Temporary Nomad

Well, it’s been a while in the planning, but we finally bit the bullet – or rather, the credit card – and booked a trip to Europe this year. We’ll be in and around Delft from July 23rd to about August 12th, a quick trip over to Germany, and then over to the UK from around August 17th to 31st, when we head back home, having neatly missed most of what passes for a winter here in Adelaide.

We’re hoping to be able to catch up with lots of you old friends (it’s been almost 3 years since we left Delft, and more than 10 years since first arriving in the UK, so, yes, we think of you as old friends now) and introduce Freya to all our favourite people over there.

So that you’ll recognise her when you see her, here’s what she looks like at 14 months:

Freya, 14 months old. She likes the camera case,

and ski gloves…

and especially the swings at the helicopter park.

Oh yes, we’re also looking for a place to stay in Delft for a few weeks. So, if any of you know of a friend or housemate who wants to sublet while they’re on their summer vacation, we’d like to hear about it!

Down Under Classic 2009

Adelaide’s been buzzing for days with the start of the Tour Down Under for 2009. And we’ve had a bit of the action too. I took Freya down to the end of the street to watch the opening night race around the parklands – but it was a bit close to bedtime and a bit busy, so after only 5 laps we came back home. But this morning we got our fix – the entire entourage, teams, support vehicles and all cycled casually past the front gate as we watched. Freya gave them a bit of a wave.

It’s a couple of years since I saw the Tour de France go past, but it’s nice to know we didn’t have to give up everything when leaving Europe.

It’s been a busy year and a particularly busy end-of-year and this blog has suffered. But, we’re still here in sunny Adelaide and here’s a quick run-down of some random events.

Our housewarming – just a week after we found out our lease would be renewed – yay! We celebrated with flags in the backyard and general revelry.

Cheerful flags added a party atmosphere to the backyard.

My colleague Davide married the delightful Adina in a ceremony at Adelaide’s Japanese garden.

Davide, Adina and family.

After the ceremony Davide told the assembled crowd a lovely story. His sensei in Japan gave him a little statue of a buddha with no eyes. He had to make a wish and paint on one eye. When the wish came true, he should paint the other eye. So, then and there, he picked up a brush and painted on the second eye – his wish had come true!

A less pleasant event this year was a scary accident. As I was taking Freya for a walk in the pram, a van turned a corner and ran into us, hitting the pram and sending us spinning. Through pure luck, Freya was unharmed, although the pram was a write-off. One of the scariest moments I’ve had in a long, long time.

Freya has been developing rapidly as babies do. Amongst a host of achievements, she’s trying to open doors,

Freya attempting to share a shower with Mike in the bathroom.

imitating characters in popular children’s books,

Freya managed to get herself into Mike’s t-shirt, which reminded me of this wonderful book (sorry, should have been a spoiler warning).

and picking up the finer points of wine appreciation.

Freya scrutinises a shiraz’s legs at Bridgewater Mill.

We ended the year with another traditional New Year’s Eve party, which was great fun, and we even had a phone call from the South Pole – thanks Gary!

A Happy New Year to you all!