snow falls on friday

Late last Thursday evening the snow started falling and I started getting excited.  One of my favourite parts of winter weather is fresh snow.  In fact, it is, perhaps, the only part of winter weather which I find appealing.  The only unfortunate part of the snow was that we didn't even get to go into work late...it was work as usual.  I did manage to take an early morning stroll to snap a few photos of the passing winter scene.

Our street

a chilly tree

near the lock keeper's stead

the canal

the canal bridge

a nearby street with a magnificently decorated trees

not-so-ordinary life

It's been a while since I've written anything here that could be considered a proper blog post.  Once you have a child, everything is very different.  We love Edison so much and we love having him in our lives...but it doesn't leave us time for much else!  Our 'spare' time consists of washing bottles late in the evening.  Below are some pictures of our everyday life here in jolly ol' England.

What did you say?

He loves this spinning toy.

Taking a close look at the floor.

An upsetting moment.

The Lock keeper's cottage just down the street from us.  Cool door.

Strolling along the canal behind our house.

On the way home.

voki

This is just plain silly.

marketing genius

Adverts make me laugh.  I don't think the marketing guru at Bodum was on hand to approve this photo the day it got sent out as the one they would like to represent their Bistro model.

Granted, this is not really a 'cordless' product; it is a corded product which has the cord connected to the base, rather than the kettle itself.  What a novel idea!  When you want to take the kettle across the room to pour a cup of tea, you don't have to unplug the unit from the wall. Technology is jaw-dropping, sometimes.  And we have photos to prove it.

What's that thin black wire protruding from the base of the kettle?

Introducing Edison

We have a new addition to our little family - introducing Edison Douglas!  He arrived on the 9th of this month, weighing in at exactly 7 pounds and a grand 18 inches long!  For those of you who follow this blog, you might want to follow Edison's blog, too.

Dorset & Devon / Summer Eleven (Day 3)

Branscombe. Dubbed the 'longest village in England'. We didn't notice the length of it, but noticed the beautiful views towards the sea. Too tired to really get out of the car.

Beer. Interesting name for a seaside village. Nice pebble beach. I found some bright green seaweed which I was tempted to eat.



View from atop the hillside.


Bridport. There is a 'B' pattern forming with the villages we visited. Rebecca planned a quilt shop to see along the way. I was thrilled.

Durdle Door. A stunning rock formation jutting out from the coastline. It was the windiest day I've ever experienced. We could hardly hear each other, much less try to enjoy the scenery, as it was a solid 20 mph wind constantly blowing on us. The pictures are much better than the noisy experience!

Note: hair flying around in the wind.






Here's a video - you can't hear me narrating because of the wind!



We were pretty tired from two days of fairly intense traveling. Rebecca and the boy were ready to head home. It was a lot of fun...and we hope to make another trip west sometime again!

Dorset & Devon / Summer Eleven (Day 2)

Dartmoor National Park. Rebecca was geared up about hiking to the top of Haytor, as on her last trip (10 years before) she had sprained her ankle and didn't get to soak in the scenery. I think I was more worried than she was about her making it to the top. We walked (sometimes in zig-zag form) to the top at a snail's pace...it was truly an adventure.

far, far away.


"Are you ready for a break, dear?"


Ok, almost there.


You made it!


It looked like a rock exploded and spread the fragments across the hillside.


I was fascinated by the soft grass growing against the rocks:



Moretonhampstead. Throughout the day, we made our way through the Park, stopping in a little village for lunch. The hills were so intense, I had to stop and take a break from driving. By the end of the trip, I was ready for some pancake-like terrain.


Great Western Rail - Newton Abbot to Exeter. On a documentary a few months ago, we saw the rail line that runs along the coastline in Devon. It's one of the few in the world (and only one in the UK) that runs right alongside the coast...you are literally on the beach with this train, as it carves it's way through the caverns. We parked in Newton Abbot and rode the train into Exeter, as we planned to do a round-trip and see the sunset on our way back.

Great Western Rail.


See how empty the platform is. And it was peak time!


If you look on the left side, you can see the train on the other track.


We sat in the carriage for a while, until we realized we could go to the mid-section and open the windows to look out. The breeze was cool and the fresh sea air was bursting through the window. It was truly delightful to see such stunning landscape in this beautiful country.

The sunset as we head west.

