From The Age

At 7.30 p.m. tonight (20/02/2007), Major Michael Mori, Terry Hicks, Philip Ruddock and the lead prosecutor for the Guantanamo Bay Military Commissions will come face-to-face on SBS Insight - over David Hicks' case and how the Australian Government has handled it.

Should be interesting.

(How the hell does Ruddock still have a job?)

Too Exciting!!

The Missing Dot Point

As I paused to press 'Publish' last night, after writing the entry below, I knew I had forgotten to write something. A dot point, no less. Here he is:

• Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed the 'Links of Note' section which showed up to the right about a week ago. Bacically, this list will be of links that i have found particularly funny/poigniant/interesting and will change on a regular basis. God I am good to you people.

The Demise of the Comment

It is with great sadness that I note the demise of the comment. Are our blogs becoming less popular, or are people simply more apathetic towards them as time goes on? Besides the (loved and greatly appreciated) usual suspects diligently putting words to every second or third post (or if you are Geordy/Pete it's pretty much every post) it is becoming increasingly hard to score yourself a comment in this little circle of blogs to the right. I mean, hell - you can even put the cutest footage known to man (baby smiles) - and still get a low return.

Perhaps only these people read our blogs? I don’t know. Well - actually - I KNOW that more than four people read this blog (as although they have never ever added a comment, I know my family trawls it for photos of Fred) - so how do you get these readers to translate into comments? Because besides running a competition (guess the baby fact game) or actually asking for a comment, I don’t really know how. I don’t know what the hell sort of entry is needed to strike the apathy out of you people.

And at the bottom of these ponderings, is the question - why is it even important? Well, believe it or not, it takes fair amount of time to run one of these things. Even more time to run two. And whilst it's a little bit pathetic to admit, comments are the one way of actually knowing that people are reading it and enjoying it and therefore it's to all for nothing. So im not asking for a flurry of comments at the end of this post - on the contrary, as this post is not exactly one which is particularly interesting - but rather consideration in the future to add one when it takes your fancy or if you have enjoyed an entry. It makes me feel love and it makes me more inclined to post regularly. (And while you are at it – if you read any of those blogs to the right, show them the love too). Think of it as donation to an art gallery, which costs a wee bit of time, not money.

NOW - TO HAPPIER TOPICS

• It has come to my intention that the Scissor Sisters must have recently toured Australia. Because as I listened to my messages I received one from Nadise that caused my booty to start wiggling and shaking to the strains of that song I mentioned a few posts back. Last time I listen to my messages at a bus stop deep in the hood….


• Inspired by the idea of seeing live music (as Nadsie has called me from Robbie Williams AND the Artic Monkey and the pool of drool took a week to drain away both times) I went and bought Dave and myself tickets to see Muse at Wembley Stadium. Hoorah. Fred will be 7 months old and ripe for a babysitter and as I won't be living in London forever, its time I started to take advantage of what it has to offer. The next plan is to get tickets to see Spamalot (the stage version of Monty Python's Holy Grail).
• I dont think that I've put this on the blog yet, but Dave and I have booked Freds first visit to Australia from 19/3 to 18/4 and hope to see as many people as possible

(this photo is from a month back)

Happy Two Months Old

Dear Fred,

Today you turned two months old, and WHAT a two months it has been. Our lives have been so much richer with you in it, and the PreFred Period seems an ancient and mundane time. So great is your impact, that your dad and I marvel daily over the fact that it has been a mere two months since Australia stormed to a famous victory at Adelaide Oval, and you ripped your way into this world and our hearts.

Over these past two months your dad and I pretty much only really talk about you and the many marvelous things you have been up to. Which is no bad thing considering that the last conversation we had about anything else revolved around me not having ‘goal-driven ambition’ or something. But our conversations couldn’t be richer or more satisfying.

You are such a good little boy, so easy and amicable. In the depth of my sleepless nights when I find myself barely keeping a very frustrated banshee at bay, I can take stock and appreciate how lucky I have it. Last night you slept from midnight to 8am, for the second time in a few days. You little legend. If you want to give me one of those nights, once a week, I will quite happily take your 3am, 4am or 5am kitten-esque screams for the rest.

You eat ferociously and indiscriminately. Whether it is my boob or a bottle, you latch on with a desperation that suggests you have not fed for days and then proceed to groan and ‘mmm’ away in utter delight. Compliments to the chef have never been so forthcoming before in my meal-making life. It is a privilege to feed you.


