the adlards

We celebrated the arrival of 2009 with a breakfast picnic at Kirstenbosch. The streets were empty, the park was almost empty and we were back home and in the pool before the temperature got much over 25.

In a private ceremony I welcomed in the New Year with a venti affogato – more ice cream and espresso than you could shake a stick at.

Sets the tone for the rest of the year quite nicely I think.

Yes, indeed, 2008 – the Year of the Owl.
Here are some I stuffed earlier …

Getting the contacts off by disolving the glue with nailpolish remover is JUST SILLY.

It’s unfortunate that they have to sedate to glue the contacts on. Something about solvents and hairdryer and forty minutes of effort.

We’re all looking forward to getting away for a while next week. Before then, though, Sophie has her first overnight EEG; I have my first overnight in a hospital Lazyboy. It’ll be a bit like business class before lie-flat beds, I definitely have the better deal.

.. glued to:

The recipe said “cool oven for 2-2 1/2 hours”. My cool oven was 40 degrees too cool, so 4 1/2 hours later the cakes were done. They look OK. This is our wedding cake recipe and is awesum … cakes now in the top of a cupboard wrapped in cloths soaked in brandy and sherry and safely sealed in ZipLoc bags. James very much looking forward to Christmas.

The girls stirred the cake (lamentable lack of pictures) and took the paper off when they’d cooled:

The last three weeks have been eventful. Emily laughed yesterday for the first time awake.
Two new additions to the gallery:
Eventful three weeks
Three weeks growth

On Saturday, a day following a night of sickness, a day on which we had a birthday party and work began again on the treehouse (yes, indeed):
“What was the best thing about today, Josie?”
“The best thing about today was going to the doctor and getting bottom medicine.”

Josie + Valoid

Sophie gets a lot of medical attention; it’s a treat for Jo to share the limelight.