Dorset & Devon / Summer Eleven (Day 1)

We took a short jaunt west to the coasts in Devon and Dorset, staying at an organic B&B just outside Exeter. It was good to get out of London for a few days. We were both so surprised at how the pace of life is drastically slower in the west country. The streets were nearly empty by 7pm and most shops were closed by 6 or 6:30. The people were talkative (I think because they speak English down there) and friendly. It reminded me of life back home - simple people, simple life. There was no surprise in both of us agreeing that we would love to try small town or even village life one day in the UK.

Shaftesbury. We strolled through the town and stopped in at the parish church, where there was an old man who offered us a free tour of the building and explained a lot of the history of the church and town.


Kenn (near Exeter). We stopped here for dinner - note the date of the building. I think that was long before even Columbus sailed the ocean blue...

(est. 1290 A.D.)

while we're waiting...

It's been a busy summer. In order to prepare to apply for the settlement visa (residency) in the UK, I first had to send my passport to the Embassy to get some pages added. My old passport was almost full (though I still have quite a few years before it expires). I like the new pages in the passport, especially the one below. It reminds me of the pioneers in early America, hashing out life on the open plain.

new passport pages are trendy

Once I got my passport back, I started studying for the Life in the UK Test - you can try a free official test here. Go ahead, it's only 24 questions...I think I only got 12 right the first time I took it. Anyone who wants to settle here or get their citizenship has to take this test. As if we hard working immigrants don't already have enough to do! But I passed the test today, so the last step is to apply for the ILR status. We've already gotten piles of paperwork stacked up for this appointment with the Home Office. It will be the last time I have to ever get a visa in the UK...and considering how much it costs for the visa, I hope it's the last time!

I found out later that i scored 24/24. Do I get a tax benefit?

School starts back in a few weeks, so I'm enjoying the last few days of sleeping in. It could be the last time I get to sleep in for the next year or so, as the boy might be an early riser or late-to-sleep...or doesn't want to sleep at all kind-of-a-baby. Either way, I'm not going to miss the last few chances to sleep until 9am.

We are enjoying the new pad, and despite it being near a pub, it is reasonably quiet and village-like. Being able to walk to all the shops is a real novelty, as we've not had that since our first flat together in Belsize Park. Having a grocery store, post office, coffee shop and pub at your doorstep is something which few outside of Europe ever get to experience. Here's a picture of me at the grocery store. We can't seem to fit all our stuff in the trolley.

I'm still getting used to things on this tiny island.

On a family note, I'm finding myself more and more ready to meet our baby. We recently discovered that he has the hiccups sometimes. It must be tough for the little guy, but he's learning to swallow at this stage. We can feel the vibration of his hiccups...but not long now...praying for his health and safe arrival in about 7 weeks. Mom and Dad will come visit us and we are excited to see them...haven't seen them since Christmas! Dad is already looking forward to the long haul flight. He really enjoys looking out the window and just watching the world go by. Then his Valium starts to fade and beads of sweat appear on his forehead.

8 weeks and counting...

We are getting a few more things ready for our boy...

The most exciting item is the car seat. After hours of research and days trying to find the most affordable version online (and 3 companies later), we settled on the Jane (pronounced Ha-nay) Srata. Said to be one of the safest on the market for it's pulmonary-friendly design to help overcome the problems of oxygen desaturation. The seat adjusts to two different angles, allowing for a flatter angle when the baby is younger and the lungs are still developing strength. Are you still reading? If so, you know more about car seat developments than most people. The version we got includes sauna music and a handy mosquito net (for those nasty insects in Britain).


We were able to assemble the crib this week, as our friend (who donated it to us) found the bolts! Hooray...now we just need a mattress.

For the first few months, we plan for him to sleep in a Moses basket. We'll be able to keep him in the room with us, yet allow him to maintain a 'bed' environment. However, we aren't planning on doing any sleeping during those months. When he upgrades to the real crib, it hopefully won't be as much of an adjustment...and maybe we can catch some zzz's.

Disclaimer: Unlike the original Moses basket, this one will not float.

10 weeks and counting...

We're just 10 weeks away from the arrival of our boy. Of course, he could come anytime, so it's time we got a few things ready. I saw these shoes last week and thought he might like to go on a few practice runs when we get home from the hospital. He'll have Beard in his blood.















I'm painting a little ikea shelf unit for him, too. Unfortunately, the colours aren't as masculine as I'd like. But he probably won't notice.

new pad, new year, new boy

It's been almost a year since we had moved, so we were certainly overdue for a change of scenery. Since November '08, we have moved six times! That's more than some people move in a lifetime...so, maybe one day we will get to stay in one place for more than a year. Until then, we'll enjoy the opportunity to live in different parts of London and Surrey.