Your smiles. Dear god, your little smiles. They are tiny flowers, dancing fairies and golden rays of light on a thousand rainbows. They are the very reason your father and I decided to become parents. To wake in the morning and be greeted by smiles so large they take over your body, causing you to kick and wave your arms, to squeal at a pitch only audible to dogs is absolute bliss. We will never grow sick of these. I will never get over the dimple in your right cheek. You are too ridiculously cute; looking at you makes me forget to blink.

It wouldn’t be fair to celebrate your second month without giving appropriate props to your changing table. You ADORE being changed. When your father and I are unable to settle you, we are safe in the knowledge that the wobbly changing table and its resident 5-headed elephant sponge (don’t ask) will do the trick. It is your happy place – no more evidenced by the fact that your relentless kicking – which has been a constant since you were pretty much conceived – reaches a fever pitch here.


This past month you have started to pick up so many new things. Staring at yourself in the mirror. Poking your tongue out when I poke out mine. Reaching for and holding my hand with a vice-like grip. And talking, wonderful, wonderful talking. A conversation with you where – as it has been pointed out – my dignity is left firmly at the door, is one I would happily forsake all others for. To watch your brain tick over as you consider what I say, to see your mouth move furiously and soundlessly to try to make it work and to then be a part of your triumphant smiles when you elucidate a mumbled 'ooo' or resounding ‘cooo’ is simply joyous. To hear your noises and to see how happy they make you, makes my heart cry because I know, I know, I know, that the reason they make you so happy is because YOU are communicating with ME. You might as well be saying ‘I love you Mum’ because it couldn’t be any clearer.


You are the shining might in our lives. I am so lucky to be able to spend every day with you, watching you learn, sharing your joys and sorrows. Whilst sometimes I dream of an afternoon, nay an hour, to myself, I would not change my days with you for anything. Your dad feels the same. Every day he works himself at 110% to provide you with the very best future he can, and each night he rushes home to try to get some of your bathtime (when you are in absolute peak form). Your time here is flying by, it is such a precious commodity that we don’t want to miss a thing. We love you more than we dreamt possible, in a way that you will only understand when you yourself have children.

Happy Two Month Old, little Freddy. I can’t wait to see what you do next.
xxMum

Don't Feel LIke Dancing? Yeah, Right..

Every time I listen to the Scissor Sister's new(ish) album Ta-Tah, I am struck by the catchiness of their first single - 'I Dont Feel Like Dancing'. It makes me smile. Because Dancing is exactly what the song makes you feel like doing. I can't remember a song which has causes me to break into involuntary bum wiggles every time i hear it. Such wit! It has the sensibilities and feel of a great 70s Elton song (who we all know I love and have flagged as one of 10 artists to play at my posthumous benefit concert) with a more modern feel. In fact, the whole album is a toe-tapping delight. Bless the Scissor Sisters. Maybe it will be them and their wiggle-inducing music that help me shed the ga-zillion pounds I have put on with having a baby.

So in going with this rather random blog, ive decided to do a top ten albums released in 2006

(note: limited to those that we own of course)
(note: 'best ofs '- such as Massive Attack, Ultimate Prince ect are left out of consideration as they are not new music.)

My Top 2006 Albums
1. Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
2 Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah
3. Artic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's WHat I'm Not
4. The Kooks - Inside In/Inside Out
5. Lily Allen - Alright, Then...
6. The Fratellis - Costello Music
7. Hot Chip - The Warning
8. Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis
9. Jay-Z - Kingdom Come
10 =Raconteurs (Broken Boy Soldiers)
= Ed Hardcourt - The Beautiful Life

(note: i know, i know - having 'equal placings' is a pathetic way of making a top 11 nad passing if off as the more socially acceptable top 10)

Pending: Augie March, The Killers and JT are all purchases made in the past few weeks naand therefore not warranted the quantity of listening required to gain a place. Though both Dave and I have become a bit obsessed with the Augie March one, so chances are.... hmmm....


*****************************

An initiative called Global Cool was launched in London yesterday to try to bring about a slowdown in Global Warming. Its pretty scary the way the planet is going - I mean, London's winter this year beggars belief - and the catastrophic effect that such temperature change is manifesting in new ways every day. Who know what the world will be like when Fred is older. Perhaps polar bears will be strictly found in zoos, perhaps Amsterdam will become a modern Atlantis. Who knows? It's such an important issue, one which I believe everyone needs to address. Global Cool brings Global Warming back to it's grass roots and suggests simple ways we can each tackle lowering CO2 emmissions in our day-to-day life.

The idea is that if we each do a bit, we can all do a lot.

Here's how to be 'Global Cool'

Have a look. THere's much to be done

A Recent Misjudgment

Whilst there is not need to beat myself up over the following, I feel it would be good for me to sheepishly address a misconception I held prior to becoming a mother.

