Miguel and I went to Mazamitla, the forest and mountain about 2hrs from the city to escape the heat of the city. We stayed in a "posada" a guest house, which was just beautiful. Upon arrival, hearing Miguel's coughing we were served very strong ginger tea, did the job! 

The garden

Bedroom

Walking sticks. 

So now some photos of the town itself, really lovely it is and on Sunday we were treated to a special parade where a  model of the Virgin Mary was carried around for a bit to the commentary of a priest who sounded like he was commenting on a football match. 

All signposts and advertising has to be inkeeping with the town.

La Casa de Doña Elidia.

I'm going to write a book just to put this photo on the inside cover. 

Serious.

Procession.

Here are various photos of our explorations out into the forest (although sadly one exploration was undertaken alone, as Migs got ill)

We went to a blackberry plantation where they made delicious blackberry punch and wine. The wine is being saved for Miguel's graduation.

Blackberries. 

Trees, trees and more trees. It smelt gorgeous. 

Curioso. 

Pine tree. 

Piece of twisted wood. 

Ecological reserve.

Lovely stuff. 

An abandoned mine. 

One of the locals.

Waterfall - it was disappointingly small. 

One of the main attractions of the morning tour, a bridge on a fake lake. Ah.

So yes, that was our weekend a few weeks back, such a shame that Miguel got ill but he's better now :-)

Last weekend was a friends graduation: 

Congratulations Marisa! 

Photos of spring.

It gets pretty colourful around here. Also pretty hot, this weeks average has been above 35. Which is a tiring heat. All is going well with U.F. Diseño and Unión Femenil, I really enjoy my job and we had our first sale, we made a grand sum of 1400 pesos which is about £70 but we have to start somewhere I guess.

Love to everyone.

K xxx

Feliz como una lombriz

 Hello everyone. Sorry it's been a while - I've been waiting to have good news to post about!

So since I got back it's been a process of waiting and waiting, searching for a house, finding one, waiting to move in. Waiting to hear about jobs...

Unemployment saw me:

Taking a free photography course...

knitting...

And making chocolates...

It wasn't that bad on reflection, but at the time I was getting rather frustrated. Worth the wait though because now, this is my garden:

 A view of the kitchen:

 I'm currently living in Santa Teresita with Miguel, loving the new place, many plans for the garden although currently waiting for my thyme to germinate (it's biding its thyme rather...). Sorry. And my lettuces are suffering shock, honestly, it's a gardening telenovela.

The best news I've left till last! I am now working at Unión Femenil, an NGO dedicated to agriculture aimed at the lovely ladies of Jalisco. I'm a Coordinadora de Proyectos (Project Coordinator), at the moment I'm busy writing a proposal for a project of Environmental Education in primary schools - which basically involves building allotments in schools out of tyres, old wooden boxes from the market and the like. It sounds more complete in my presentation, don't worry. Just now it's part-time but if we get funding most likely it'll be full time in order to get those little 'uns growning chillis in sprite bottles :-)

Unión Femenil is a very small NGO, which is great for me as it means experience in all aspects and being able to actually be working on the projects, spending my time in the field and not just in the offices.

I'll let you all know if/when we get the funding for the project so wish me luck in the meantime!

All in all, I'm very happy, thanks to everyone who has supported me recently (Mum, Dad, Laura, Gran, Nan and Gramps - thank you for your support in my decision to come back to Mexico).

I'll finish with some pictures of folliage. I plan on doing a photo project of the spring flowers, maybe this weekend. Guadalajara is a stunning place in the springtime.

Love to everyone

Katy

xxx

México.

Back to Guadalajara. The journey was testing, to say the least. Shocking treatment from BA really, but the UK never seems prepared for snow.

Anyway, I'm tired and feel rather out of it just now, hoping that will wear off soon. Went to my favorite market last night upon arrival (due to not being able to get into my house immediately) and that was just odd. It;s overcast and not that hot here, which I think is good, ease me into it all again. I was immediately happy upon hearing "banda" music blaring out of several cars. This place seems so familiar yet strange....

I'll hopefully have more to post about soon, for now, I'm just getting over the trip here!

Love to everyone in England.

x

Home.

Well it’s not the smug, cosy post I was hoping to be broadcasting from Kibblewhite. The holidays have been certainly memorable, rushing to A&E with Dad on Christmas Day and my poor father not being well at all. All the same, it was lovely to spend time with my Gran and see my Nan and Gramps. I must thank my Gran and my girls for allowing me a very enjoyable NYE in the cottage J.

It’s taken me about a month to feel properly at home in this country again, which is an odd feeling. For now, I’m reading up on sustainable development and making clothes (with considerable guidance) in Twyford. Hoping Dad will recover soon but its looking like it may take a while. 

Back to Mexico next Friday,the nurse baton will be passed on.

Things I will miss from England:

People

Tap water (just genius)

BBC TV and Radio

My Mum’s crafting guidance

Things I am looking forward to in 2013:

A cool beer on a warm evening watching the sun go down on a roof terrace with a certain someone

The sun!

La Via Reacreativa

CHIAPAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The rest I will have to make happen for myself, the job, the house etc. 

Katy's coming home, she's coming home.

About time I wrote something.

Less than 1 month until I come home, which is very exciting. The fact that I still and won't for a while know whether I'm returning to Mexico or not is rather distracting though.

Things I'm looking forward to in England:
- Seeing everyone
- Eating
- Countryside walks
- Pubs
- Wearing jumpers
- The British sense of humour.

Things I'm going to miss:
- Mexican friends (Miguel...)
- Eating
- Not being cold
- Speaking spanish

Last weekend a group of us went to Michoacan, the home of the Mexican Day of the Dead festival. It was truly wonderful, the food, the beautifully decorated cemetaries, the markets.

I have about 7 rolls of film to develop - hence the lack of photos here. Sorry about that. Turns out I can only every seem to afford to buy the film, not develop it......

Update September - The Harris' Go To Mexico

I am dispicable for leaving this so long. I was waiting until I got my photos developed but have now realised that's simply never going to happen.

Anyway in the time its taken me to get around to this my genuis father has made a rather wonderful documentary about the visit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBc8_QakdF8 is the youtube link but as its limited I cannot insert it here.

Anyway, I guess maybe I should say a few words. Simply wonderful. Thats about it really. Playa del Carmen is stunning and we stayed in a great little hotel, ate well, saw interesting sites. We were lucky enough to catch a fair bit of Mariachi back here in GDL, so Mum, Dad and Laura got a good taste of Jalisco.

It was so beautiful to have them here. I keep waking up thinking they're still here and being confused. Luckily I've now bought my flight home for early December and so can rest easier that we will be all united again soon!

I'm still not sure whether I'm coming back or not after Christmas, it's all rather complicated and proper life decisions I've never been great at. I'm hoping some external event will make the decision for me. Meanwhile I'm planting watermelon and brocolli in the patio and continuing enjoying the mexican cuisine and weather.

Can't wait for some home comforts though.

That's my update folks. Love to all.

K xxxx