Three in and one out

The title applies to persons in and out of the Bowden household....first the persons in....

Ann's sister Joy approached us some months ago and broached the subject of her daughters education, Jaiya and Nika. The girls who are both in the same grade expressed some desire to attend high school here in Davao to go to the same state school that Lorenz, their elder cousin already has attended for the last 2 years. Lorenz is 13, Jaiya, 12 and Nika 11.

I agreed and of course Ann wants to support her sister and nieces, so, a couple of months ago in they moved. There have been some small "teething" problems but never mind, we are all adults (no we aren't 2 are kids but you know what i mean) and we need to get on with life... the 3 (joy and the kids) have spent their summer holidays here, school starts in about a week and there we are, real life will kick in.

The one "out" is Lizelle, who left last week after being with us for a year, she was our maid and was a pleasure to have in our house, she is a quiet girl, but very pleasant and polite, she is a great cook, doesn't cause any problems and was a great addition to our family. However...she decided to move on, we let her know we didn't want her to go, but it's her choice and we wouldn't hold her back.

What is she going to do? She told us she is going to Manila to work / stay with her cousin, but Germaine, our yiya (nanny for annika and lizelle's friend) thinks she is going to get married, i have no idea but for the last couple of months of her stay here she got a massive amount of texts from someone on a daily basis, husband to be? who knows.

Photos shown are Lizelle at her birthday party, looking suitably happy, Lizelle holding Annika in typical family pose with the girls, and then Jaiya and Nika looking beautiful and with Joy (Mum) at their graduation from junior school.

We are getting another maid on tuesday next week, although she s on trial only, the position is being held open for a couple of months for Lizelle if she decides not to get married or go to Manila or whatever...we would like to have her back.

(photos wouldn't upload so, will "edit' them in tomorrow.....wait)....update tuesday....photos are not being uploaded, tried 3 or 4 times, anyway never mind eh