A few months have passed since our last update ... and it's amazing how quickly those months have gone! I'll try to give you a quick update on the last few months to bring you back up to speed with our lives on 17 February 2010.
Christmas and New Year's have come and gone. Christmas for me was spent home alone (don't feel sorry - I had a great day) while Tim was on the rig working, but enjoying one amazing meal after another. Apparently, the food on the rig is just too good to be true and for Christmas they had gone all out, offering anything from sushi to the more traditional Christmas fare... I don't usually take the time to cook amazing meals - quick pastas and crackers & cheese are my favourites - so I wouldn't even try to compete with the rig!
Tim arrived home from the rig on December 29th. Just in time to do some last-minute shopping and packing before leaving for Zim on Wed Dec 30th. We had a family reunion of sorts to look forward to with Sue already in Zim, Paul & Bee and the girls on their way, and Tim's cousins Caroline (with Dan and baby Sacha, who's not such a baby anymore!) and Bridget (and her soon-to-be-fiance Rob) flying in from London. Tim's aunt Rona was celebrating a special birthday, which was the extra motivation for all of us to come.
We had a fantastic time ... we caught up with friends and family in Zim, spent a fair amount of time with Paul & Bee and Rob & Kirsty Kuipers (which is where P&B were staying), and got to see Jase and Nats and the kids in their new environment ... although sadly not quite yet in their new home. Other than Rona's birthday party, a real highlight of the trip was that Rob and Bridge got engaged (finally :)). They went to Vic Falls for a few days and came back with Bridget's hand - and eyes - sparkling and the happy news of a wedding for all of us to look forward to. The wedding of year is planned for July in Cornwall (England), so that will be a first overseas trip for our little Wiglet.
Another highlight was my baby shower, which Sue had organised. It was such a nice surprise and made me realise that I really am pregnant ... I've been to many baby showers, but somehow never imagined attending one where my bump would be the centre of attention.
While in Zim we stayed with Jonathan, Tim's Dad, who owns the most amazing place in Christonbank. It's about 25min outside Harare and every time we're there, it strikes me how peaceful and beautiful it is. Thanks to the recent rains, the grass was beautifully green and the views stunning as always. We also met Jonathan's new dog, Rafiki. Such an awesome little dog. Jonathan got him from a rescue society; a skinny, small dog, mostly German Shepherd. Rafiki obviously hadn't been treated too well by his previous owners and was very shy and submissive towards new people; he quickly warmed up to us though and I had great fun brushing him, feeding him all sorts of fattening treats and teaching him how to sit. It was hard to leave him at the end of the week, but great to be going home to Gandalf.
Gandalf, meanwhile, had a bit of a different Christmas ... he was left outside a bit more than usual perhaps, and with us gone, obviously felt a bit out of sorts. His remedy was to take it out on anything chewable, including breaking into the house (through an open window and the burglar bars), chewing through a blind and tearing apart a duvet. A few days later, he discovered that doors that are accidently left unlocked can also be chewed open, which then provides access to even more nice chewable stuff in the form of our plantation shutters. I wasn't happy (OK, that's an understatement) and the repair bill for all of this is pretty hefty, but it also made me realise that the poor boy must have had some unhappy moments (fire crackers on NY eve) and must have been quite desperate. The sad part is that he's now got the taste for chewing and scratching and hasn't really stoppped since (when I leave the home). Not ideal, so we'll have to find a way to get him to unlearn this new habit.
For the rest, we had a great January with Tim at home. It was quite busy work-wise, but we still managed to do some fun things together, watch a number of good movies, and of course enjoy the pregnancy together. Tim was there for the big 5-month scan, which we had at 23 weeks - absolutely amazing!! This is a 4D scan and it was so amazing to see our little baby moving around on the screen. She's got 10 fingers and toes, a perfect little heart, beautifully working kidneys and everything else you could wish for. Listening to the woman who performed the scan, we were once again blown away by the miracle of it all!
Tim left on Tue Jan 26th ... and life has been a bit of a blur ever since. I've been super-busy with both CLC and Exceed work, but particularly CLC seemed to start off with a bit of a bang this year. It's been good, but at times a bit overwhelming, especially when I received a phone call from De Beers 10 days ago (we worked with them through Exceed in 2007/8) and I had to make room for two more 2-day workshops this month. Managed to squeeze it all in, but will be happy when February is over ... a bit too hectic for my liking (all self-inflicted, I know).
