We got our new car on Saturday. It's lovely.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The start of a long road
This week has been both exciting and scary...
and full of anticipation for what lies ahead
After much prayer, seeking God's will, and the wise counsel and prayer of many good friends (thank you all - you know who you are), we have decided to apply to be adoptive parents...
We attended an open evening last week, where we heard what adoption is all about - first hand from parents who have adopted, and also from the social workers' point of view... we heard about the ups and downs, the forms and meetings, and how long it all takes! And we were excited...
That meeting confirmed what we'd been feeling for a while - that this was the right thing to do.
So we filled in the initial enquiry (the pink form!) and sent it off.
Today we received the acknowledgement - and somebody will phone us within the next couple of weeks to arrange to come and see us here at home...
Better get the hoover out and do some dusting at the same time!!
It seems that 2 social workers will come and visit us - ask us lots of questions about ourselves and our motives - what we have to offer, what we hope for...
then they will write a report and determine whether they think we would be suitable adoptive parents for the kind of children they are looking after.
If they think we are, then we complete a full application, which kicks off the official process:
training days
police checks
references
weekly meetings at home with the social worker, thinking through issues, discussing our approach to everything and anything...
At the end of it all, they'll know more about us than we do!
Then there is the adoption panel - they make the recommendationas to whether we are suitable or not...
All of this takes about 8 months...
So the start of a long road - but full of anticipation for what God has in store for us...
We just keep imagining - God knows who will be in our family already - that's an awesome thought!
and full of anticipation for what lies ahead
After much prayer, seeking God's will, and the wise counsel and prayer of many good friends (thank you all - you know who you are), we have decided to apply to be adoptive parents...
We attended an open evening last week, where we heard what adoption is all about - first hand from parents who have adopted, and also from the social workers' point of view... we heard about the ups and downs, the forms and meetings, and how long it all takes! And we were excited...
That meeting confirmed what we'd been feeling for a while - that this was the right thing to do.
So we filled in the initial enquiry (the pink form!) and sent it off.
Today we received the acknowledgement - and somebody will phone us within the next couple of weeks to arrange to come and see us here at home...
Better get the hoover out and do some dusting at the same time!!
It seems that 2 social workers will come and visit us - ask us lots of questions about ourselves and our motives - what we have to offer, what we hope for...
then they will write a report and determine whether they think we would be suitable adoptive parents for the kind of children they are looking after.
If they think we are, then we complete a full application, which kicks off the official process:
training days
police checks
references
weekly meetings at home with the social worker, thinking through issues, discussing our approach to everything and anything...
At the end of it all, they'll know more about us than we do!
Then there is the adoption panel - they make the recommendationas to whether we are suitable or not...
All of this takes about 8 months...
So the start of a long road - but full of anticipation for what God has in store for us...
We just keep imagining - God knows who will be in our family already - that's an awesome thought!
Happy Birthday Mrs D
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Mrs D
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Mrs D
Happy Birthday to you!
Rockcliffe
We had a lovely few days after Easter on the Colvend coast in south-west Scotland - a favourite family place for holidays for many generations - the place where my grandparents lived, my uncle and aunt live, and other relations too...
The beach is lovely, and doglet loves it too - especially running and running and running on the sand and mud!
The beach is lovely, and doglet loves it too - especially running and running and running on the sand and mud!
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Google TiSP
A friend sent me this link today (thanks Stuart!)...
http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html
It's basically a new cheap way to connect to the internet from your home - I can't think why somebody didn't think of this before!
Happy 1st April!
http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html
It's basically a new cheap way to connect to the internet from your home - I can't think why somebody didn't think of this before!
Happy 1st April!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The blind man
The second blind man came yesterday. He was supposed to be fitting six blinds. He ended up fitting three.
One was the wrong size.
One was the wrong colour.
One wasn't there at all.
3 out of 6.
one half.
50%.
Not really what we had expected from a local company with an excellent reputation...
It turns out the first blind man who came a fortnight ago was a new agent. He seemed very affable at the time, if a bit scatty - but we trusted his ability to read numbers from a tape measure and write down the colour we had chosen on his form. It seems our trust was misplaced.
So a third blind man is coming on Monday to fit the remaining blinds.
Mind you it isn't all bad. The blinds which were fitted look really good. They give the kitchen a whole different feel - more cosy and welcoming somehow...
One was the wrong size.
One was the wrong colour.
One wasn't there at all.
3 out of 6.
one half.
50%.
Not really what we had expected from a local company with an excellent reputation...
It turns out the first blind man who came a fortnight ago was a new agent. He seemed very affable at the time, if a bit scatty - but we trusted his ability to read numbers from a tape measure and write down the colour we had chosen on his form. It seems our trust was misplaced.