This misconception can be summed up in the term ‘spare time’ For some reason I imagined myself moving into a lovely world of sleeping babies with ample time to pour over cookbooks, maintain two blogs and hey – read all the Booker Prize winners in the course of the next year. Needless to say, none of these are happening with any ease and we’re pretty lucky if dinner is anything other than meat and three veg, if I make a blog entry more than once a week and if I ever read a book again. As Edwina once said – it’s a pretty good day when you manage to get even a load of washing on. But, to be fair, things seem to be on the up a little bit with regards to this. As Fred is getting a little bit older, he is becomgn increasing able to amuse himself. We are now able to put him in a bouncer or on his playstation for 20 minutes without him screaming at the injustice of not being held. Similarly, we have begun to employ some nighttime tactics which have led to him settling himself a number of times (as opposed to being rocked/patted/held to sleep) and enabled us to get something of our evenings back. So I’ve found myself able to cook from a cookbook about every second day this past week, and have managed to get a few (rather impressive) blog posts in. And after almost 2 months of not picking up any book other than a baby manual, I’ve started (and almost demolished) a novel. I randomly bought James Frey’s Million Little Pieces when out shopping on Tottenham Court Rd the other day, pessimistically certain that I would probably not read it for years, and started to flick through it on the bus home. And thank heavens its a page turner otherwise I still might be under the impression that having a baby and reading books is impossible. Whilst I still believe that ticking off the booker prize winners by the end of 200 is slightly beyond my abilities and somewhat misguided goal to make myself, the intention is still there, sans a timeframe.

More misconceptions to be addressed in the near future…..

White Winter

Well, things seem to be on the up in my world. After a pretty exhausting and bewildering first few weeks with little Fred, we seem to be getting a handle on it all. Whilst the sleeping still isnt exactly what we want (we cant seem to get him to go to bed before 10.30 in hte evening) everythign else is falling into place. I am much more active - I feel much better and am able to get out more nad more - last week i managed a 4 hour shopping stint on Oxford st!! The breastfeeding has stopped hurting and each day I get to enjoy Fred becoming a little bit more Fred-like. He kicked a ball yesterday for the first time. Sure, we placed it in front of his feet and he did it unwittingly, but we're not too bothered. Another milestone it is!!

Plus he is smiling more and more (mostly at his favourite toys) and spends hours each day practicing using his voice. Love, lovely, lovely.

After an incredibly mild winter over here, last nigth felt Fre-e-e-ezing. When I had to get up in the night for Fred I found myself literally diving back under the covers for warmth. At one point I even had to take the little man into bed with me so we could cuddle in warmth. And so I could kiss his little warm head as he nuzzled in.... needless to say, that was so delightful, I didn't end up putting him back in his cot.... not a great habit to get into, but such a beautiful way to spend a cold night. Plus with Dave continuing to sleep (mostly) in the bell tower, the bed is awfully big for just me.

Anyway, the upshot of this was that when we woke up this morning it is has snowed!! Yay - Finally!!!! Last year we had snow just after christmas but is seems to have taken a lot longer for the cold t okick in this year (in fact it has been positively lovely up until now). So I've put up hte heating and snuggled up the little man in his rug and placed him near the warmth. He's sitting there sucking on his dummy, giving bigger and bigger blinks as he puts himself to sleep. I'm going to use this time to make myself a coffee (decaf of course.... breastfeeding basically means im living the life of absitnece I did when pregnant) and put some washing on. And perhaps upload a few more photos onto the Fred site if he doesn't wake up and start commanding my time....

Below is the view from our apartment....

(apologies to the canadian readers who must be like 'Yeah, it's snow... AND?' I'm still and aussie girl and it only snowed a couple of times last year so it's still a little bit exciting.)

Trying to Catch a Fred Smile. Harder Than you would think.

Well, I've been trying to capture a Fred smile to post on the blog, but it's pretty hard work. Particularly as whenever I get the camera out, he gets distracted by that - which means he won't smile as he only smiles when he's focussed on me (of course). So then I'm trying ot take photos on the sly - so aim and focus suffers. Argh. Anyway - below are a few near misses, though none even close to the brilliance of a full-fledged smile. I'll get it though... one of these days.......

Smiles

After a few days of attempting to smile which resulted in debatable but exciting new mouth movements, little Freddy cracked a big one tonight. HUGE, open-mouthed and juicy. And then, to show it wasn't a fluke - did it 3 more times. It was during his bathtime and they were all for me. And im floating on cloud nine.

Its such a simple thing, but so incredible. Cant explain.

