capital Hill and had a cocktail in Hard Rock Cafe
Next was the DC Clippers playing Basketball . WOW
Then back to NY for a girlie weekend with the LA teacher and another fulbright from Finland teaching very near me .
All terrific but after the NY weekend I had to take time off work and get the heavy duty medicine .
As a result I was not strong enough to go to Florida as planned but did fly down with Stuart Melissa and Emily and was picked up at the airport by my brother and sister in law Billy and Maureen and whisked off down to near Tampa where I allowed myself to be given some TLC . They are living there escaping the Scottish winter and return at the end of March .
We did manage a day in Orlando with the family before I flew back to DC and work .It was just what I needed and after that the recovery started to happen .
I have been to see a fantastic dance performance by a company called Parsons Dance . They were amazing
And then got to a bar and enjoyed a couple of cocktails. Medicinal of course .
I have started going. to a Salsa Class on a Monday evening . Great fun

Have managed to go to an Arabic Band concert at the Kennedy Centre next door to Watergate !!!!
And Finally I put on a Burns Supper at my house for 12 people .
It was a lot of work doing all the speeches myself and providing a 4 course meal . But I have to say I surpased myself . Had to leave the legacy of my time here
The Haggis was brill and it came from Texas !!!!!
This weekend I am going to the Shamrock Fest to watch some famous Irish Bands and them the St Patricks Day parade in DC on the Sunday.
There is so little time left and so much to do !!!!!
Notice I have not mentioned the S word . Counting the weeks on that one .
But as usual all else is just absolutely brill .

We have changed the clocks here so it is nice to have some light at night and the weather is getting warmer . I am in shorts and t-shirt already .

Ok this was a very abbreviated blog but had to get back in touch and will now try for some photos .

I know you are all very busy at this time of year . It is the same here but spring is round the corner . How, I am going to MISS exam leave !!! But I do get out of here on 17th June . Then the Road Trip !!! AND a new baby .

Thinking of you all quite frequently and really look forward to seeing you all again .

Take care Love Helen xxx