Happy Birthday Maren Sunday, 30th January, 2011
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She’s 1 today.
Maren models her birthday girl crown.
All the usual blah about looking back at what was going on one year ago… The first twinges, the dash to the hospital, the baby’s welcome appearance. Except, no, wait … Maren did it differently. With Maren it was more like:
The first twinges, the casual phone call to the hospital that things have started, we’ll be coming in soon. Before that phone call is over, the realisation that, no actually we won’t be going anywhere, as there’s a baby actually already on her way out and just getting out of the bathroom is going to be a challenge. So instead, it’s a quick emergency call, an ambulance dispatched, a midwife on speaker phone talking Mike through his part of the job and 12 minutes later there’s a baby in my arms. Freya managed to sleep through the whole thing in the next room.
All in all, a bit unexpected, but wonderful nonetheless. And Maren was fine, despite her very rapid entrance. Mike did what he was meant to – stay cool and catch the baby – and the ambulance crew arrived just in time to clamp the cord. But it also explains why there’s a bit of a shortage of photos from Maren’s first moments. So instead, here’s a selection of Maren through the year.
January. Still on the floor after the ambulance has arrived.
March. Freya enjoys a cuddle.
June. Clean.
October. Freya and Maren are a bit unsure of the quality of the latest offering from OK Go.
November. Dangerous heights are fun.
November. A long day in the gravel pit.
More photos on flickr.
Image Credits: Helen & Mike
Almost Harvest Time Tuesday, 25th January, 2011
Posted by nomadical in General.Tags: grapes, home
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Look what’s coming! Yum, our first vintage in the new house is looking good.
Grapes ripening on the vine outside the back door.
Image Credit: Helen
WOMADelaide Is Coming Saturday, 15th January, 2011
Posted by nomadical in General.Tags: WOMAD
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I’m starting to get a bit excited about WOMADelaide this year. My possibly all-time, certainly current, favourite ‘world music’ act is performing: Amadou and Mariam.
Amadou & Mariam’s fabulous album, Dimanche a Bamako
Plus Joanna Newsom will be there too!
We’ve been to WOMADelaide every year since returning to Australia and the kids have never missed a WOMADelaide since they were born, which in Freya’s case means she’s already been to three.
You can see we were already looking forward to this year’s event if you look closely at the decorations on our Christmas tree:
Freya admires the tree.
Yep, that’s right, a bunch of free postcards with the WOMAD lion on them adorned the tree this year, in amongst the tinsel. Unfortunately this photo didn’t quite manage to capture the handmade (by Mike) alfoil Starship Enterprise which topped the tree, as always.
A New Start Friday, 7th January, 2011
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It’s been some time since we’ve posted anything new here. It’s not that nothing has happened – quite the contrary of course – we’ve had an extremely eventful 18 months.
Now, after a busy period without documentation, it is starting to feel like we could start recording some of the highlights again.
For now – a quick recap.
When we last saw our heroes, they were travelling through Europe:
where Freya learnt to rock climb,
Helen was pregnant,
and Mike was approaching a milestone.
Since then, Freya has grown,
Helen has given birth (at home!),
Maren’s arrival
Mike has released his long-awaited Plandroid software,
we’ve moved house,
and Maren has started walking.
What wonders will 2011 bring? Stay tuned …
Image Credits: Helen and Mike