Thank god that smiles come early during the development cycle. Imagine having to wait for six months for a smile!! No thank you. Instead, I can look forward to more and more over the coming days.

*sigh*

All is well still. Freddy continues to be an incredibly alert and active little man. He kicks constantly, throws his arms in windmills and has the strongest little neck. He feeds like a baby intent on winning a chubby baby contest and extra rolls on his thighs and chin are starting to appear. He's really beginning to 'coo' and experiment with his voice - but i admit I will sad if his horse noises are totally replaced. His ability to sleep through the night has gone a bit pear-shaped the past few nights, but I'm hoping it is just a phase.

Smiles rock. Give someone you love a big one. It will make their day.

My Family

Random Goings On...

As you may have seen on Fred's blog, we currently have Ginny and Rach staying with us in London. An event which has seen me reclaim some of my sanity and get rid of (I think) the milk/vomit smell that hangs around me like a cloud. It's been really really nice having them here, so wonderful to be sharing Fred with people we love. They have obviously reinforced Dave's and my suspicion that Fred might be the cutest and most marvellous little legend to grace this planet. And on top of the showers, sleep and relaxation that having them here allows me, Ginny even babysat on New Years eve, allowing me my first trip away from Fred to the pub! Which was pretty uneventful (only a few hours and two drinks) but nevertheless reassuring that there is hope of a future social life.

Prior to their arrival, Dave and I had a lovely Christmas with our new family having a simple luch and rather amusing present giving session (as I had had no time to actually get presents for Dave in the previous weeks due to Fred, I resulted in wrapping up household items and sourcing new gifts from the local pharmacy!) There are some piccies below.

Otherwise, we are fine, I am well. I'm still healing from the birth which is taking a little bit longer than expected, but nevertheless coming along. I'm massively unfit (not to mention fat - but that doesn't really bother me) and the walk to the local store leaves me breathless. I'm still nowhere near getting out of my aternity clothes and somewhat angry with myself that I didn't purchase more that were conjusive to breastfeeding. Still breastfeeding which is good although incredibly painful much to my midwife/health visitor's bafflement. We are hoping that it naturally gets easier over the next week or so. We will see.

Fred is still a marvel. He is such a good little boy, we are so blessed. WHilst it is still hard and exhausting we know how lucky we are - he has a huge appitite, feeds equally as well from breast and bottle, I am an absolute milk maching, he is relatively easy to settle, and only gets me up for one feed in the night. Dave and I are trying ot get some sort of routine established which is working quite well and sees Dave doing the last feed of the night (11pm, i express milk into a bottle) so that can go to bed and get a large chunk of sleep until the 4am feed. Mind you, with all these things - sometimes he is crotchety, sometimes I'm up for hours in the night - and he's growing so quickly, who knows what routine he will take to in the future.

Tomorrow Fred turns 4 weeks and he has already changes so much from when he was born. He is a real little character and he has started to develop the chubbiest little cheeks. Too cute

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Dear All,
Apologies for a boring blog and what will be a rather inadequate entry. I have already said how it is amazing how little time I have to myself, and more amazing how little I seem to be doing. Dave and I agreed that it is much harder than either of us imagined. But these are the first few weeks really, we are still adjusting to our new life of nappies and sleeplessness and learning to look after a little baby who could not be more helpless. But we love him so much, we spend hours marvelling at how good he is and how beautiful he is. He is simply incredible. That cuddle you get after a nappy change makes it all worthwhile.

Probably only have 5 minutes more before I (well, my boob) is demanded elsewhere so I will go with the faithful dot points

• took Fred to the Borough Market for the first time today - a christening as such - as we bought food for Christmas lunch. He slept through the whole event, snug in his sling against Dave's chest
• At the market I overheard a pretentious university student in front of me say to a girl he was trying to impress 'I don't read books that aren't worth reading twice. I dont want to be a prolific reader, I want to be a careful reader' What an idiot.
• Fred appears to have blue eyes, dark hair and... my skin colour. It is still early days, but both dave and I are hopeful that he will grow out of my pasty complexion.

It will be a quiet Christmas here for the three of us, but I am looking forward to it. Neither Dave or I have had the time to do presents or a Christmas tree this year, but we bought some lovely food and I'm sure Dave has some good wine for us to drink this Monday. Plus, we pretty much have had the best present of all in a healthy and gorgeous Fred.

He is so freakin beautiful, i can't even begin to explain. It makes me want to cry.

In a suprising turn, Ginny and Rachel have decided to come visit for a couple of weeks arriving next Thursday. It was very unexpected but both Dave and I are absolutely delighted to be having them. It will be so great to have some familiar faces to bring in the new year with, and I am oh so excited to be sharing the amazing Fred to more of his family.