Last week, I also had a visit from a colleague in Aberdeen for a full week. I hadn't been to Aberdeen since September, so this was seen as a good opportunity for Pat to come out and join me for a week to jointly work on a LEAN Kaizen training workshop. Pat joined Exceed a year ago and is a specialist in implementing Kaizen in administrative environments. Part of the same family as Six Sigma, LEAN Kaizen is the less statistical cousin and has a heavy focus on staff involvement and empowering staff to implement the right solutions. The approach reminds me of the UK programme "back to the shopfloor"; it recognises that those doing the work often know better what savings can be realised than those in management positions. I've always been intrigued by Kaizen, but just listening to Pat and working with her on the workshop made me realise that's something I'd really enjoy doing as well ... and the opportunities are all around us here in SA! (Now just need to find the time ...)
Other than working, we managed to find time to go for a few nice dinners and scenic drives together as well as walk Gandalf and play a few games of Rummikub... Pat also joined Sue to a story telling evening, which - coincidentally - was all about the bonding journey between a mother and her unborn child so she came back with a poetry book for me. I didn't go as I never say no to an opportunity to be in bed by 9PM these days :).
The good news is that after the initial nausea and a bit of a scare in the first trimester, the pregnancy has been coming along so nicely! I'm still often nauseous, but nothing like it used to be. I'm now 6.5months, less than 3months to go, and as I write this, I keep getting little (and some bigger) kicks just to remind me she's still there! Everything seems to be coming along on schedule, my tummy is expanding and our little baby still has lots of space for summersaults and other movements ... which she seems to be enjoying. Her favourite position is feet kicking down (to ensure I take frequent bathroom breaks) and head pushing nicely into my ribcage.
It's amazing to think that she already has a completely working digestive system, can open and close her eyes, can hear and feel ... and is even starting to develop taste buds! We can't wait to see her in real life ... though we have a feeling that if what they say is true (90% of a baby's character is the result of her parents combined DNA), we're in for a busy 20 years ... or more!
Just a quick update on Tim's life on the rig in Ghana. He is still very much enjoying this new project and the team he's working with, which is great. We chat every two days (or more often) and he surprised me with roses, a teddy and some chocolates for Valentine's Day. Just over a week till he comes home. I can't wait ... we've planned a relatively relaxed month of March with a bit of work but also a weekend at a spa, a 2-day antenatal workshop on hypnobirthing, and of course plans to get the baby room ready by the end of March!
Anyway, this brings you up to date on the last few months and me to a point where I need to get some work done. It's February 17 ... only a week to go to our 3-yr wedding anniversary ... and lots to do before my two big workshops, plus I'm working on a training manual for a local health & beauty chain (Clicks), which was due last month already. They've been flexible on the deadline as much of the delay was on their side, but now it's time to live up to my end of the deal.
Lots of love to you all!
Christmas and New Year's have come and gone. Christmas for me was spent home alone (don't feel sorry - I had a great day) while Tim was on the rig working, but enjoying one amazing meal after another. Apparently, the food on the rig is just too good to be true and for Christmas they had gone all out, offering anything from sushi to the more traditional Christmas fare... I don't usually take the time to cook amazing meals - quick pastas and crackers & cheese are my favourites - so I wouldn't even try to compete with the rig!
Tim arrived home from the rig on December 29th. Just in time to do some last-minute shopping and packing before leaving for Zim on Wed Dec 30th. We had a family reunion of sorts to look forward to with Sue already in Zim, Paul & Bee and the girls on their way, and Tim's cousins Caroline (with Dan and baby Sacha, who's not such a baby anymore!) and Bridget (and her soon-to-be-fiance Rob) flying in from London. Tim's aunt Rona was celebrating a special birthday, which was the extra motivation for all of us to come.
We had a fantastic time ... we caught up with friends and family in Zim, spent a fair amount of time with Paul & Bee and Rob & Kirsty Kuipers (which is where P&B were staying), and got to see Jase and Nats and the kids in their new environment ... although sadly not quite yet in their new home. Other than Rona's birthday party, a real highlight of the trip was that Rob and Bridge got engaged (finally :)). They went to Vic Falls for a few days and came back with Bridget's hand - and eyes - sparkling and the happy news of a wedding for all of us to look forward to. The wedding of year is planned for July in Cornwall (England), so that will be a first overseas trip for our little Wiglet.Another highlight was my baby shower, which Sue had organised. It was such a nice surprise and made me realise that I really am pregnant ... I've been to many baby showers, but somehow never imagined attending one where my bump would be the centre of attention.
While in Zim we stayed with Jonathan, Tim's Dad, who owns the most amazing place in Christonbank. It's about 25min outside Harare and every time we're there, it strikes me how peaceful and beautiful it is. Thanks to the recent rains, the grass was beautifully green and the views stunning as always. We also met Jonathan's new dog, Rafiki. Such an awesome little dog. Jonathan got him from a rescue society; a skinny, small dog, mostly German Shepherd. Rafiki obviously hadn't been treated too well by his previous owners and was very shy and submissive towards new people; he quickly warmed up to us though and I had great fun brushing him, feeding him all sorts of fattening treats and teaching him how to sit. It was hard to leave him at the end of the week, but great to be going home to Gandalf.
