Update

Last weekend involved more socializing and on Sunday, despite the rain, we went out with the walking guys to the same house as a few weeks ago and got a real fire going and cooked some huge, delicious pieces of pork that Dima and I had bought (the others only usually take bread and fruit, but we wanted the real campfire experience!!!).
Halloween passed quietly- I bought a pumpkin and dressed it up with face and candle and had it sitting on my desk during all the classes yesterday. They don't celebrate Halloween here (strong Georgian Orthodox, though Dima is as atheist as me and his mum rarely goes to church anymore) but the pumpkin was loved by all- Bryan even brought his students into my class to see it- they had never seen a "live" one before!
I went out with Nicole on Monday night for drinks and I was up til 5.30 nattering to her- she's going to be a very good friend, I believe, and she's going to join me in Georgian class next Tuesday as we both need to practise speaking! Tomorrow, Nicole and I are throwing a belated Halloween party at her place and we went shopping this morning to the gigantic bazaar / market (basroba) for food and decorations. We didn't even find one single plastic spider but luckily I'm teaching some girls whose mum lived in the US for 7 years and who has a good collection of fancy-dress clothes, so we have our skeleton for the entrance and I have a dress for my vampire victim costume (surprise, surprise, I hear you cry ;-) ). It's going to be fun.
There is one concern tomorrow, though- the mass demontration that's due to take place here in Tbilisi. They're expecting 100,000 people to join a march against Georgia's government who plan to push the presidential election back 6 months beyond the expiry of its term next year. Dima's going to join "his brothers". I want to, too but 1) Dima's being protective and doesn't want me to and 2) it may all happen while I'm teaching anyway! :-( I'll let you know. Whatever happens, I am going to that Halloween party!!!
This weekend Dima, me, Nicole and Koko are driving to the Khakheti region- we've been invited there by a local to try the wine (knock-out juice apparently!) and to have a spit-roast piglet. We'll be back on Sunday and I'll put photos on when I can... love to you all xxx