We don't even have the baby yet, and we've been inundated with loads of gifts for it from the Christmas rush. I reckon that gifts are hard enough to figure out at the best of time, so if you have something like a baby on the way (or a sports fan or video game or Simpsons fan) MAKE THE MOST OF IT!
Thankfully we didn't really start buying any clothes before we came down under, else we'd be in even more trouble.
I also got some photos from my cousin today in my email. Her baby's first Christmas was yesterday and the photo of the mound of baby toys and gear was really quite overwhelming. Makes me realise that we'll have to move into a warehouse to give this child a fighting chance... how do people cope with no space?
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
Friday, 21 December 2007
More stuff
It's only taken a trip across the world to be inundated with loads of baby gear.
My fellow colleagues back in London swore to me that we'd get heaps of stuff and have to buy very little. Of course, their well wishers weren't a plane ride away.
Sue and I went to a little country town to meet up with friends and now have a massive cardboard box of baby clothes, as well as some nice bespoke knitted stuff as well. I thought the initial load of stuff from her mum was going to be hard to get back home, this is just a little over the top now.
We've also got a pram we're supposed to take back.
I think we need one of those Mary Poppins suitcases that has a very deep bottom indeed.
My fellow colleagues back in London swore to me that we'd get heaps of stuff and have to buy very little. Of course, their well wishers weren't a plane ride away.
Sue and I went to a little country town to meet up with friends and now have a massive cardboard box of baby clothes, as well as some nice bespoke knitted stuff as well. I thought the initial load of stuff from her mum was going to be hard to get back home, this is just a little over the top now.
We've also got a pram we're supposed to take back.
I think we need one of those Mary Poppins suitcases that has a very deep bottom indeed.
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
I type in a land down under
We arrive to a wonderful family greeting on Sunday morning around 7am, and as I type this now we're still fighting the jet lag (it's 6.30am!!)
Sue, however, is having maybe an easier time of the jetlag, in that she's suffering from babylag and is quite tired a lot of the time anyway.
Sue's mid-wife asked her to try to book an appointment here to check blood pressure, etc. She made the call yesterday and the local mid-wife deemed it not important enough to book an appointment. Not sure if that's encouraging or a sign of laziness on their behalf.
Yesterday we were treated to a showing of all the stuff Sue's mum has bought for the baby. It's amazing! There's so much stuff, I don't think we need to buy anything at least for the first couple of months (or maybe years).
My only concern, from a pragmatic male-point of view, is how are we going to get the stuff home? My case is kinda half-full but I was hoping to actually get the odd X-mas pressie and Aussie purchase to put in there and Sue packs like there's no tomorrow, so I'm just a bit worried we're going to have to post it back or something rather expensive like that. Time, I guess, will tell.
Sue, however, is having maybe an easier time of the jetlag, in that she's suffering from babylag and is quite tired a lot of the time anyway.
Sue's mid-wife asked her to try to book an appointment here to check blood pressure, etc. She made the call yesterday and the local mid-wife deemed it not important enough to book an appointment. Not sure if that's encouraging or a sign of laziness on their behalf.
Yesterday we were treated to a showing of all the stuff Sue's mum has bought for the baby. It's amazing! There's so much stuff, I don't think we need to buy anything at least for the first couple of months (or maybe years).
My only concern, from a pragmatic male-point of view, is how are we going to get the stuff home? My case is kinda half-full but I was hoping to actually get the odd X-mas pressie and Aussie purchase to put in there and Sue packs like there's no tomorrow, so I'm just a bit worried we're going to have to post it back or something rather expensive like that. Time, I guess, will tell.
Monday, 17 December 2007
Things men don't care about
Sue's friend Alice is due about 2 days after Sue. Sue is happy now, as she has someone else who can look at baby clothes with her and care about them.
Don't get me wrong, I don't "not care", but at the end of the day, it's clothing. I just don't really care about that.
I guess I'm more practical, rather than fawning over small boots or a dress that would fit a cabbage patch doll.
Don't get me wrong, I don't "not care", but at the end of the day, it's clothing. I just don't really care about that.
I guess I'm more practical, rather than fawning over small boots or a dress that would fit a cabbage patch doll.
Friday, 14 December 2007
A missive from Malaysia
We made it through the 12 hour flight to Kuala Lumpur!
When we went to see Crowded House on Sunday, the discomfort Sue was feeling having to stand and sit, etc. worried me a bit. I guess the seats on a plane are more comfy than a folding chair at a gig. The trade off is you're at a gig for about 2 hours, as opposed to 12 hours on the flight.
Sue also wore her special flight socks, and so far there's been no ill side effects from the flight (read "DVT").
We've decided that this bit of the trip - the KL before the Oz bit - is going to be laid back and we'll see what happens. Sue's discovered that outside the "go to work, go home" she actually gets quite tired quite quickly, and she can't walk loads.
We ended up taking a cab back from the Suria KLCC (the main shopping centre under the Petronas Towers). The walk would have been about 5-8 mins, but because of traffic, the cab took about 20 mins. Rightly so, Sue was done for the day and wouldn't have made the walk. Just ironic how bad the traffic was.
We're here for another day, as we leave tomorrow night for Oz. Not sure what tomorrow will bring, but Sue's mentioned Merdeka Square and maybe China Town, so hopefully there's not too much walking and it's not stifling with the humidity.
When we went to see Crowded House on Sunday, the discomfort Sue was feeling having to stand and sit, etc. worried me a bit. I guess the seats on a plane are more comfy than a folding chair at a gig. The trade off is you're at a gig for about 2 hours, as opposed to 12 hours on the flight.