Anyway - As it is highly unlikely that I will find the time to call everyone (or anyone) that I want to on Monday, I will use ye olde blog to wish everyone an amazing day on Monday. Thank you everyone for your support and friendship (and readership?) over the past year and especially the past month. It's been extremely emotional and I feel so fortunate for all that I have, for the people I am so, so lucky to call my friends and family.

Merry Christmas
XXXXXXXXXXX
much, much, much love
Heather, Dave and Little Man Fred

Silent Blog, Holy Blog

Well, running two blogs whilst looking after a newborn might be a little bit more than I can chew. Add in the fact that I’m meant to be reading Booker Prize winners (though technically not due to kick off till next year), I think I have definitely taken a rather large mouthful. Oh well. See how we go.

Apologies for the lack of posts on this site, but it is a combination of not having a proper 5 mins to myself coupled with…. nothing to say really. I could prattle on about how much hard work this past week has been, but do you really want to hear this? I suspect it will be slightly boring/familiar reflections from a new mum – which is why I have tried to refrain from saying anything at all. But I’m personally finding the silence harder to bear, so perhaps I’ve decided something is better than nothing but I will try to keep it as brief as possible.

At the moment I am stuck on a perpetual wheel of breastfeeding, nappies and ‘entertaining’. And if there is five minutes to myself I use it to wash, feed myself, do washing/dishes – unfortunately writing a blog is pretty far down on the list.. Its all a bit consuming at the moment, Fred is very demanding, but we are learning and he is simply the loveliest thing ever. Despite being pretty drained, Dave and I often catch ourselves marveling at how utterly amazing he is. Last Thursday he had his first official outing (besides a coffee and trip to the supermarket earlier in the week) to celebrate his one week on this Earth, when we took him to the Garrison (a pub) on Bermondsey street where athletes1 (dave’s company) was having their Christmas Lunch. For the couple of hours we stayed there, he was a model baby, sleeping the whole time, allowing everyone a cuddle. If only that was what I had every day at home!! To be by myself, without reprieve for ten hours a day, (sometimes much longer – like on Wednesday when Dave went to see Newcastle v Chelsea and then to the pub – not home till 12.30am tsk! Tsk!) with literally no-one else to ‘hold the baby’ for five minutes is something I am getting used to. Some days are really good, a lot of the time it is frustrating how very little I find myself achieving on a day to day basis. Getting the washing done is a high achievement. But I know this is normal, normal and all I need to do is be a bit easier on myself. And we are only one week into the whole experience. (So a personality shift is required. Argh.)

In summary: I am well, Dave is well, Fred is brilliant, and yet a tough ruler. We are slowly getting there. Blog suffering... but slowly getting there.
xxH

With Love....

Well it was inevitable really, so I won’t bother apologising. Please click hereto see the newest blog in town, or on the link to the left.

Firstly, a big THANK YOU to all the well-wishes both Dave and I have been receiving over the past few days. The texts, emails, comments and phone calls have been appreciated. It really is the most amazing thing, we simply love sharing it with all our friends and family. I intend to reply to and speak with all of you, but as the days slip away from us under a haze of nappies, breastmilk debates and simply staring at our son; I have not been getting around to it. Similarly, I promise the a more detailed recount of the birth will come when I am back on top of the game. Which hopefully is not too far off.

Anyway, much love to you all. We are so, so happy at the moment. Life is pretty wonderful for our little family, we feel quite blessed.

xxx Heather

Introducing Fred Coutts Ligertwood.

(name subject to a technical finalisation)

Weighing in at 8.5 lbs after a mammoth 33 hour labor and terrors inappropriate for a blog which other pregnant ladies are reading, we are proud to give to readers of this blog the first glimpse of a future Australian Legend. Born 4.40am, Wednesday December 6, 2006.

And Still We Wait....

**The following post may touch on topics that some find not that pleasant, so perhaps the faint-hearted (ie. males) should skip this entry.**

Well, it's Monday today and I am now 40weeks+4. I saw my midwife this morning and had a 'sweep' done... I won't go into too much detail as to what a 'sweep' entails other than to infer that it could broadly be related to a pap smear. Although considering I let my last pap smear be taken by a nursing student at the local hospital - a lot less painful.

Anyway - what has come to light is some pretty good news in that I am 1 cm dilated, that the baby's head is in the right place and fully engaged (the midwife was able ot tap it on hte head!)and that my cervix is naturally positioned in the 'middle' (as opposed to towards the posterior) which should mean an easier and quicker passage for the baby when he/she chooses to come out.

