Sarasota 3

Thursday 23rd I watched Rose in a play off doubles tennis match. It was great to watch and they just lost in a tie break. Rose stayed to watch the other matches whilst I went back to laze by the pool. In the evening we went to eat at the Lobster Pot in Siesta Key. The lobster was not great but afterwards we walked down to the beach and bought double scoop ice cream cones - one of their scoops is the same as two of ours! It was YUMMY! We walked on down to the beach to watch the lovely sunset before going home.

Friday we drove an hour to Warm Springs, a natural mineral pool at a contant temperature of 30°C. We thought we were in Russia! Of the hundred or so people there we only heard two couples speaking English! As well as walking around and floating in the water which smelt like rotten eggs, we joined in an aqua exercise class along with about half of the people there. We spent a couple of hours there being 'rejuvenated'.
One of the coiples living in Stoneybrook held a cocktail party to celebrate St. George's Day. Everyone had to wear something red and white. Great fun and lots of interesting people.
Saturday I should have gone on a bike ride with Rose and Shelby. I set off with them having taken a couple of ibuprofen for the shoulder pain I was suffering, but after just a block the pain from cycling was unbearable so I left them to do the ride, whilst I took the car and went shopping. In the evening Rose cooked a rack of lamb for each of us accompanied by asparagus and a bottle of pink champagne. Delicious!
This brings us to today, Sunday. I am writing this as we watch Angels and Demons. After morning mass we came home to read the papers before going with Shelby to thePlayers' Theatre to see the Who musical Tommy. Interesting with some disturbing scenes and loud music but of course, the amazing song Pinball Wizard.
We came back to Shelby's where her husband Dave had made a great spaghetti and salad supper for us. This was washed down with wine followed by coffee and key lime pie, a Florida speciality. After supper we sat out on their lanai and played Mexican Train, a great domino game. Must get it before I go home.

Sarasota 2

Wednesday saw us up and out early for an hour's drive to Stump Pass nature reserve on Manisota Key for a guided walk by a ranger at 9 a.m. We got there just in time only to find out that the tour is every other Wednesday and this was not the day! However, the ranger told us where to look out for the eagles and the horned owl and her two babies. It was a fantastic walk to the end of the key on sandy footpaths through mangrove bush. Walking along the beach at the end of tthe key we spotted a gue digging a shovel full of sand and shale at the water's edge the tipping it upside down ont the beach. He told us he was looking for sand fleas which turned out to be about the size of a heaped teaspoon and jellyfish like body with two feelers with which it burrowed into the sand. We helped spot for a while and then when we said we had to go he said he'd just catch a pompano using the sand fleas for bait. Rose said we couldn't stay too long but he said it would only take a minute. In fact, as soon as he cast his line he had a catch and repeated this a few times. Amazing. We waded part of the way back before rejoining the path. We saw the baby owls in their nest and mama owl on another tree, turtles and a variety of birds.
By the time we finished our walk, Shelby had arrived on the local public beach so we drove down and joined her. Rose and I had been going to stop somewhere for lunch, but Shelby had brought a cooler with sandiches, carrots & cellery and light beers so we stayed for a couple of hours and looked for shark's teeth. I only managed to find six whereas Shelby found around forty which she gave to me for Nya.
Back in time for a swim in the pool before supper at the clubhouse.

Sarasota Greetings

Having missed the stoppage of all flights out of the UK by a number of hours, I'm feeling very lucky to be relaxing in Sarasota. As it is the end of day five of my holiday I felt I give up the relaxing long enough to get something up on the blog.

I'll skip the shopping bit and just tell you about some of the activities Rose and I have been enjoying.

