May 2008
Hello.
Here's hoping you're all still well and dandy, and still missing us. It's been a busy couple of months since we landed but I think we're just about settled into things and starting to enjoy life in Farnham.
Oliver is still very much excited by the train tracks ("oh-wow-train-tracks") we have to cross to get into town. It is a sure fire way of getting him in the pram. Often he'll wake up from his afternoon nap saying 'train-tracks'. We've settled into a routine of playgroups, music classes and forest walks at the local forestry reserve. With Big G's help we've put some bird feeders in the garden and are hoping to have some nesting birds in our little bird home. We've made friends and have even had a few playdates. Oliver is becoming more protective of Fred as we meet more people and tends to fend off any curious toddlers that want to cuddle/look/stare from the other side of the room at Fred. More importantly, Oliver is winning medals in any terrible two competitions he's currently entering. The roll around on the floor tantrums are coming thick and fast, as are the pitying looks from other mothers in the shops. He cannot be touched whilst tantruming as that only seems to make it worse, so he is left to his own devices wherever he decides to have his latest hissy fit. It's all quite amusing until it happens five times before 9am.
Fred is a rolling machine. You put him down on the floor and he's off. There's no leaving him in a room by himself as he's usually somewhere under the sofa by the time you get back. He's also going blonder by the day and now has lovely go faster blonde stripes from his temples if you look closely. He had his second hair cut today and looks very spiffy. When not smiling or puking, he is nattering incessantly to himself and anyone that will listen. He is wisely growing more wary of Oliver but generally is obsessed with his older brother and smiles whenever he sees him. Today we noted with concern that he is pushing himself up on his knees which can mean only one thing. My dream of a non-moving baby until at least 3 is about to be shattered.
Jeffy is going well. He's getting into his gardening and we're trying to plan our veggie patch. We have peas, strawberries, raspberries as well as the well established apple trees to keep him out of mischief. Oliver is his little helper and even being stung by a wasp hasn't dampened Oliver's enthusiasm. Work is keeping him busy as per usual and he spends most evenings at the computer sadly. Mind you most of this is spend obsessing about the housing market and the doom and gloom that has pervaded every media outlet to the core. You can't turn on the telly without hearing about the impending housing prices crash.
We've been to the Arsenal with Fred and the Big G (shocking refereeing and a lousy scoreline but warm comfy club class seats made it bearable), made it finally to my parents place in France, and celebrated a choc-tastic Easter. Oh, and I've sat my citizenship test in the Australian Consulate. No questions on Don Bradman only Phar Lap. I passed with 100% so only have to wait until January to become an official Aussie. I'll have to come back to renew my upward inflection.
We've visited lots of friends and had lots of people down to our little house. Wobs and Pauline came down to practice holding babies; we saw a blooming Aude, Sanj and Molly in the recent snow; and caught up with most of our friends in London. We're off to Brighton this weekend to see the Children's parade in the Brighton Festival. Carole, Graeme, Po and Mo came to stay for a couple of days which was SO lovely. The kids settled right back into their routine of kisses and cuddles and it was great to spend some quality time with the Webbers, who seemed amazingly well considering jet lag and plane time with two under two.
It wouldn't be an missive from the UK without some mention of the weather, so here's goes: we are living in a discovery channel programme on extreme unpredictable weather patterns. First we had storms hit Farnham is a small way (not quite the storms we missed in Sydney) but we slept through them with the help of our double glazing. Next we have had summer sunshine, followed by four inches of snow. We were in London at the time and rushed out to do all things snow related. We ended up with a very pretty snow-lady and it seems I was more excited by this than anyone else in the family. Now we are in constant rain/hail/sleet storms. This ridiculous weather has necessitated the purchase of, and - please note I'm embarrassed to write it - kagool-type thingys and wellington boots. Oliver loves his frog umbrella too and has worn a hole in the top of it due to his insistence on carrying in around and banging it on the ground as it makes a "loud noise".
Sorry this is a bit disjointed - I've been trying to write for ages - but am distracted by small crying beings and don't generally have the energy to write in the evenings. Suffice to say, we miss you and think of you all often. Send news and we send much love,
Em, Jeffy, Oliver and Fred xxx
Here's hoping you're all still well and dandy, and still missing us. It's been a busy couple of months since we landed but I think we're just about settled into things and starting to enjoy life in Farnham.