Gandalf, meanwhile, had a bit of a different Christmas ... he was left outside a bit more than usual perhaps, and with us gone, obviously felt a bit out of sorts. His remedy was to take it out on anything chewable, including breaking into the house (through an open window and the burglar bars), chewing through a blind and tearing apart a duvet. A few days later, he discovered that doors that are accidently left unlocked can also be chewed open, which then provides access to even more nice chewable stuff in the form of our plantation shutters. I wasn't happy (OK, that's an understatement) and the repair bill for all of this is pretty hefty, but it also made me realise that the poor boy must have had some unhappy moments (fire crackers on NY eve) and must have been quite desperate. The sad part is that he's now got the taste for chewing and scratching and hasn't really stoppped since (when I leave the home). Not ideal, so we'll have to find a way to get him to unlearn this new habit.For the rest, we had a great January with Tim at home. It was quite busy work-wise, but we still managed to do some fun things together, watch a number of good movies, and of course enjoy the pregnancy together. Tim was there for the big 5-month scan, which we had at 23 weeks - absolutely amazing!! This is a 4D scan and it was so amazing to see our little baby moving around on the screen. She's got 10 fingers and toes, a perfect little heart, beautifully working kidneys and everything else you could wish for. Listening to the woman who performed the scan, we were once again blown away by the miracle of it all!
Tim left on Tue Jan 26th ... and life has been a bit of a blur ever since. I've been super-busy with both CLC and Exceed work, but particularly CLC seemed to start off with a bit of a bang this year. It's been good, but at times a bit overwhelming, especially when I received a phone call from De Beers 10 days ago (we worked with them through Exceed in 2007/8) and I had to make room for two more 2-day workshops this month. Managed to squeeze it all in, but will be happy when February is over ... a bit too hectic for my liking (all self-inflicted, I know).
Last week, I also had a visit from a colleague in Aberdeen for a full week. I hadn't been to Aberdeen since September, so this was seen as a good opportunity for Pat to come out and join me for a week to jointly work on a LEAN Kaizen training workshop. Pat joined Exceed a year ago and is a specialist in implementing Kaizen in administrative environments. Part of the same family as Six Sigma, LEAN Kaizen is the less statistical cousin and has a heavy focus on staff involvement and empowering staff to implement the right solutions. The approach reminds me of the UK programme "back to the shopfloor"; it recognises that those doing the work often know better what savings can be realised than those in management positions. I've always been intrigued by Kaizen, but just listening to Pat and working with her on the workshop made me realise that's something I'd really enjoy doing as well ... and the opportunities are all around us here in SA! (Now just need to find the time ...)
Other than working, we managed to find time to go for a few nice dinners and scenic drives together as well as walk Gandalf and play a few games of Rummikub... Pat also joined Sue to a story telling evening, which - coincidentally - was all about the bonding journey between a mother and her unborn child so she came back with a poetry book for me. I didn't go as I never say no to an opportunity to be in bed by 9PM these days :).
The good news is that after the initial nausea and a bit of a scare in the first trimester, the pregnancy has been coming along so nicely! I'm still often nauseous, but nothing like it used to be. I'm now 6.5months, less than 3months to go, and as I write this, I keep getting little (and some bigger) kicks just to remind me she's still there! Everything seems to be coming along on schedule, my tummy is expanding and our little baby still has lots of space for summersaults and other movements ... which she seems to be enjoying. Her favourite position is feet kicking down (to ensure I take frequent bathroom breaks) and head pushing nicely into my ribcage.
It's amazing to think that she already has a completely working digestive system, can open and close her eyes, can hear and feel ... and is even starting to develop taste buds! We can't wait to see her in real life ... though we have a feeling that if what they say is true (90% of a baby's character is the result of her parents combined DNA), we're in for a busy 20 years ... or more!
Just a quick update on Tim's life on the rig in Ghana. He is still very much enjoying this new project and the team he's working with, which is great. We chat every two days (or more often) and he surprised me with roses, a teddy and some chocolates for Valentine's Day. Just over a week till he comes home. I can't wait ... we've planned a relatively relaxed month of March with a bit of work but also a weekend at a spa, a 2-day antenatal workshop on hypnobirthing, and of course plans to get the baby room ready by the end of March!
Anyway, this brings you up to date on the last few months and me to a point where I need to get some work done. It's February 17 ... only a week to go to our 3-yr wedding anniversary ... and lots to do before my two big workshops, plus I'm working on a training manual for a local health & beauty chain (Clicks), which was due last month already. They've been flexible on the deadline as much of the delay was on their side, but now it's time to live up to my end of the deal.
Lots of love to you all!
1 comment:
When do we get to see a picture of your baby belly?
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