The 'sweep' or 'general rummage' as my midwife phrased it at one point, should hopefully serve to kick things off in the next 24 to 48 hours all going well and during this time I should stick to the sacred mantra of keeping active, eating curries, drinking raspberry leaf tea and having lots of sex.

If nothing kicks off in the next 48 hours, I will be given another week to wait for things ot happen naturally and if we are still babyless then, we are booked for an induction on the 12th of December - at which point I will will be 1 day shy of 42 weeks which is pretty much as far as they like pregnancies to go (as the placenta starts to degenerate).

As you can see by the photos below, my bump is still riding quite high, which has worried me somewhat that I'm nowhere near ready, and has lead me to have frightful dreams of c-sections and the what not. But the midwife said to not even worry about what the bump looks like - is is simply how my body is built to carry a baby and that as the head is in the right place and engaged, we are ready to go.

And whatever happens, by the end of next week we will have ourselves a little baby and THAT is so exciting.

Anyway, apologies for the baby monologue - it is by far and away the overwhelming story in my life at the moment.... and probably the next 20 years. A few other thoughts

- thank god for the fine batting we saw in the ashes overnight and the Aussies reaching a total of over 500. I'm loathe to get too into things but after watching slightly smug English commentary for 2 days straight, I can't help but revert to schoolboy tactics and want to yell 'In.You.Face.'

- had my most significant celebrity encounter yet. Literally almost ran into Naomi Watts at the Electric on Portobello Road (Notting Hill) for breakfast on Saturday as she dodged my bump (and gave me a big smile) as she vacated her seat and I took it. I was suitably nonchalant.... It was a moment. Wasted on Dave of course.

Bump Progress: Week 40

Yup. Baby still in there.

(Also - just a note that I have updated and added to some of my online photo albums. If interested, please click here or on the link to your right)

 
  

Max and Ned Footer Continue to Grow...

For those who don't know, Max and Ned are Dave's sister Amy's little boys, and the only cousins of the baby refusing to leave my belly.


 
  

Not Yet

I'm somewhere in an interesting place, with people watching this blog or monitoring my email reply speed to try to find some sort of inkling that I've gone into labour. Which is fair enough - it's exactly what I would do - especially seeing as I have told people that we would only spread the good news after the event (and allow people to sleep/play easily in ignorance) And I guess this is the way it will continue. But I assure you that a silence from me on hte email/blog does not necessarily mean that exciting news is imminent - you'd be surprised how well I have embraced being 'slack' and how my vacant mind cannot fathom what to write in a blog. For example - in the last 24 hours, the only topic I have thought about putting on here was Patrick Swayze. In my slow waddle back from he supermarket I got thinking about how he had been such a powerhouse in the eighties and how he is such a 'joke' now and what a raw deal that was. I mean: Dirty Dancing, Ghost and Roadhouse they are films that still hold a place in many people's hearts.

As you can see, not exactly inspiring (or point-ful) blogging. So my silence is golden in reality.

Anyway - although I am 'due' this Thursday, you can all rest easy as I can pretty much guarantee we are no where near meeting the little baby yet. He/she is still riding high (ie. not engaged which is something that needs to happen) and still kicking up a storm (they should quiet-down a little bit before birth). My gut feeling is that we are looking at least into next week. Which in some ways is good (I've got the rest of my life to enjoy motherhood, I should savour this relaxation) but also a bit frustrating (Dave and I are soooo keen to meet our child).

Anyway, I'm going to either watch some music videos, go back to bed or each a hunk of cheese right now. Probably all three. Definitely the cheese thing. Oh. Now that im thinking food, i've also got some shortbread somewhere and a pack of those baby carrots and some yoghurt.....

Happy Birthday Nadsie!!!

Well, I had hoped to get this post up last Friday to celebrate Nadsie's actual birthday, but due to being in the middle of a cold (which I still have not kicked) and having crazy headaches from being stuck for hours in our apartment where the fumes of fresh varnish from the floor below reduced me to a blubbering and pathetic wreck..... it just wasn't going to happen.

Anyway - as one of this blog's more obsessive readers, it is only right that Nadise (aka The General) gets a montage for her birthday. These 4 photos are some of my favourites, I'm particularly happy with the last one. It was taken on the tail end of a rather large night of celebrity head down at Goolwa when, due to our merry state we decided to pose for the photo amidst the shouts of 'Levels! Levels! Be on different Levels!' We found this most amusing at the time. Verity? Well, I'm just happy she was able to shuffle her way into that photo.