So a third blind man is coming on Monday to fit the remaining blinds.
Mind you it isn't all bad. The blinds which were fitted look really good. They give the kitchen a whole different feel - more cosy and welcoming somehow...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Chris & Andy
Chris & Andy have been working really hard today. They are a couple of Polish builders / joiners we were introduced to through our next door neighbours.
They repaired and replaced all the wood in our neighbour's front bay gable end on Monday and Tuesday, and did a fantastic job... so we asked them to overhaul the canopy over our front door.
They don't have much English, but enough to get by - so with a mix of sign language, pointing and some poor German/Polish/English phrases (That is kaput, da?), we managed to communicate what we wanted done...
They have been working since 8 this morning with hardly a break... and the results are impressive - the detail is brilliant, and they cleaned up too! And at £8 per hour each, you can'treally go wrong!
They're both going back to Poland for Easter, but we'll definitely be having them back to fix the leaks and rotten beams in the utility room!
'Auf Wiedersehen, pet' in reverse?
They repaired and replaced all the wood in our neighbour's front bay gable end on Monday and Tuesday, and did a fantastic job... so we asked them to overhaul the canopy over our front door.
They don't have much English, but enough to get by - so with a mix of sign language, pointing and some poor German/Polish/English phrases (That is kaput, da?), we managed to communicate what we wanted done...
They have been working since 8 this morning with hardly a break... and the results are impressive - the detail is brilliant, and they cleaned up too! And at £8 per hour each, you can'treally go wrong!
They're both going back to Poland for Easter, but we'll definitely be having them back to fix the leaks and rotten beams in the utility room!
'Auf Wiedersehen, pet' in reverse?
Monday, March 26, 2007
Summer has arrived
It's official - summer is here...
...the flymo has been dusted off; the grass has had its first cut of the season; the early spring weeds have been weeded; the garage has been tidied...
The birds are fatter than ever, full of eggs and singing their little hearts out...
The sun has shone all day, prompting brave motorists to drive around with their windows wound down....
And it's light till 8 o'clock in the evening... summer has indeed arrived!
...the flymo has been dusted off; the grass has had its first cut of the season; the early spring weeds have been weeded; the garage has been tidied...
The birds are fatter than ever, full of eggs and singing their little hearts out...
The sun has shone all day, prompting brave motorists to drive around with their windows wound down....
And it's light till 8 o'clock in the evening... summer has indeed arrived!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Dursley RFC
Having spent Thursday night in a Swindon hotel in readiness for a meeting yesterday, I was looking forward to getting home as I drove into the hire car return area at Bristol airport at around 4.30pm yesterday afternoon...
I had already checked in on-line (one of the marvels of modern technology allowing one to bypass the check-in queues as long as one only has hand luggage...) Making sure I had put all my liquids, gels and pastes into the small resealable plastic bag purchased especially for the trip the day before (I'm not entirely sure why all gels, pastes and liquids have to be packed in such a way, or why the limit is 10 containers of 100ml each, but I am told it is to reduce the terrorist threat (?!)), I went straight through to the security check...
And at that point I knew that the next 3 hours were going to be tough... for there, just in front of me in the security queue, was what must have been the entire membership of the Dursley Rugby Football Club... each one dressed in team shirt and tie.... each one donning a different type of silly head-dress, and each one having already consumed a large quantity of alcoholic beverage. My heart sank. My co-travellers' hearts sank. We turned to each other and tried to give encouragement... 'they won't be going to Newcastle' we said... 'they must be going to Benidorm / Ibiza / Dublin' we hoped....
Hopes were dashed almost immediately, when the collective DRFC started chanting.... 'Shearer, Shearer, Shearer....' We knew they would be on our flight... One lovely American lady, en route to see a cousin in Durham, commented that she hoped she would escape being covered in vomit.
The wait in departures was long - what was actually only 50 minutes seemed like an eternity... DRFC continued drinking in the bar, and then proceeded to announce, to the entire departure lounge, who was sharing which room with whom when they arrived in Newcastle... in case you were wondering, Jonno is sharing with Dave, despite his demonstrations to swap with Matty...
When we finally boarded the flight, we were all relieved to see that DRFC sat together at the back of the plane... at least we were out of vomit range.... but not out of range of the paper aeroplanes which periodically winged their way down the cabin, landing on the laps of unsuspecting passengers at the front...
