A New Jersey Bean

Shelley had a little boy! Oscar; he arrived early Wednesday morning and were lucky to get to go see him in hospital that afternoon. Lucky, because he's been in the Special Care Unit since then and the only other family besides parents allowed to visit is grandparents! He should be out of the unit tomorrow (he has some kind of infection); but he and Shelley have to stay in hospital until Monday.

Papa D (James's dad) went mad with his camera (are we surprised?!) and took a good stack of photos yesterday morning and got them printed immediately... Granny Moira bought Mothercare out of all blue newborn clothes just a few hours after Oscar entered the world, and Uncles Lew and Jamesy conferred on how long it'll be before Baby Bean joins the 'men' at the rugby on Saturdays.

And in other news... A beautiful, sunny day; we went for a quick walk when we got home from work this evening and realised again how happy we are that we're only moving up the road.

Welcome Baaaaaaby

No, not ours.

James's sister, Shelley, is in labour as I type! In fact, she might be a mum by now... She went into labour at 6am this morning, but didn't go to hospital until about 7 this evening as they'd been hoping for a home birth. Unfortunately she had to change the plan -- everything's fine though -- and we're waiting to hear the news! Any minute! Today is her actual due date, so it might just be a very punctual baby. Expecting to get a text/phone call any time but could be in the early hours of tomorrow morning of course...

Other news? We've been busy; thank goodness the days are much longer now so it feels like we've got a bit more time. We move the weekend after next -- can't wait to leave 'the cave' (this place was fine in the winter but now that the weather's getting better we've really noticed how cold and dark it is! Ugh!).

For anyone interested in Google-Earthing our new abode, try La Rue Voisin, Portelet. Not far from where we are at present -- and just happens to be right next to yet another lovely old pub... Not quite as close as we are now though.

I've started running (or 'trotting' as my colleague calls it... because we run like pigs -- very inelegantly) with a friend from work during our lunch hours; only half an hour or so but that's enough to get me warmed up! Hooray -- it must be good for us because I've lost half a stone (don't convert it, it'll be far less impressive) and we've only been doing it a few weeks. She's adamant that we'll be fit enough to run a half marathon at the end of the summer... watch this space.

We've been invited to help 'plant' a church with a colleague of James's and his wife! Never thought that would happen in Jersey... We met with them and a few other people last weekend and it was great -- they (James's colleague and his wife) have started four churches in the past, all of which I believe are still going strong -- all in Africa. They're from Zimbabwe but most recently lived in South Africa and moved here at exactly the same time we did! Weirdly, so did the three other people (two Zimbabweans and a girl from the Bahamas)! The new church is already somewhat underway; just looking for a semi-permanent venue and a band! Really we'd be happy if we could bring Christ Community here of course, but this is also pretty exciting. And so way beyond anything we'd ever imagined being part of so we'll see what happens... Last week James and I went to a lunchtime session called 'Business Connect' at a church in town; it was great and so interesting. There's a different speaker and lesson every week and it's a chance to network a bit over lunch (provided) and some pretty deep questions!

Work is going well; my job just seems to get better and better -- I am so grateful for it! It seems like that was the one thing missing when we lived in the US and so I'm really making the most of it now. It's such a great learning opportunity and I'm taking advantage of every course, seminar and training opportunity I possibly can! I'm even learning a tiny bit of HTML... emphasis on tiny... (Obviously not enough to fix the layout and formatting of this blog, grrr).

James and I are both off to Edinburgh, Scotland, in the first weekend of June. It's my Granny's 96th birthday, our good friends' Rob and Raphi's wedding (James is organising Rob's stag do...), and my folks arrive the same weekend, too. Can't wait!

So a busy few weeks ahead -- and in the meantime we still don't know if we're aunty and uncle yet!

Checkin' In

Still here...

An update in less than twenty words: James started new job (enjoying); moving again (yay!); weather improving (yee-HA); Liberation Day this weekend -- should be interesting.

Funny story...? We've been bargain hunting for furniture for the new place and have been using the Jersey version of Craigslist a bit. For some reason I've landed the job of Chief Coordinator (i.e. call, arrange viewing time, schedule pickup...).

So.

The funny story? There is a funny story, but I can hardly keep my eyes open... I'm going to have to post a Part Two.

... To Be Continued ...