Another Weekend in the Books

Wow, these days and weeks are just flying by!  We had another action packed weekend in the books. Hard to believe we are already at the end of February.  But each week brings with it new experiences, developments and funny happenings.

This weekend we mainly grappled with Lola's sickness.  She had a terrible stomachache and rising fever on Saturday morning which eventually left us with what felt like no options but to go to the hospital outpatient department to check if everything was okay.  It turned out to be a miserable and laughable exercise in futility, and thankfully just frustrating but nothing serious.  We went to Sanatorium where they checked us in, measured her temperature incorrectly, and ushered us in to see a GP.  After not even 10 minutes of examination the GP's advice was for her to take a rapid COVID test and then to see a pediatrician because her stomach discomfort "seemed unusual."  Seriously?  Out of desperation I called our usual private healthcare clinic even though I have stopped going to them because they charge astronomical consultation fees and feel a bit like a factory.  (And they have been the default after we retired our other primary pediatrician who struck us as someone who always reverted to two diagnoses: upper respiratory illness requiring steroid spray or eczema.)  That clinic was fully booked - do you know what their response to me was?  Go check out the outpatient department at Sanatorium.  Laughable.

Thankfully this turned out not to be a life threatening situation like appendicitis or something.  Lola was immediately better after we brought her home, gave her some Pepto Bismol and sparkling water, and some fever reducer.  

In the afternoon we headed to Stanley followed by a dinner at the American Club out in Tai Tam.  Then Michael and I headed out to Chaiwala for a dinner date with friends we hadn't seen in... get this - over 2 years.  Even though we live less than 10 minutes from each other. Alas. It is hard to keep in touch with people when you work, travel, have kids and it is easy to see how we just left little things pile up.  It was great to see them though.  We met them years and years ago, before we even had Lola, which somehow adds another level of depth to that "I knew you when" feeling.  Those kinds of old friendships are fun and to be treasured.

Sunday was a busy day with a Ballroom Bees performance at the AIA Carnival.  We used up the last of our tokens.  Lola went down the Helter Skelter and then the big slide, but we otherwise focused on games.  Turns out we have a little ringer for the pinball machine: this girl!! In 3 out of 4 games she singlehandedly won three stuffed toys for her brothers.

Then two birthday parties back to back for Lola, while the boys spent a fun afternoon at Victoria Park.

Al and Teo loved watching the fast boats zip around the pool (though the fast ones zipped around at such high speeds it was downright scary).  Then we all came back home to shower, regroup, change into nice clothes (we clean up well!) and head to the town club for dinner.