Ewan's easter passion play at St. Mary's Church and a few other bits and bobs

 

Ewan is on the left of the group, sometimes he has his back to the viewer.   He was cross because they didn't get to use the microphone 

My auntie barbara's birthday lunch with Jean and another photo with Les, as well as the clever cake!

Ewan got his first Blue Peter badge today. 

Tyrells wood

I promised Ewan last night that we would go for a walk in Tyrells Wood today - little did I know a very large group of 'ramblers' hijacked the parking area, so there was no parking to be had within half a mile of the entrance!    It was very bright today and warm.  Wild primroses, crocuses and daffodils are starting to poke their heads up out of the soil ... so I guess spring is here.

We met a couple of people on our walk who wanted to chat.  Of course two minutes into the natter, I get 'So, you're South African hey?' ... and then I always end up having to mention that 'Er, I am British though, I was born in Wakefield.'  I don't know why I keep doing it, I'm getting so annoyed with myself.   

 

 

Poplar Farm Barn ...

We have found a lovely place!  I am so happy, it's got character and lots of space.  The landlords seem very nice too.   Here are a couple of photos I took yesterday afternoon when we went back to show the kids and me.

The owner is just fixing a couple of small things, we hope to be moving in before the end of this month!  

Something's cooking ....

Yeah well it's been a long time since I wrote anything here.  It's not that we haven't got anything to say, just no time.  So, here's a quick round up of the latest headlines:

1. Allyson is pregnant! 
Yes folks she is about 6 weeks, we will know for sure when she goes for a scan at the hospital soon.  Ally's meds are being changed slowly, so that she's on something that won't affect baby and her during the pregnancy.  So far, she seems to be doing okay.  Of course she's worried sick - who wouldn't be?  And Ally, if you are reading this as I think you might be, it's perfectly natural for you to feel stressed or anxious, you are not alone in that.  All us mum's have gone through similar anxiety when we discovered we were expecting.  Yes, I know your situation is different but the bottom line is, we are there to help you and I believe together you will get through this with no problems.   Cutting out coffee is a major thing for you and I think that will be worse than having morning sickness in your case!

2. We have to move
 We have been told to get out of dodge, so we are now looking for a new place to rent or rent to buy, whichever comes up first.   We saw a place in the next village down from us, which would have been ideal except it was just that bit too small.  So, we are all a bit fried with nerves at the moment, even though we've technically got until May before we have to get out (in terms of our lease), it's worrying finding places to rent in small villages like ours is.    Hoping that next time I update the blog we will have found another place.

3. Faye and Ewan continue to do really well at school, I'm so proud of them both.  They had to dress up for World Book Day last week - Ewan went as the BFG and Faye went as Triss from Divergent.  Faye is basically surgically attached to her phone these days and we have to keep making her have downtime.   These kids already know more about XBox, phones, messaging, apps on their phones than I do. It's quite scary.

 

4. Ewan lost his front tooth last week as well, it was so funny listening to him talk.-

Faye is now busy practising for piano exams ... she is doing really well!

She is also getting to be quite a good cook ... she's made biscuits, coleslaw and other yummy things. 

 5.  Janice Art
I was contacted by one of the UK's largest art supply companies to do a review of some soft pastels that are imported from Australia.  It was an amazing experience for me to be considered by them as a real dinkum artist!   The post with my review is here


6.  William has started walking!  

Whoo hoo ...

 Congratulations David!   Very pleased for you - here's to many successful driving years and you driving me around Norfolk later on ... hur hur

Happy birthday ...

Hope you have a great day today and get lots of lovely things ... love you stacks, as always ...

The Memory Post - January - 2013 to 2016

I have decided to do a monthly anniversary type post throughout this year, looking back at some of the stand out  things that have happened to us as a family in the UK since we arrived in December 2012.   I won't have mentioned everything and I apologise if I've forgotten things that may have been important to anyone reading this - but these are from my diaries, in some cases I've also included my thoughts. 

January 2016

Kevin started his new job – his Ford wouldn’t start, so he took Hayzel’s Citroen and she borrowed my Astra.

Leigh told us her baby boy would be born on or about 10^th May (Mags’ birthday).  Andrew has enrolled on an degree level course via Stellenbosch University.

Sold a painting that I showcased on Facebook – called ‘A little bit of Blue’ to Allyson!

At the end of this month, we bought tickets for our South African holiday May/June 2016.  My ticket cost about £556

January 2015

Got our Ginger boy, Teddy from a lady in Pulham St. Mary – he’s quiet and watchful, has a loud purr and seems to be settling in nicely.     Needless to say, Hayzel has taken all his stuff (food/water bowls and litter tray) to her bathroom and he is going to end up sleeping on or in her bed, whether he likes it or not.

I put a painting on eBay (the Old Barn) – (more about that in next month’s memory post).

It snowed a bit in the middle of the month – just a flurry.
I purchased domain and hosting for Speedy Transcriptions.com and website went live on January 20^th

Hayzel bought Ewan his fishtank - £20.  I bought him extra glass stones and plastic plants but they wouldn’t sell us the fish!!!  Said we had to wait 3 days for ‘water conditioning’.  Er no.  Kevin went back later and bought 2 tiddler goldfish – they look suspiciously like Carp to me. 

Booked the coach to and from the docks for our cruise later on this year £25 each (Jean and me)

I got a ‘balance of fees’ for one of our straggler Relocation Alliance clients.   

Hayzel, Kevin and the kids went to London to the Natural History Museum – they had a good time but it was very tiring for the kids I think.

January 2014

Spent a good deal of this month planning our holiday to SA.

January 2013

Had about a week of snow – off and on and it’s sitting on top of everything – about 5 inches.  

I fell down the stairs and badly grazed the inside of my wrist – it took a month to heal properly.

Andrew’s work are going to send him down to Durban.     Leigh is 9 weeks pregnant with Daniel.