Roses for my teachers on Teacher's Day

Hand-made roses from one of my mum's cousins have been a tradition at home on Teacher's Day, going back to the days when I was at the Montessori Children's House before I went down with Cancer. 

Probably not as touching as a fresh rose, but it lasts forever. So I got three  - one for my French teacher, one for my English teacher, and one for my after-school French teacher.

Growing up on healthy - and colourful - food

Before going to bed tonight I watched Jamie Oliver's School Dinners on BBC Lifestyle, and Papa and I discussed how my little brother Gio and I were lucky to be growing up on health food. I thought of the colourful healthy dish we had during the weekend which Papa made from pasta, fresh tomatoes and some spinach he cut from the garden - the same one some local farmers give to their pigs!! It's a spinach with a lovely iron taste (and lots of Iron goodness) which in Seychelles is called "Bred Paryater", and it goes well with all types of ingredients such as local spicy sausages, cream cheese sauce or simply in a soup like "Bouyon Bred".

Schoolwork via SMS & Stir-fried Shark with Bilimbis

Hardly two weeks after I started school, I spent the whole week in the house with fever, then dizziness, then cough, but they seem to be behind me now and I should be back to school and tennis and chess on Monday. However I kept in touch with my schoolwork through sms from my teacher to my dad's phone. The last one was "Bonjour, 7 enfants absents, aujourdhui on a prepare la dictee pour Lundi: un, deux, trois, quatre. Revoir en lecture les mots de lecon L3 et L4...".

Things were a little more exciting on the food front. Papa brought home a little shark fresh from the ocean with which he did a "satini" (chutney) with Bilimbis. Upon his instructions and advice, I had it served on a banana leaf and ate it with my fingers. A little messy but finger-licking delicious

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A spot of Sunday cooking

A bout of flu forced me to stay at home this weekend, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for I got to do a spot of cooking with Papa. Lunch was salted beef cooked with aubergines in coconut milk (for which I crushed the spices), served with stir-fried shredded green papaya (that's me doing the stirring in the photo) and steamed rice. Yummy!

Chechmate Mummy!!!

Rarely have I see my mummy so disconcerted! Just check out the row of black on the floor next to me ........ Checkmate!! (and that was the day before I attended my first Chess seminar!)

Another First, this time in Chess

Yesterday I took a break from more sporting activities such as tennis, football and table tennis, and attended a Chess seminar at St. Louis Community Centre. I had already been playing for several months but this was the first serious chess gathering I had been to.......and I got a certificate for participating as well as a nice chess set. Watch this space!!

Roland Garros, here I come

I made a deal with my Dad before going to school. I win Roland Garros when I'm 17; I hand him over the cheque and I keep the trophy, and in return he gives me a bottle of Royal Salute which I allow to mature until I'm 18!! So I've started Tennis lessons, and I can't wait for Mondays and Tuesdays when I meet my coach Tim. The lessons last one hour each and it seems I'm doing fine. My racket position in the photo is a little unconventional, but I aim to get there.

My first goal

The jury seems to be still out as to whether I scored my first goal in mt first football game at school. I know I did, and that's what's important. I played for the "Tigers". They left me out of the team the next day for no apparent reason, but it can't have anything to do with my game. Now I've taken up Table Tennis while I await to be reinstated in the football team.

My first day at School

Today has been a long time coming - it's my first day at school, the Ecole Francaise des Seychelles. I spent the last two months having French drummed into me everyday at home by Mummy and I'm now ready to tell my teacher: "Bonjour Madame, je m'appelle Julio Pool. Puis-je aller aux toilettes s'il-vous-plait?".

I've been fortunate to go straight to First Year Elementary although I've never had formal schooling since for the last 3 years I have been following my medical for Cancer, which I will continue by going once a month to see my doctor in Singapore.

I should also be starting Tennis lessons as I have promised my Dad that when I am 17 I will hand over to him my first Roland Garros cheque.

Oh, my first mid-morning snack was a Chicken-Watercress-Mayonnaise Sandwich, something to which I was looking forward more than the class work!!