Zwanger Fietsen Monday, 28th January, 2008
Posted by nomadical in General.Tags: cycling, pregnancy
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I’ve found that cycling while visibly pregnant gives rise to quite a few double takes around the streets of Adelaide. Still on the bike at 38 weeks is not the done thing over here, and plenty of people have passed on well-meaning advice to give it away. Having spent all those years in Holland I guess I’m just a bit more used to cycling being as normal as walking, so I was a bit surprised to even read on a British website that cycling after the 5th month of your pregnancy wasn’t advised. I decided it was time to do a bit of research on cycling while pregnant – but googling in Dutch, not English. So I had a look for zwangerschap (pregnancy) and fietsen (cycling) and it wasn’t long before I’d come across a bit of advice that was typically Dutch:
“Een zwangerschap verandert veel aan je lichaam maar niet alles. Wandelen, fietsen en zwemmen is juist goed tot en met de laatste dag van de zwangerschap.”
For those of you that don’t read Dutch, that is:
“Pregnancy changes a lot of things about your body, but not everything. Walking, cycling and swimming is good right up until the last day of the pregnancy”.
Just as I thought…
In fact, the only Dutch websites I could find that warned against cycling in pregnancy were advising against going on a cycling holiday in the Swiss Alps much after the 6th month!
Moving In Thursday, 17th January, 2008
Posted by delftred in General.add a comment
We’ve finally moved into our new house! Hopefully in time to get ready for our new family member. More or less ready. Although sometimes it does feel like less.
We still have quite a bit of unpacking to do.
But after so long being peripatetic, it’s good to finally have a place of our own.
Image credits: Mike on Flickr
Pregnant. Wednesday, 16th January, 2008
Posted by delftred in General.add a comment
Helen’s been growing larger and larger. With less than a month to go now, she is definitely looking pregnant.
And when the baby’s awake, you can sometimes see her moving, even through Helen’s clothes! Now that is freaky.
Still, Helen’s cycling to work every day – in fine Dutch tradition.
Image credits: Mike on Flickr.
Rock Climbing in East Timor Thursday, 10th January, 2008
Posted by delftred in General, Travel.Tags: Baucau, East Timor, rock climbing
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I lugged my climbing gear all the way from Adelaide to Baucau during our visit to East Timor last year (2007). Pedro had told me about the formidable cliffs that back onto his father’s property in the low part of the city, and I was dead keen to have a crack at climbing them. It’s not often these days that you get a chance to climb virgin rock, and maybe be immortalised in some climbing guide of the future with a “first ascent” or two under your belt. So after the wedding – when nothing could go terribly wrong, ruin the wedding, and be all my fault – I dragged Pedro up the cliffs to do some climbing.
On the top of the cliff while setting up the route, it was clear the villagers had never seen anything like this before, and they gathered around in hordes. By chance my climbing gear was virtually the same colour as the rock, and I was nearly invisible on the cliff from a distance.
It’s a pity that you can’t tell from the photos what a perilously overhanging route that is(!) I’d previously been careful to train Pedro up to be a good seconder, and he did a great job. He also has a much better sense of style, and was dressed to impress.
Unfortunately, the rock itself didn’t impress. Quite a few great chunks broke off in my hands, and after putting up a few routes in the dust, dirt, and tropical heat, we called it a day. But for the locals, it seemed it was better than television!
Image credits: Mike on Flickr.
A Marriage Made in Timor Thursday, 10th January, 2008
Posted by delftred in General, Travel.add a comment
My sister Liz and her partner Pedro got married while we were visiting East Timor back in October.
We all had a great time, and ate and danced the night away. It was pretty hot in a suit, though. Thankfully, at the feast they separated the offal delicacies from the standard meat dishes so we could leave the best parts for the locals to enjoy.
The ceremony was a traditionally Portuguese Catholic wedding. The party was a traditional Timorese festival with over 1000 guests! Liz and Pedro took so long trying to greet everyone that they missed out on dessert.
My nephew Oli stole the show in his cute little tuxedo!
They were lucky enough to get nine(!) matching tea sets as gifts. Plus eleven identical sets of tumblers.
Image credits: Mike on Flickr