This, coupled with the constant queue of DRFC members at the toilet (standing just too close to the aeoplane exit door and fiddling just a little too much with the buttons next to said door for our liking) and the non-stop singing of 'Swing low sweet chariot' and 'Bread of Heaven', interspersed with chants of 'Shearer... Shearer...' made for what could be described as an interesting flight!
The cabin crew did their best - stopping the safety demonstration twice to chastise the merry DRFC for not listening properly, and threating them with the Captain's wrath should they not do as they were told...
But is was with some relief that it was all nearly over, when we touched down at Newcastle (to the applause and cheers of DRFC and more 'Shearer' chanting...)
Home at last!
I had already checked in on-line (one of the marvels of modern technology allowing one to bypass the check-in queues as long as one only has hand luggage...) Making sure I had put all my liquids, gels and pastes into the small resealable plastic bag purchased especially for the trip the day before (I'm not entirely sure why all gels, pastes and liquids have to be packed in such a way, or why the limit is 10 containers of 100ml each, but I am told it is to reduce the terrorist threat (?!)), I went straight through to the security check...
And at that point I knew that the next 3 hours were going to be tough... for there, just in front of me in the security queue, was what must have been the entire membership of the Dursley Rugby Football Club... each one dressed in team shirt and tie.... each one donning a different type of silly head-dress, and each one having already consumed a large quantity of alcoholic beverage. My heart sank. My co-travellers' hearts sank. We turned to each other and tried to give encouragement... 'they won't be going to Newcastle' we said... 'they must be going to Benidorm / Ibiza / Dublin' we hoped....
Hopes were dashed almost immediately, when the collective DRFC started chanting.... 'Shearer, Shearer, Shearer....' We knew they would be on our flight... One lovely American lady, en route to see a cousin in Durham, commented that she hoped she would escape being covered in vomit.
The wait in departures was long - what was actually only 50 minutes seemed like an eternity... DRFC continued drinking in the bar, and then proceeded to announce, to the entire departure lounge, who was sharing which room with whom when they arrived in Newcastle... in case you were wondering, Jonno is sharing with Dave, despite his demonstrations to swap with Matty...
When we finally boarded the flight, we were all relieved to see that DRFC sat together at the back of the plane... at least we were out of vomit range.... but not out of range of the paper aeroplanes which periodically winged their way down the cabin, landing on the laps of unsuspecting passengers at the front...
This, coupled with the constant queue of DRFC members at the toilet (standing just too close to the aeoplane exit door and fiddling just a little too much with the buttons next to said door for our liking) and the non-stop singing of 'Swing low sweet chariot' and 'Bread of Heaven', interspersed with chants of 'Shearer... Shearer...' made for what could be described as an interesting flight!
The cabin crew did their best - stopping the safety demonstration twice to chastise the merry DRFC for not listening properly, and threating them with the Captain's wrath should they not do as they were told...
But is was with some relief that it was all nearly over, when we touched down at Newcastle (to the applause and cheers of DRFC and more 'Shearer' chanting...)
Home at last!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
The bonny bonny banks
We had a lovely relaxing few days on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond... the hotel was gorgeous, with a view of the loch from our window. It was lovely to be able to sleep with the curtains open (no street lights!) and wake to the view over the water each morning...
The room was huge (it even had its own sauna, would you believe, although we didn't use it), and the staff were very welcoming. The food was out of this world, as was the setting of the restaurant, with uninterupted views over the water (well, at breakfast anyway... it was dark at dinner time!)
All in all, a well-timed few days away, with time to reflect, seek God and generally get things in a bit of perspective...
The room was huge (it even had its own sauna, would you believe, although we didn't use it), and the staff were very welcoming. The food was out of this world, as was the setting of the restaurant, with uninterupted views over the water (well, at breakfast anyway... it was dark at dinner time!)
All in all, a well-timed few days away, with time to reflect, seek God and generally get things in a bit of perspective...
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Praise Him in the storm
Some really tough news last week... but through all the hurt, pain, tears and questions, we have known an incredible peace and closeness to God... He continues to hold us tight - firm in His everlasting arms.
These words by Casting Crowns sum up the past week for us...
I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day,
but once again, I say "Amen,"
and it's still raining ...
And as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away.
And I'll Praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are, no matter where I am
Every tear I've cried You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will Praise You in this storm
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of Heaven and Earth
These words by Casting Crowns sum up the past week for us...
I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day,
but once again, I say "Amen,"
and it's still raining ...
And as the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away.
And I'll Praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are, no matter where I am
Every tear I've cried You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will Praise You in this storm
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of Heaven and Earth
Fresh bread
I love this fresh bread thing... so far we've had four great loaves - including wholemeal, white, and a sundried tomato too! There's something special about getting back home to such wonderful smells... and the taste too! A great b'day prezzie - thanks again to lil sis, ma and pa!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Another year
Yesterday I celebrated the passing of another year...
