http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Foggy/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Foggy en-us Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:16:13 +0000 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:16:13 +0000 I have realised that time has been passing me by so quickly and I have not managed to get that many blog entries out.I am now 35 weeks pregnant so not long to go before the little girl is born. I do hope it is a girl in that I have not been able to resist buying lots of pink clothes which will all have to go on ebay if this turns out to be a boy I have two weeks left at work I only do the thr http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-427987.html How busy can life get I have not written an entry for a while as I have been somewhat busy. We have bought a new house in Taroona which has taken a fair bit of time.......moving new furniture and the like. We are really pleased with the place. Having lived in what amounts to a cardboard box for the last 18 months we are now rattling around in what feels like a mansion. We are in a very fortunat http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-385345.html Well what a few months it has been. Since my last blog we have been back to the UK where we had a really amazing time catchingup with family and friends. It has been a very special time to see George with his cousins grandparents aunts and uncles. I did think that though we might not see them very often when we do it is a quality length of time. Whilst there I went to New York with my mum wh http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-354063.html Well.........we are getting closer to another end of year and I can't believe that George is over 9 months of age. He is really developing a personality and is generally laidback but seems to have a firey temper about things.........which is a bit of a reflection of the pair of us It's obviously also him developing and ascertaining his independence......etc He is still sleeping fairly well http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-341203.html The September hols have Binangone.............during which time we went to visit 'Binalong Bay' and the 'Bay of Fires'up on the East Coast.The hols began with my 36th birthday. I am starting to feel very old. This was a strange experience as throughout my life my birthday has always been at the start of a school year. How nice it was to have it at the start of a holiday. I know I have only worked http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Mount-Field/blog-326473.html Well..itrsquos never happened before but I guess it was going to happen sooner or later...Yesterday I did the running section of the lsquoWinter Challengersquo at Franklin 30 mins south of Hobart. I was asked several months ago if I would take part in that section and at the time thought it would be a good thing to motivate myself to get back into running postbirth. Anyway the running http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-316260.html Only 3 weeks left and Spring begins It never fails to amaze me how mild the Winter is here. No gritting of roads no salt on the windscreen no deicer no freezing dark Winter mornings...........................though I will always miss Gas Central Heating. It might not be as cold here but it does get cold. The houses are very badly insulated no doubleglazing the hot water tanks are outsi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-309717.html Well..............George is almost 6 months old. Where on earth did that time go He is a hefty 9.5 kilos22 pounds ish and is becoming more entertaining by the day. It is only 5 months until we go back to the UK for a visit...........I can't wait for him to meet all his cousinsauntsuncles grandparents etc though obviously my mum has already seen him and she misses him lotsMy sister all bei http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-300969.html A couple of weeks ago we went off to Melbourne and spent a few days with our very good friends Sharon and Marcus. It was really nice to spend more than a day or so with them and relax into a routine with them. George had his first flight and also his first nights away from home Ivor and I went a bit mad.............there are not that many shops here in Hobart.......there are loads in Melbour http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-289804.html Well.................my first attempt at a run postbaby has happened I did my 3rd City to Casino run this time with George. Last year I was very newly pregnant but didn't know and managed a 'goodish' time of about 53 mins. I was a good half an hour slower than last year though in my defenceI was desperate for the toilet for at least half way until I finally had to go and find a toilet http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-280582.html Well I have 3 weeks left and then I am back at work. In Tasmania having a permanent contract supercedes all other contracts including both 'temporary' and 'permanent replacement' contracts. It is the department not the schools that employ staff and move them between schools and departments. I was on a temporary contract and only had one more term to do to get 'permanent replacement' status http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-279811.html Well it was mothers' day today in Australia and I was really pampered. George had very cleverly been out to the shops and bought a lovely mother's day card. He had even written a little message and signed his name clearly genius materialNo really it was a bit weird to be part of the 'club' and Ivor really did pamper me I watched loads of episodes of from here to maternity with Anton http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-275036.html I am slowly but surely getting back into running and hiking or bushwalking as you call it out here. It is actually a bit easier than I thought it would be.................and I am actually managing to run a bit. It's quite good actually as George is very portable and I am able to walk and run all over the place with him in towI have discovered Nelson Steps a 200m climb up some steps o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-270654.html Have realised that I have become a baby bore. People come round and I can't think of anything to say that is not connected to George I suppose it is inevitable when my life revolves around the little chap but for someone who can usually talk the hind legs off a donkey it is an alien feeling when trying to talk of other topics.It has obviously also affected my travel blog topics.............. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-265162.html Life adjusting to George is interesting George is a very cute baby.................though I am biased ...... but blimey............what a hard jobThe last 6 weeks have flown and it is a very steep learning curve. I am daily spewed and pooed upon our mountainous washing pile daily reaches Everest proportions it takes 6 hours to go anywhere 3 hours of sleep is now a good night's sleep http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-254290.html We have had a good two weeks mum and I keep going for walks with George. He seems to be growing very quicky It's very hard work but he is lovely I am slowly adjusting to a life at home.................though it is strange not to be going out to work http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-250450.html 11 days old..........and blimey life has changed. You know things will radically change and people tell you how much things will change.....................but nothing really prepares you for the reality of life with a new baby I keep finding myself thinking.............I don't have any time off from this. I am on duty all the time as well as being very excited and overwhelmed by it all http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-244628.html Baby George Peter Phillip Leonard has finally made an appearance. He arrived a few days early on the 29th January 2008 at 532pm weighing 8lb 3oz after a somewhat lengthy and painful Labour. Life has changed into a blur but it is a pretty amazing feeling We are also completely shattered but managing ok.We stayed for 4 nights in the hospital which was great. We were very lucky and got a 'Birt http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-242317.html 1 week to go or less until the birth of 'Junior' though I think they might induce me as I have developed borderline blood pressure issues as well as having a blood glucose intoleranceFortunately we have now moved and the house suits our new circumstances perfectly well. It will be much warmer in the Winter and is definitely cosier. It is quite private and across the road from Ivor's school w http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Hobart/blog-239152.html The last couple of weeks have been interesting and very positive. I am still feeling really well and am hoping that 'Junior' does not arrive early as we have a very busy week ahead as we move houseWe went down to The Peninsular this week and had a great time. Ivor went fishing for Flathead we walked along many many beaches and also went on a Ghost Walk around Port Arthur I did get a few fu http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Tasmania/Tasman-Peninsula/Port-Arthur/blog-234599.html