Oliver is still very much excited by the train tracks ("oh-wow-train-tracks") we have to cross to get into town. It is a sure fire way of getting him in the pram. Often he'll wake up from his afternoon nap saying 'train-tracks'. We've settled into a routine of playgroups, music classes and forest walks at the local forestry reserve. With Big G's help we've put some bird feeders in the garden and are hoping to have some nesting birds in our little bird home. We've made friends and have even had a few playdates. Oliver is becoming more protective of Fred as we meet more people and tends to fend off any curious toddlers that want to cuddle/look/stare from the other side of the room at Fred. More importantly, Oliver is winning medals in any terrible two competitions he's currently entering. The roll around on the floor tantrums are coming thick and fast, as are the pitying looks from other mothers in the shops. He cannot be touched whilst tantruming as that only seems to make it worse, so he is left to his own devices wherever he decides to have his latest hissy fit. It's all quite amusing until it happens five times before 9am.
Fred is a rolling machine. You put him down on the floor and he's off. There's no leaving him in a room by himself as he's usually somewhere under the sofa by the time you get back. He's also going blonder by the day and now has lovely go faster blonde stripes from his temples if you look closely. He had his second hair cut today and looks very spiffy. When not smiling or puking, he is nattering incessantly to himself and anyone that will listen. He is wisely growing more wary of Oliver but generally is obsessed with his older brother and smiles whenever he sees him. Today we noted with concern that he is pushing himself up on his knees which can mean only one thing. My dream of a non-moving baby until at least 3 is about to be shattered.
Jeffy is going well. He's getting into his gardening and we're trying to plan our veggie patch. We have peas, strawberries, raspberries as well as the well established apple trees to keep him out of mischief. Oliver is his little helper and even being stung by a wasp hasn't dampened Oliver's enthusiasm. Work is keeping him busy as per usual and he spends most evenings at the computer sadly. Mind you most of this is spend obsessing about the housing market and the doom and gloom that has pervaded every media outlet to the core. You can't turn on the telly without hearing about the impending housing prices crash.
We've been to the Arsenal with Fred and the Big G (shocking refereeing and a lousy scoreline but warm comfy club class seats made it bearable), made it finally to my parents place in France, and celebrated a choc-tastic Easter. Oh, and I've sat my citizenship test in the Australian Consulate. No questions on Don Bradman only Phar Lap. I passed with 100% so only have to wait until January to become an official Aussie. I'll have to come back to renew my upward inflection.
We've visited lots of friends and had lots of people down to our little house. Wobs and Pauline came down to practice holding babies; we saw a blooming Aude, Sanj and Molly in the recent snow; and caught up with most of our friends in London. We're off to Brighton this weekend to see the Children's parade in the Brighton Festival. Carole, Graeme, Po and Mo came to stay for a couple of days which was SO lovely. The kids settled right back into their routine of kisses and cuddles and it was great to spend some quality time with the Webbers, who seemed amazingly well considering jet lag and plane time with two under two.
It wouldn't be an missive from the UK without some mention of the weather, so here's goes: we are living in a discovery channel programme on extreme unpredictable weather patterns. First we had storms hit Farnham is a small way (not quite the storms we missed in Sydney) but we slept through them with the help of our double glazing. Next we have had summer sunshine, followed by four inches of snow. We were in London at the time and rushed out to do all things snow related. We ended up with a very pretty snow-lady and it seems I was more excited by this than anyone else in the family. Now we are in constant rain/hail/sleet storms. This ridiculous weather has necessitated the purchase of, and - please note I'm embarrassed to write it - kagool-type thingys and wellington boots. Oliver loves his frog umbrella too and has worn a hole in the top of it due to his insistence on carrying in around and banging it on the ground as it makes a "loud noise".
Sorry this is a bit disjointed - I've been trying to write for ages - but am distracted by small crying beings and don't generally have the energy to write in the evenings. Suffice to say, we miss you and think of you all often. Send news and we send much love,
Em, Jeffy, Oliver and Fred xxx
posted by Emma Sweetwater at
May 01, 2008
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