Sue also wore her special flight socks, and so far there's been no ill side effects from the flight (read "DVT").
We've decided that this bit of the trip - the KL before the Oz bit - is going to be laid back and we'll see what happens. Sue's discovered that outside the "go to work, go home" she actually gets quite tired quite quickly, and she can't walk loads.
We ended up taking a cab back from the Suria KLCC (the main shopping centre under the Petronas Towers). The walk would have been about 5-8 mins, but because of traffic, the cab took about 20 mins. Rightly so, Sue was done for the day and wouldn't have made the walk. Just ironic how bad the traffic was.
We're here for another day, as we leave tomorrow night for Oz. Not sure what tomorrow will bring, but Sue's mentioned Merdeka Square and maybe China Town, so hopefully there's not too much walking and it's not stifling with the humidity.
Friday, 7 December 2007
Mid wife: This time it's at the hospital
Just had a call from Sue, who's about to leave the hospital. YES, the hospital.
It was blood test day today (glucose levels, etc.) and moronically, I assumed it was being done at the local GP office like all the other appointments.
Nope. Down to St. Helier's for a morning of arm-tapping fun. Sue was on a special diet (basically no chocolate or fizzy drinks) and hadn't eaten at all today. Before she left, she was told to eat something so headed down to the hospital canteen for their world famous pasties. I think they're world famous for all the wrong reasons.
Anyway, with that out of the way we now have the doctor's note to fly to sort out and we can leave for Oz.
It was blood test day today (glucose levels, etc.) and moronically, I assumed it was being done at the local GP office like all the other appointments.
Nope. Down to St. Helier's for a morning of arm-tapping fun. Sue was on a special diet (basically no chocolate or fizzy drinks) and hadn't eaten at all today. Before she left, she was told to eat something so headed down to the hospital canteen for their world famous pasties. I think they're world famous for all the wrong reasons.
Anyway, with that out of the way we now have the doctor's note to fly to sort out and we can leave for Oz.
Tuesday, 4 December 2007
Duran Duran show
One of the things I am going to teach our baby when she arrives is how loving Duran Duran is a GOOD thing!
I went to see them last night at the Lyceum Theatre in London and they played a stellar show. During the first half, where they played their new album in its entirety, Simon dedicated the song "She's Too Much" to "all the dads out there, especially if you have a little girl to go home to". Well, I'm going to remember it as "all the dads and dads to be out there".
For the whole song, I really felt proud about our impending life change and the arrival of the wee-one.
Having now listened back to "She's Too Much" with that in mind, the song does take on a whole new take.
Here are the words, and remember to read them from a dad's perspective:
She's gentle to the touch
She's everything head first
So happy to be causing trouble
Sometimes
The pressure gets too much
And you think she's going to burst
And shatter like a Christmas bauble
I'll be there when the world is
coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner
She cries when she's alone
For all life's little knocks
Everything is supposed to make us tougher
Thinking is doesn't really show
But I know how she hurts
And I can't bare to see her suffer
I'll be there when the world is
coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner
I'll be there when the world
is closing to surround her
In the air as she falls with my arms around her
Holding on I'm looking out for
Her thin skin
Because she's everything
and I don't think she knows
She's such a gentle touch
She's too much a gentle touch
She likes to catch the sun
Plays with it like a ball
And never mind whatever keeps it burning
Someday, she might just be the one
Whose going to save us all
If this apocalipse is coming
I'll be there when the world is
coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner
I'll be there when the world
is closing to surround her
In the air as she falls with my arms around her
Holding on I'm looking out for
Her thin skin
Because she's everything
and I don't think she knows
I don't think she knows
I don't think she knows
(she's too much)
I don't think she knows
(she's too much) a gentle touch
I went to see them last night at the Lyceum Theatre in London and they played a stellar show. During the first half, where they played their new album in its entirety, Simon dedicated the song "She's Too Much" to "all the dads out there, especially if you have a little girl to go home to". Well, I'm going to remember it as "all the dads and dads to be out there".
For the whole song, I really felt proud about our impending life change and the arrival of the wee-one.
Having now listened back to "She's Too Much" with that in mind, the song does take on a whole new take.
Here are the words, and remember to read them from a dad's perspective:
She's gentle to the touch
She's everything head first
So happy to be causing trouble
Sometimes
The pressure gets too much
And you think she's going to burst
And shatter like a Christmas bauble
I'll be there when the world is
coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner
She cries when she's alone
For all life's little knocks
Everything is supposed to make us tougher
Thinking is doesn't really show
But I know how she hurts
And I can't bare to see her suffer
I'll be there when the world is
coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner
I'll be there when the world
is closing to surround her
In the air as she falls with my arms around her
Holding on I'm looking out for
Her thin skin
Because she's everything
and I don't think she knows
She's such a gentle touch
She's too much a gentle touch
She likes to catch the sun
Plays with it like a ball
And never mind whatever keeps it burning
Someday, she might just be the one
Whose going to save us all
If this apocalipse is coming
I'll be there when the world is
coming down upon her
When she's scared, I'll be there
Fighting in her corner
I'll be there when the world
is closing to surround her
In the air as she falls with my arms around her
Holding on I'm looking out for
Her thin skin
Because she's everything
and I don't think she knows
I don't think she knows
I don't think she knows
(she's too much)
I don't think she knows
(she's too much) a gentle touch
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