August Update!

Hi all, another very packed month. Doesn't seem like we've slowed down since Inara's been born. Well as all David's friends know, since Inara's arrival I have been using the A3 quattro (safer car) & David has been left with the little Peugot to drive to work. His drive takes him on the M4 & he hates driving this little car on the motorway. So he's been looking for a new car, which now comes with a few changed criteria - it needs to have more than 2 doors & big boot to hold Inara's equipment!! :) Well of course this was a challenge, as he wanted the performance of a sports car in a sedan... hmmm... Also, in England most sedans are diesel rather petrol, which of course affects the performance. After months of research & test driving, he found the one... he is now the proud owner of an Audi S8 Quattro. Its fully optioned up with things I don't even know about, but the Bang & Olufsen sound system can rival our home cinema, it doesn't need keys & starts with David's fingerprint, apparently ceramic disc brakes are expensive but I do love this feature that you gently push the door to close, & it closes automatically & very silently. It doesn't need to be slammed shut like ordinary doors!! Well its also petrol & I've been told not to ask about fuel economy, but the man is happy..... another new toy to play with!!

Well I think the guilt got to him, so he bought me a new Apple MacBook Pro as I have been whinging about my old Dell for quite some time. I love it!!!

Inara is doing great, growing up very quickly, 6 months at the end of August. She is sitting up on her own, so I can leave on her playmat with her toys & go into the kitchen to make a cuppa without taking her everywhere with me. She is quite contented playing as long as she sees me pottering around. This week, she has started solids, so quite a milestone!! She seems to enjoy eating, so crossing fingers that continues.

We went to Isle of Wight (island south of England) for a week long holiday & it was fabulous. We stayed at 2 hotels , originally at The Wellington in Ventnor on the beach & then at Lakeside Park Hotel & Spa in Ryde, so we could get some pampering. It was great to get away from the mundane day to day domestic stuff - let me tell you I still haven't come to liking this domestic stuff... but now with the bub do need to cook & clean more often than before. Do miss the lovely takeaway food in Sydney. Not much takeaway happening in England, only takeaway is junk food (Macca's, Pizza etc) Well getting back to the hols, Inara had her first swim, & like a good aussie it was in the ocean & not a pool. David bought her these aussie swimsuit(long sleeve top & pant) from Bright Bots & also a wetsuit (yes really a wetsuit) which goes over her cossie. Oh my goodness too cute. The ocean was cold, but after the initial shock, she loved it!!! & there were no tears. Her swim after that in a heated pool in the resort was luxury!!!

I went out on a girls night, with my NCT group of mum's. First time leaving boo with her dad for the whole evening & night & turned up home sufficiently inebriated & early in the morning. So still respectable partying for a mum!! :) Gotta keep young!! Tho' I must confess when we ended up in a nightclub where everyone was jumping up & down, I thought to myself, I ain't jumping, thats what an aerobics class is for...

Well we are certainly enjoying life. Summer is still going & its been wonderfully warm. Have been wearing T-shirts for months now, so hope it continues for a little while longer.

We are looking forward to some visitors from back home soon, so plan some hols....

Love to everyone xxxx

July - quite a month!

July was an eventful busy month, with many highlights!

• We kicked off the month, celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary. To celebrate the 3 of us headed south to Brighton, yes the pebble beach, for a well deserved day out!! We dined at 'Due South' a seafood restaurant right on the beach with lobster and champagne. We strolled the boulevard, walked along the pier and generally enjoyed ourselves.
• We then had Inara's annointing (pre baptism ceremony), where the parents & kids are called up during mass, introduced to the community & then annointed with oil. We all dressed up, Inara the cutest of course & then afterwards headed out for lunch.
• The following week, was Inara's baptism & it was a fabulous day! The church ceremony went really well & Inara was a good little girl & didnt get upset when her hair was wet! We then had a luncheon party at home, where all the fam in the UK helped us celebrate.
• A few days after that & I was celebrating my 39th bday. Yes, getting on, but feeling great & really enjoying this time of my life. I sometimes cant believe I've been on this planet for 39 yrs, dont feel like I know enough, have so much more to do & just hitting my stride... well looking forward to big 40 (new 30's right!!)
• Then we had to say goodbye to mum, who has been with us for the past 6 weeks. Mum was a big help and she & Inara got to spend some quality Nana & granddaughter time! Inara pouted at the airport, cute but sad. She definitely knew something was going on!

Quite a month!! Inara is doing well, growing fast, 5mths now and still our little cutie pie. She has started teething, so a few painful days, poor little thing. No teeth yet tho'. Only another month to go before she is in nursery & I am back at work, so making sure I enjoy every moment with her.

Hope all in Oz, is well!! Well done to Weber, 1st win in 8yrs!! Not so good for our cricket team at the Ashes:(