Here's a pic of our new lounge - spacious and mature - just the way I like it:

















In other news, we recently visited with some Nashville friends who were in London. We met at Harrod's for tea (which was actually iced) and caught up on life and relived old memories. Our friends insisted on getting us something for BabyBoyBeard. Check out one of the "Harrod's baby" items they got us (Thanks, Pruitt family!):




















Our baby boy is growing strong (the picture is of my wife, not our boy...well, he's in there jumping around):






















And, finally, another year has passed and I'm a year older (maybe wiser...). On Saturday, the parents-in-law came over to eat a delicious roast dinner (made by my wife) and a sweet chocolate cake (also made by my wife). A great evening!:

Royal Wedding (and Google)

It was a grand day in London. The Royal couple were wed and the wedding bells rang. We watched comfortably from our sofa and stayed glued to the BBC from beginning to end. Rebecca wasn't keen on me singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" when they played "God Save the Queen." How dare I mock the monarchy on such a special day!

Some friends who went to the festivities in the City stopped in for a cuppa at our place later in the afternoon. They told us it was a great atmosphere to experience, but that they didn't get to see any of the action (they only saw it in Trafalgar Square on big screens). We saw the throngs of people on tv and were only slightly regretful that we didn't join the fun. Admittedly, it was exciting to see all the Union Jacks flying. There was certainly a buzz around the country - as if everyone had forgotten they were stoic Brits - and the positive attitudes spilled into the streets of this land. Even Google participated in the event...by broadcasting a live YouTube stream of the wedding, not to mention their StreetView newlyweds (see images). All said and done, it was an exciting day for the nation.

Another 3.9

This weather is unbeatable. 74F. Sunny. Cool breeze. Cycling through the posh neighborhoods of Surrey. Please note the high number of swimming pools in the back gardens. Here's my route from earlier today:

View Larger Map

on borrowed time

The sun (a bright object in the sky that gives light to the earth - I had to Google it) is out for the summer in the UK. It's about time. The winter here is long and the summer is short. So anytime a ray peers from behind a cloud, the population comes out of the woodworks and onto the streets.

Since I'm on holiday for 2 weeks, I've been enjoying the sunshine even more. Last week I went to help a friend with some gardening work. Except for the bristle patch, it was great to get some fresh air.

When the weather gets above 21C, it's time to rip off the winter coats and go for a ride. So today I decided to do more cycling. The streets around Walton are remarkably peaceful. For a town that is inside the M25 Orbital, it certainly boasts of quiet lanes and beautiful scenery. I gently cycled up and down the private streets to gaze at the large houses on my way back from town. The purple-tinted wisteria is blooming now and makes the fronts of many homes very attractive.

I'm using my brother-in-law's bicycle, as he lent it to me in the autumn. He said to keep it until the weather warms up. I haven't heard from him about it...and I'm not going to remind him just yet!

9 miles and a new muffler

The Honda had been making some terrible noises over the past few weeks, not to mention a significant loss of power when going uphill. As much as I hate to do it, I phoned up the local garage and asked for a quote for a new muffler. They told me the price, so I took it in. After I'd cycled home, they rang me back with a newer (higher) price, claiming I needed a whole exhaust system. I wanted to take a look at it myself, so I cycled back to the shop. They were right - I needed a whole new exhaust system. But I wanted to see if I could get a better price, so I left that garage and went to Kwik-Fit.

That's where I made a mistake. The lure of a lower price may always be my foe.

They told me that they could do it cheaper and faster. Well, they had to price match to get it 'cheaper'. The guy told me it would be done in 2 hours, which was perfect. 2 hours later, my car hadn't been touched and the parts hadn't even arrived. Needless to say, I hung my head and drove back to the local garage and told them to get the job done. They called me an hour later to tell me it was finished.

In order to achieve this in one day, I had to keep the bike in the car and cycle back and forth from each garage. It was just over 9 miles for the day. I hadn't cycled that much in one day in almost 2 years. I need to get out more.

Moral(s) of the story:
Don't get a muffler quote over the phone
You can usually trust a garage you've been to before
Don't go to Kwik-Fit (no exceptions)
Lower price doesn't always mean better results
Ride your bike at least 9 miles per year

April Showers?

The old rhyme isn't true for the UK this month...we have more flowers this month than we have had showers. So perhaps next month, we'll have showers and no flowers? Either way, everything has really been blooming the past two weeks. The cherry tree beside our flat has really blossomed in the past couple of days. We're thoroughly enjoying the sunshine. It's amazing how much we miss the light when it is so obviously absent in the winter months. It's just invigorating to have the warmth and light again this Spring.