On Saturday morning we drove to Lido Key and parked on the key immediately over the Ringling bridge. We then walked across the bridge towards Sarasota and back again. In the afternoon we went over to Rose's brother Leon's park home where he lives with his lovely wife Patty. We picked them up and drove to a Mexican restaurant close by. Delicious food but American sizes so R and I had lunch for the next day!
Sunday after mass, we lounged around with the papers and coffee, before going to downtown Sarasota to the Golden Apple Theatre. Before the show, there is a buffet, so everyone is seated at tables eating and drinking. When the buffet is cleared away, the stage is pulled further out and we watch the show from our tables. Funny show, a revue really, called the Andrews Brothers, with songs from world war 2 period.
On the way to the show we had stopped at JC Penney's as Rose had a 20% discount voucher and we both invested in a pair of Skechers exercise trainers. Before breakfast on Monday, to try out our new trainers, we went for a 2.5 mile walk around the golf complex. Spotted two alligators sun bathing - at a good distance from us I'm pleased to report. Later in the morning we were joined by Rose's friend Shelby who lent me her spare bike and the three of us went on a 21 mile bike ride to Casey Key, stopping on the key for a cool drink and a walk by the beach where we spotted four dolphins. On the way back we cycled past beautiful homes of the rich and famous and stopped for a beer. In the evening, Shelby's husband joined us at Rose's and we played this great game called Mexican Train, a game with dominoes up to double fifteen. Got so engrossed, we ordered take away pizza's.
Today we went for a longer walk before breakfast - 3.5 miles, but the rest of the day was lazy. Slept and read on Siesta beach and then floated around in the swimming pool and we're lounging around in our pyjama's and going to eat salmon, asparagus and salad and wash it down with pink champagne.

Week 22

Pictures from the outside and Inside:
Also have a video of the scan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPK1i5r7VpQ

Week 16

Bump 15 Weeks

We finally took some photos of the little bump. The past 2 weeks it has starting to push out a bit.
The next scan is on Friday, so hopefully we will have some more pics.

Some more pics of little Perk

Here are some more pics that you did not get emailed yesterday:
First one is the baby looking towards us.
The last one is the side profile of the head. Next scan and check up is 26th Feb, so will keep you all posted with pics.

Thank you so much to everyone for their kind wishes.

Christmas 2009

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Head wound

Thought I would share some cool pictures with you this morning. I was surfing my new board before work, got wiped out and my head got cut by my one of my fins. It looks worse than it is (feels like an irritating paper cut). Needless to say, being in the most great white shark infested place in the world I got out of the water pretty damn quickly:-)

Luckily a guy watching had a bandage. Shaun (who was with me) thought it would be cool to document the process on his camera, hence the images:

Christmas 2009

Belatedly, some photos of the Christmas period.
Nya helped Oma to put the stars in the window.

Christmas Eve, Ed & I went to Terry & Traer's. Had our Christmas dinner on Christmas eve then Abby, Traer's sister, David, a friend, and I went to mass at 10.

Ed and I were awake at about 7.30. Had tea in bed, bathed dressed and were downstairs at about 9 and still no one awake!!
Eventually Nya woke up asking for her breasfast. Must have been around 11 when we were all sat around the tree opening our pressies. Lovely relaxed day as no big dinner to organise.

A traditional black velvet toast to Rose and all our loved ones not with us on the day


Nya on Father Christmas' lap looking at her new book with Mama


Nya in her new jamies slept in Oma's bed at the end of a busy, happy Christmas. (Opa slept in Nya's bed!)

Sinterklaas, 5th December 2009

Terry, Traer, Nya, Avie, Ed & I went travelled to Delft on December 3rd to celebrate with Marleen, Frans and family. Nya was delighted that they had a dog, Doe. (Oma, Oma, doe is cleaning the dishes!)

On the Friday we all braved the rain and cold when Marleen and Liesje took us to visit Madurodam, the miniature village in the Hague. It was worth it just to see Nya's face.
Saturday morning, Ed dropped us in Delft where we met Sanne who gave us a quick tour then we all met up at the indoor go-karting track opposite our hotel. - Marleen and I did not take part but great fun was had by all. Ed was the winner.
After a rest it was back to Frans and Marleen for the Sinterklaas suprises. And oh what surprises! Each member of the Buiter family must have spent hours disguising their presents and writing the rhymes. Pic of Terry unwrapping gift from Oom Hans. A nappy filled with who knows what but it sure was realistic! He had to fish around to find a clue as to where his present was hidden. So much fun and good company. Travelled home on Sunday after breakfast.

