the adlards

Yes, we’re 14 weeks into expecting our third littl’un.
Great excitement. Will post scan pics when we have them.

… then they found a space in their busy schedule.

I had thought I’d booked a “business facial” treatment today but it turns out only my email confirmation and I thought that, so it’s vodka con limo by the pool at my 5-star country hotel.
This post had a pithy closing line but I’m finding myself too intrigued by the nature of disappointment to bother.

With a rack of lamb on the braai and a little Chianti what more is there to say?

[With dreamy look]: “Mummy … what do you think of Fireman Sam’s face?”

This is a dialogue they should definitely work to maintain over the next twenty years or so.

When the Three left home this morning, and I was about to head up to Joburg for three days, Josie said, “Daddy, please write something down so that you don’t forget me.”

If you have children you will probably have considered that the only circumstances in which you could possibly forget them are very dire indeed. Not a great set of thoughts to carry onto an aircraft and far away …

In Joburg I had a cracking-if-not-nutritious latte & muffin combo for lunch and a fun conversation with a spy who happened to sit opposite me. I felt better after that. I would have given him my card, but I was scared.

Michelle went to Home Affairs this morning to renew her passport only to be told she’d lost her citizenship and would need to figure out quite where that was before applying for a passport. Three hours and an interview later she couldn’t continue to verify her status because – on my advice – she didn’t have her UK passport with her and they needed copies. Apparently there’s a form to submit ahead of applying for British citizenship …

On a lighter note, while I was lying awake last night Josie was also having a restless night. At about 2am she was mumbling to herself then rolled over, said “Peanut butter” as clear as a bell and fell fast asleep again. Fortunately my laughter didn’t wake Michelle.

cold stone skipping
over still waters of sleep
never submerging

.. en ek weet ek gaan so om twee-uur vanmiddag soos ‘n klip slaap, just to go skipping again tomorrow night.
It was a good week. It was still worth it.

I’m just in from a cracking week in the US. An hour or two in Joburg now then home to the three. The week finished with a visit with Tim & Anne in Boston, which was snow-laden and beautiful. Pretty, as they say over there. Beautiful’s a big word. Like wheelbarrow. It was really good to catch up. We need to take a more leisurely trip to the US sometime soon to visit all our friends (yes, and family, Ben, and family).

The week started with a conference in Vegas. The conference was unquestionably the most useful I’ve been to this year. Vegas was, well, Vegas. Worth a look and not much more.

Here’s a picture you won’t associate with Vegas unless you’ve been there. This is the 11th floor corridor leading to my room. Which was right.at.the.far.end. Remind anyone of La Cell Block?

It seems strange to be home alone (just the four of us) after having a period of such frenetic activity and so much family around.
The girls especially are missing all the Christmas visitors – and missing me too, now I’m back at work. Josie has developed a keen sense of attachment and clings to me in the morning and says, “I’ll miss you today Daddy.”
I miss her too. I’ve brought pictures of the Three (thanks Mark) with me to work today to put on my desk and make it impossible to stay on after home time.