 

 

 

These photos are from Nadsie's trip to London mid last year (2005) and details us taking in a few of the local sights including South Bank (with Dave nad Kezza), Brick Lane (with Eleanor) Borough Market (with Nige's twin Mr. Shark) and Trafalgar Square (with a Supermodel). The hoods of the Jesus Army took a liking to us and I daresay that if we had not been worried sick about a shoeless and pantless Nige wandering somewhere near the Thames River, we may have joined up.


 
 
 

These photos are from that same trip, later in the night when we took in the atmosphere (and a few beers) in Leicester Square and then.. the lights of Piccadilly Circus... where ... um... in keeping with local custom... we protested the midnight closing of the tube stations.... by.... wrestling... on the traffic island... in the middle... of the very sanitary picc circus.......

 
 
 

MORE reasons to be excited

1. The Alexs storm the Opera House!!

No doubt the Als have been plucking, primping and preening themselves this past week in preparation for their close-up on this week's Sydney-Opera-House-Australian-Idol-Final in order to watch their good mate Mr. Damien Leith storm to victory. And I must admit, that I've never taken too much interest in these programs, never voted before, but thanks to the wonder that is YouTube, I am able to state that I truly think that Mr. Leith is something special and deserves to win. The young Jessica chick is also talented, but a little bit stock-standard. Damien is so different to the typical Idol contestant, in many ways it is amazing to see that Australia has kept him in so long. So hopefully all goes to plan in what deserves to be storybook ending..

2. Toby Makes his YouTube debut

After years of living in Sydney and doing something elusive (to me anyway) it appears that Mr. Toby Stratmann has been doing film, and doing film well. You can see his short film called 'The Relatives by clicking here or by loading the below. I am sure that all ratings and critiques will be well appreciated.

Reasons to be excited:

• the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes! the ashes!!!! Ahhhhh. Unfotunately the first ball is bowled at midnight and the last at 7am which makes proper viewing from the UK near impossible. But perhaps a blessing considering the coming months of night time breastfeeding. Dear god, I hope we win. I dont think I could handle losing it again. I just hope that more than one Aussie batsman decides to turn up this time.
• Strictly Come Dancing and I'm a Celebrity... have both taken to the airwaves again (my addiction to both of these can be blamed squarely on Georgia.)
• Georgia and Pete have got their internet back. I don't know how they survived.
• Baby should be released in the next 7 days. I'm not sure if this is exciting or not, but feel the expectation is that I should porbably put it in the exciting catagory.

(on the downside i seem to have caught dave's cold and find myself surrounded by tissues and unable ot stop sneezing)

Ample time, no blogs

So here i am, with ample time on my hands lounging at home, and yet no blog entries. Not very promising behaviour, you would think?

On the contrary. Whilst there is a bit of lounging happening, there is simply no time to do a blog. Whilst only 2 days into my retirement, I have not had more than 5 minuts to myself, a 5 minutes which is being wisely used for 'staring vacantly'. As perhaps another downside to working to 38 weeks, I have given myself not much time to get a lot of things done that I so wanted to do before 'the release'. From preparing the hospital bag, to researching car insurance (we bought a car - more on that in the next post) to paying bills and claiming re-imbirsements, to shopping trips to asda to doctors appointments. I could add about 30 more things, which I have done and a further 30 pending. I admit for an able bodied person the list might not amount to much - but as my waddle has slowed to a sloth-like lope, and my energy sits on fever-levels, these things are taking so much time and only serve to sit, niggling in my mind.

But all in all, its lovely to be at home, to be able to sleep in an extra hour: bliss.

And I dont have anything interesting to say, other than how sad I was to read that Robert Altman died yesterday. I've enjoyed so many of his movies, it's sad to think that there will be no more.

Hope everyone is well. Send me an email leave a comment, all thoughts are appreciated.
xxH

Pregnancy: The Dark Side (Part 2)

Some of you may remember from the first installment of my pregnancy lament back in August (click here) that I had a suspicion that at 6 months, I didn’t know the full extent of the misery. I was right. A whole hoard of things have happened since then which deserve a mention on this pregnancy-saturated blog. Admittedly most of them have ot do with the changing shape of my body, but to be honest that has easily been the most alarming factor of these past 3 months

But before I get into all that, I’m going to give a last minute reminder that the closing date to enter ‘Guess the Baby Fact Game’ is no doubt not too far off. With me due to ‘release the child’ within the next few weeks, anyone wishing to hazard a guess at dates, weights and gender, please click here.

Anyway. Let the bitterness begin!

Pregnancy: The Dark Side (Part 2)

• The readily adopted theory that this is the one time you are able to eat what you please, so go hard. SO coming back to haunt me later.
  