Long Street Party

Here are a few pics from the party on Long Street on Friday night.

It was unbelievable how many people were on the streets,

especially as for the actual World Cup there will be way more people descending on Cape Town.

Luckily we were invited to a private function on Long Street so had some space within the cafe, as you could not move on the street.

World Cup Draw in Cape Town tonight

The streets of Cape Town are going to be coming to a halt this afternoon as Long street is closing for a party and festival starting at noon. Tonight the final draw to select which teams will be playing each other in next years World Cup will be held in Cape Town this evening. Mike and I will be on Long Street partying and watching the draw.

Mike & Jason explain on their football tv show how the draw will work, as it is not as simple as pulling any balls from the buckets.

http://www.free-kick.tv/special-edition-fifa-world-cup-2010-draw-free-kick-tv/

WWC Christmas Party

This Saturday was our staff chirstmas party, one of our clients rents out luxury holiday villas and kindly let us have one for the day. It was a perfect summers day in Cape Town, so we all lounged around the pool over looking the Camps Bay beach with lots of drinks and plenty of food. We finished the evening with a game of Poker (my first time playing), with just a R20 buy in as half of us were newbies, and Mike won.

We have another busy weekend this week, starting on Friday with the World Cup draw which is happening in Cape Town. The whole of Long Street is closed to traffic and there is going to be a BIG party. Mike and I have been invited to one of the bars by a client to watch the draw. Mike is very excited and today he is doing a mock draw with Jason on their football tv blog.

oops I missed the Saturday as promised.

We did happen to go to the coffee shop, both on Saturday morning and Sunday Morning.

Warren is now at home up the coast, we had a great time whist he was here.
Lots of going out to eat. There is a great deal on at the moment with the cinema where 2 people can go out for a meal for R70 and it includes your cinema ticket (R35 each for meal & ticket - about £3!).

Has a busy weekend, but managed to relax and go to the gym and do my cooking for the week & mike got a surf on Sunday Morning. Mike is off to Jo'burg tomorrow, which I am really jealous about because he is going to stay with Sean & Lynda and the kiddies. But will get to see them over Christmas hopefully.

Looking forward to a sunny week (after a wintery spell last week).

xxx

Thank you to All

Sorry for the late response, thank-you to all for my birthday money which I have put towards my Sony Reader, I was supposed to wait until after christmas to buy it, but Mike surprised me with it last week when Warren arrived from the UK with it.

I have read one book already, and I am on to my second and enjoying it so very much. It is the best present ever.

I decided at the weekend, I should post more regularly, so I will get up every Saturday early and take my computer to the Greek coffee shop that has free internet and blog. Especially as it is getting into summer and there is always so much that we do. (May have to re-arrange this schedule if Mike surfs).

Had a busy week sofar as Warren has been down, but if I say it all now I will not have anything to say on Saturday.

xxxx

Lovely end to a busy week

Ed was away last night and Nya stayed the night and slept in Opa's bed. (took the photo with my phone). Slept all night till 7.30. She woke up said 'Hullo Oma', got out of bed, got a book then cuddled up to me for a story.
Then we went downstairs for tea and a koekje before breakfast and bath. It was a glorious day so we played in the garden then we both 'worked' for a bit in the office. At about 11.30 Traer and Avie arrived and we took Nya swimming. Or rather Traer went into the pool with Nya while I looked after Avie. Afterwards had a bite to eat in the cafe at the Stour Centre before heading home.
Terry joined us all for supper. I was able to take my first photo's of Avie with her eyes open. So have included some below.

Avie & her family

Long overdue posting of some pics of Avie

First story time at 18 hours old


Avie's first bath at one and a half days old

Bathed with Nya who just played happily with her toys and toothbrush


Avie and her daddy


Thank goodness for Snapper (20/10/09)