Catching up...by Theo

So we haven't blogged for a while as we've been pretty busy...

Buying a house:
We've found a lovely three-bedroom semi in north Bristol, near where I'm going to be working from September. Things are going relatively smoothly - the surveyor's report threw up a few kinks, but nothing major - and we're hoping to complete on August 1st.

Starting a new (old) job:
I'm back at the language school where I taught last summer. Teaching a class of 9, adult, motivated students who are genuinely interested in the topic has been an absolute pleasure. I am wondering why the hell I wanted to switch from TEFL to teaching in secondary schools?

Socialising:
After my PGCE course finished we sped down to Cornwall for the weekend, then back up the M5 to Oxford, before heading to a few kids' parties in Bristol, hit Domstock in Fairford and I managed to catch up with some old friends in London last Saturday.

And being parents of course.

Actually, we're thinking of stopping the blog after August. We seem to have both run out of steam a bit and, as I'm about to take up a teaching role, reducing my web-presence would be no bad thing. The blog which began as a chronicle of our wedding preparations, then our honeymoon, followed by our life in Madrid, seems to have run its course. It may be time to move on...

Football fever by Theo

Rosie's always loved balls - throwing them, kicking them, chewing them - a round spherical object has always been a guaranteed winner with her. Nonetheless I was pretty surprised when this evening, after her bath, she requested that I play a game of football with her. That's the first time she'd mentioned the ubiquitous sport by name; as we have no TV I'm not quite sure where she picked it up from unless it was the kick about she had with her mates Alvin and Hendrix in the park on Sunday.

Typical Rosie; not content to play with just daddy soon subbed on her monkey to join her team, but then stopped as soon as she saw the camera. She loves the lens.... or rather, being behind it!

Limbo - by Theo

If we've been quiet on the blog recently it may because we feel a little like we're in limbo. We're waiting.

We've found a house, agreed a price, appointed a solicitor and are now just waiting on a green light from the mortgage company and a decision on a moving date: it could be July 1st or it could be August 1st. Until then we're in Limbo.

I've nearly finished my course: my last assignment has been handed in, just one more week (more like half a week actually, as Wednesday is a day off and Friday only exists in theory) and then I'm done. I then I wait to start work. I no longer feel like a student, but I don't yet feel like a teacher. Limbo.

And of course...

...Rosie is waiting impatiently for the arrival of her little baby brother! 2 months!

the lies we tell our children (pt.2) by Theo

Rosie thinks that this:







is the broccoli van.

As broccoli could never, even under the most elastic definition of 'favourite', be described as Rosie's favourite vegetable, we are never nagged to within an inch of our lives when an ice-cream van comes down our street or pulls up next to the play area in the park. Although I do get some rather strange - though perhaps envious - looks from other parents when Rosie starts shouting "It's the broccoli van! Eurgh, que hasco!"