• Moles. Moles you didn’t even know you had, not only make an appearance, but do so emphatically. Deep brown colour, bobbling out in fearsome 3D
  
• Lungs the size of plums that result in dog-like panting after taking on the smallest and shortest of inclines.
  
• Bingo wings.
  
• Your dancing becomes downright hysterical to anyone who you feel safe enough doing it around.
  
• Swollenness. Fat fingers. Hobbit feet. The fact that when you take of your airplane socks (ie those that are meant to fit all) in the evening to go to bed you are greeted by indentations on your ankles the size of minor canyons
  
• Heartburn. AKA ‘Reflux’ or vomiting in your mouth. Nothing quite like that taste, mmmmm.
  
• I wouldn’t say a ‘double chin’ as that suggests definition between the two. Perhaps ‘the emergence of jowels’ is more apt.
  
• The loss of facial definition overall. I referred to it as ‘the acid melt’ earlier in this blog and you all predictably came back with ‘you look lovely’ comments so I won’t got that far this time. Lets just say that it all rolls into one ball of puff.
• Unmanageable hair and a fear of getting a haircut that only serves to accentuate the blobbyness of your face.
  
• The appetite of ten burley men.
  
• Hormones that make your skin believe your are in the middle of puberty.
  
• Lactic Acid build up. In your Finger joints. I shit you not. Each morning I wake up with claws for hands that result in much pathetic whimpering as I try to straighten them.
  
• The fact that the actual ‘birth’ begins to loom so forebodingly that the prize at the end seems remote and unfathomable and you begin to wonder what the hell you are doing.
  
• Unintentional and ill-timed grunting.
  
• Meeting mothers who ‘adored pregnancy’. WTF? Nine months of abstinence from everything fun for the pay off of a few ‘moments of connection’ when the baby kicks you in the lungs/bladder? These people are not normal.
  
• When the baby kicks you in the lungs or bladder.
  
• When the baby kicks you ANYWHERE at 38 weeks and as your stomach/body has no more elasticity, the only result is be pain.
  
• Midwives who refer to pain as ‘discomfort’
  
• Thighs large enough to be running in the Melbourne cup
  
• The loss of balance. The smallest incline, if misjudged, can result in the most embarrassing slow motion stack. Which brings three people rushing over from seemingly nowhere and causes a cyclist to stop, all crying ‘Are you ok?! Are you ok?!
  
• And even though you are ok and you tell them all you are ok, the first thing you do when they are out of sight is call your boyfriend and start bawling over a grazed knee that a third-grader wouldn’t flinch at.
  
• Emotional fragility (see above).
  
• Twitchiness. Legs take on a life of their own, often performing a little jig (akin to what Laura has called the Fagin) at inopportune moments, such as when you are going to sleep (which if you are sporting some mega-thighs means that NO-ONE is that bed is going to sleep)
  You begin to really listen to your mother.
  
• The point where you become so big that some of your maternity clothes no longer fit.
  
• The realisation at about 37 weeks that if you have somehow gotten yourself on ground level, nothing bar a crane will get you off it.
• The brain power of a stereotypical blond, the memory of a goldfish.
  
• Shoes. Nigh on impossible to put on by yourself. Ones with laces are a pipe dream.
  
• A partner who is likely to never go through pregnancy (and yet holds a firm belief that it would be a doddle) when responding to your concerns about the labour/birth literally pats you on the head and literally says ‘There, there. It will be fine… I hope it happens at night during the Ashes’
  

This Week's Big News

You might be expecting me to mention the encouraging political changes taking place in the US in this entry, or perhaps some comment on Britney (... am I the only one who doesnt care beyond feeling that divorce is something really, really sad?). You might even be waiting for my thoughts on Blogger's new upgraded services that came through today (RAD). But you would be wrong on all counts.

Because today's BIG news is that my great Canadina mate Patty is joining blogland. And even better than that is that she is an unemployed computer nerd - so regular entries are pretty much guarenteed. And not only THAT, but after reading the first few entries and finding myself nodding furiously, she write with Heather-approved sense. So to get your daily fill click here or on the link to the left.

Bump Progress: Week 37

Well, in these photos the bump definately looks gravity-defying. And the boobs less than impressive. In fact, for the most part, Dave amd I agree that they have not grown at all, or if they have - unimpressively. We are hoping that perhaps this will be rectified when the breast milk comes on. I haven't really explained to Dave thatthe look will be ruined by constant wet patches and angry-sore nipples, but why dash his hopes at this point? Neither of us really have much idea of what to expect (though everyone keeps telling us it is going to be shockingly hard work) so we are in a state of ignorant bliss. Crying Baby? Why - just give it a cuddle and a 'there, there'.......