November 2004

Hi all,
Well another year is drawing to a close. Been desperately trying to update the website, and it's been one thing after another which has put me off doing it. Thought I had better get round to it as the photos are going to be so out of date! Have taken the opportunity to do so while Frosty is away enjoying himself in Thailand at Claire and Matt's wedding - another reason to get this update done, so the next one can have lots of wedding photos on it - if Frosty is not too drunk and takes some decent ones. Was wondering if I should wish you all happy Christmas now, but nah - if I did that, there definitely wouldn't be another update in December!

I suppose the biggest news for some of you is that I am pregnant again. I keep forgetting who I have told and apologise if this is news to you! I am now 6 months pregnant and the baby is due first week of March. I won't tell you whether it's a boy or a girl as my dad doesn't want to know. You'll have to email me if you want to know.

In July, which seems such a long time ago now, Mike's family came for the yearly Frosty visit. Granddad had a very bad back after falling down the stairs the week before so Joe couldn't jump on him as much as he would have liked. Nana spoilt him rotten as usual with lots of lovely new clothes and Aunty Rach took over his bedroom.

We enjoyed trips to the British club where Aunty Rachael came into her element on the kid's playground. Nana and granddad kept Joe amused in the pool and we also enjoyed a nice meal one night in the quiet relaxing surroundings of the Mountbatten room. (Joe was at home and in bed of course, otherwise I would not have used the word relaxing in the sentence!)

Whilst Mike's family was here we headed up to Phuket for a few days at the beach. It was nice to get away and stay at the lovely Evason Resort. The weather wasn't brilliant but we got a couple of days without rain which enabled us to take Joe to the beach. The beach for the Evason resort was on a private island 15 minutes away in a Thai long tail boat. Joe took his first boat trip, complete with cute life vest, see his page for photo. Joe is still not that impressed with sand and stands there rigid in one spot, he must be thinking that it's going to swallow him up or something and much preferred to be splashing around in the sea. The resort was nice and peaceful and I eyed the spa with envy, not being able to go with being pregnant. Joe and I stayed at the resort in the evenings. Mike and his family did venture into Patong one night which according to Mike has not changed much, its still quite grotty!

As a family we have been trying to get out more at the weekends rather than trailing down Orchard road to the shops and for coffee. We became friends of Singapore zoo which for a really cheap yearly membership we can go to the zoo as many times as we like. With Singapore being small, nowhere is really that far away so we can even just pop up there for the morning. Now that Joe can walk a far distance, it's a great place to go as he loves looking at animals. He doesn't really have any favourites yet, they all seem to get him excited. A lot of the animal enclosures are open with moats etc. to keep the animals in so it's great for little ones to get a really good look without having to peer through bars and mesh.

The Botanical gardens is very close and it's quite nice to go and take a walk there. There are plenty of turtles and swans to feed which makes me remember the times as a kid going to the canal with my mum to feed the ducks. We also took Joe down Orchard Road one evening now that they have turned on all the Christmas decorations. The lights and trees are very pretty and all the sparkly, twinkly lights catch Joe's attention all the time. Going round the shops now takes even longer as he wants to stop at all the Christmas trees he spots.

We have also been over to Rachel and Joe's to go swimming in their great pool and let Joe meet Honey, their amazingly soft dog. Joe naturally curious but wary kept a careful eye on Honey from the safety of the sofa. Bearing in mind that it took him two weeks to pluck up the courage to handle play doh, not crying and running away was a bit of a result really. We also went to the comedy club with Rachel and Joe one night, which was very enjoyable as we haven't done anything like that since we lived in Bangkok.

Frosty's birthday came and went. Frosty had the day off work so he came to meet Joe and I after kindermusik for a birthday lunch.

We have a lot of friends who have had babies or are up the duff at present. October saw the arrival of Theo Woods, Sophia Lily Pearce Clogstoun and Isaac Marquis Davis. Just heard that Benjamin Blake was born on the 19th Nov 2004. Congratulations to all you proud parents and hope to be seeing lots of photos of these new little people. I feel like I have been pregnant for ever and seeing all these new babies just makes me want it to be over even quicker!

We have had plenty of visitors again these past couple of months. Matt came down from Hong Kong on business and stayed a couple of days. Joe couldn't get enough of him and terrorized him with sausage. (if you don't know who sausage is check the photos on Joe's page) We had a quietish evening down on Boat Quay having drinks by the water along with a couple of Matt's work mates which was a very pleasant way to pass the time and a change from bathing and putting Joe to bed! A quick congratulations to Matt and Claire who just got married this weekend in Samet. Will save all wedding news and photos for next Frosty update, but from what Frosty told me I missed a great weekend.

Mawfy has continued to pass through Singapore like a whirlwind on a regular basis. Not always been able to see him but usually get a good chat in while he's in the airport or a quick coffee at Starbucks in-between meetings. Joe can now recognize Uncle Mawf in photos. Not had any opportunities to photograph uncle Mawf seen as he is never here long enough to whip the camera out so Amy has kindly provided a photo of him for the photo section so we don't all forget what he looks like.

Ant and Tracey came down for a few days. Poor Tracey was under the weather going through those horrid first months of pregnancy, she got all my sympathy there having just got through them myself. We had a nice morning out at Under Water World on Sentosa and then a lazy lunch at one of the beach bars before we all headed back home for our afternoon nap. Its a hive of activity in the Frosty house in the afternoons - not! I think Tracey was glad of our afternoon sleep schedule though! It was good to see Ant and Tracey especially as we will miss their wedding in December, in Bangkok. Its one day before Mike's sister's wedding in the UK and also I have been banned from all travel now so can't even make any quick trips anywhere.

Cousin bunches (Christine), who you may remember from old Frosty news came through Singapore with new toy boy Olly on their way to Bali. We were surprised to see her, knowing what a Thailand lover she is. As usual she came stocked with some choccy bars from the UK, knowing my weakness for them, though its not quite as bad now as Singapore stocks a good supply, especially at Christmas time. Joe was glad to see them both and have someone new to show his toys too. We also had a quick drink down at Boat Quay the night Christine's sister was in hospital in labour. Anne, didn't deliver in time though for us to crack open some champagne.

Birdie x x x