I've now been driving longer than I haven't!
But more worryingly, I have now entered the costliest year of my life, according to a recent press article!
And so it was that I took yesterday off work in celebration - starting with a bacon sandwich lovingly prepared by my wife, and ending with a lovely meal at Barn under a Wandering Star, possibly my favourite restaurant in Newcastle at the moment...
Prizes for the day included a couple of Casting Crowns CDs, a new coal bucket (this to match the new fire tools and guard I got for Christmas), packets of flour, yeast, and, oh - yes, a bread-maker (still to arrive via amazon...) I can imagine the smell of the fresh baked bread wafting up to the bedroom even as I write this... mmmmm
I've now been driving longer than I haven't!
But more worryingly, I have now entered the costliest year of my life, according to a recent press article!
And so it was that I took yesterday off work in celebration - starting with a bacon sandwich lovingly prepared by my wife, and ending with a lovely meal at Barn under a Wandering Star, possibly my favourite restaurant in Newcastle at the moment...
Prizes for the day included a couple of Casting Crowns CDs, a new coal bucket (this to match the new fire tools and guard I got for Christmas), packets of flour, yeast, and, oh - yes, a bread-maker (still to arrive via amazon...) I can imagine the smell of the fresh baked bread wafting up to the bedroom even as I write this... mmmmm
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Craster to Dunstanburgh
Mrs D, doglet and I went for a lovely walk from the little fishing village of Craster yesterday...
We set off with a light wind (OK, it was quite blowy, but just enough to blow the cobwebs away...) and blue skies - perfect for an afternoon walk.
Doglet enjoyed trying to chase the sheep, oblivious to the fact that just when she got near, the flexi-lead came to an end abruptly, almost decapitating her every time.
The waves were crashing, the birds were soaring, and all was right with the world!
Then we turned round to go back to the car... that's when we realised we were in trouble! The sky was black behind us - not a dark grey, but a pitch black... the wind picked up... the rain started - fine at first, becoming heavier and heavier... mixed with sleet... smacking into our faces with the full force of the wind.
Not pleasant!
Doglet at one point refused to go on - she sat down, head away from the wind, eyes closed. As if to say, 'You must be joking if you think I'm going any further in this!' We managed to coax her into continuing! By the time we got back to the car, we were absolutely drenched. Not just a wee bit wet around the edges - but soaked through to the skin!
So much for a relaxed afternoon stroll by the coast!
We set off with a light wind (OK, it was quite blowy, but just enough to blow the cobwebs away...) and blue skies - perfect for an afternoon walk.
Doglet enjoyed trying to chase the sheep, oblivious to the fact that just when she got near, the flexi-lead came to an end abruptly, almost decapitating her every time.
The waves were crashing, the birds were soaring, and all was right with the world!
Then we turned round to go back to the car... that's when we realised we were in trouble! The sky was black behind us - not a dark grey, but a pitch black... the wind picked up... the rain started - fine at first, becoming heavier and heavier... mixed with sleet... smacking into our faces with the full force of the wind.
Not pleasant!
Doglet at one point refused to go on - she sat down, head away from the wind, eyes closed. As if to say, 'You must be joking if you think I'm going any further in this!' We managed to coax her into continuing! By the time we got back to the car, we were absolutely drenched. Not just a wee bit wet around the edges - but soaked through to the skin!
So much for a relaxed afternoon stroll by the coast!
More ghastly food combinations
I thought I would treat you to some more of the ghastly food combinations we have been exposed to recently at Kidz Klub.
All have been used as variations to the more popular children's game 'dooking for apples'...
Just try and eat these with your hands behind your back.... yeuch!
All have been used as variations to the more popular children's game 'dooking for apples'...
Just try and eat these with your hands behind your back.... yeuch!
Banana, ice cream, squirty cream and hundreds & thousands...
Hot dog placed on a disposable nappy and covered with brown sauce...
Possibly the worst hotel, ever?
The new year found us in sunny Birmingham (OK, not so sunny...) with me accompanying Mrs D as she attended a conference to do with science teaching. We had booked (through the conference organisers) into what we had thought would be a lovely hotel, centrally placed for the station and other amenities... The hotel website gives an impression of what we were expecting...
Sadly, the website does not give a true impression... I won't include the gory details here - many before me have added their thoughts on tripadvisor.co.uk...
It really was that bad!
Sadly, the website does not give a true impression... I won't include the gory details here - many before me have added their thoughts on tripadvisor.co.uk...
It really was that bad!
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