End of the Month wrap-up

Here it is folks, the wrap up of the month...

Mum and Bubs

The month started with mum and bubs getting the 'all clear for take-off' and them quickly making the most of it, escaping to Australia. Neither have been heard of or seen since. Seriously though, Kathryn and bubs have been touring down-under catching up with family and friends. A bumpy patch in the middle saw Kathryn spend a day or so in hospital with everything sorting itself out. Baby is doing well - week 16 about to start (*i hope i've got that right*). Both are due back in Dubai early next week. The morning sickness is still there in 'fits and fads' so all are hoping that this is nearly the end of the sickness and a welcoming of the muchly anticipated 'energy rush' of the second trimester.

Dubai

Dubai has continued to rain which is most unusual and now we are into the season change. The days are starting to warm up and the nights are starting to get humid. As a result, the fog on the roads the other morning had visibility down to less than 25m, however this didn't stop the drivers from nearing speeds of 140kph.

Work

Cameron continues to be busy with work (no news there) however the team is growing and help is on the way with new arrivals coming weekly over the next couple of months. However, this is now just the start, so the interviews will continue, the workload is still ramping up and the opportunities are almost endless.

Health

While Kathryn's health started the month on a high, dipped in the middle, and has ended on a high, Cameron's has been totally the opposite. The month started with a couple of days off, things got better and this week *crash*, back to the start (if not worse). That's what you get if you push too hard when you still aren't fully recovered I suppose. These things will sort themselves out in time.

Golf

Again, the month has seen good golf and bad golf. This week unfortunately has seen no golf.

Wheels

The highlight of the month was the long awaiting addition of the vehicle to the family. No more renting.

... and that was the month of February 2007.

Happy Birthday Dad (Trevor)

This message is added a little late to our blog because I was in Australia and unable to post it to our website. So.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

It was great to spend your birthday with you this year.


We hope you had a good one.


Lots of Love and hugs and kisses oxoxoxox


Kathryn (and Cameron & Bubs too, of course)

10 days on....

Well, it has been ten days since the last blog - gee time flies. Again, it isn't as if we haven't been busy. Life as follows:

Kathryn
Kathryn has been in Adelaide and ended up in hospital (always good to have a scare when your wife is on the other side of the world) for 24 hours. She's out now and both her and bubs are okay, some more specialist visits and nothing too major to worry about (except perhaps my ageing nerves...). She's still busy catching up with people.

Cameron
Meanwhile, I've been keeping myself busy in Dubai. Work is hectic and I've been busy both doing the work and interviewing for more staff. Add in a few trips to Abu Dhabi and you have a very busy boy. Weekends are spent resting and recovering (as I'm still getting over the 'bug' from a frew weeks ago), doing the housework etc. At the end of last week we moved offices which made it one hell of a week.

Wheels
Last weekend I also went looking at cars to buy (we've been hiring a car since we got here and it was time to get our own car). Having found a number of 2nd hand cars advertised on the pin-up board at the local shops, I started making some calls to arrange to look and test drive. One of the first one's on the list was a place with two BMWs for sale. To cut a long story short, we ended up agreeing to buy a 1997 model BMW 328i. Price was good and it has only done 75,000km. All appears to be ok with the car. All the 'official' checks (roadworthiness, outstanding fines etc.) were completed, insurance obtained and finally on Monday afternoon the registration was changed over and the family now has some wheels. A couple of pics for those interested are below. Colour is 'Calypso Red'.

For the tech-heads, the engine is just under 2.8L, 6 cylinders and supposedly does 0-100kph in just over 7 seconds (not that we've tried that one yet). 5 speed automatic transmission - all in all, it goes very nicely. I gave it a run on the way to Abu Dhabi yesterday (Thursday) and it was 'real nice'.

Golf
I got out for another shot at the front 9 at Nad Al Sheba last Monday night. Tee-off at 9:50pm makes for a late night, but it isn't a bad way to spend a night. Surprisingly, I am improving (the course has less water than the back 9) but we still managed to lose a couple of balls. All in all, I was pretty happy - the swing is starting to get more consistant, the shots straighter and I think I'm starting to relax, let the clubs do the work and not try as hard to 'flog it down the centre' which tends not to work anyway. I must admit, it is a nice way to de-stress and have a laugh.

Valentine's Day
Ooops. I nearly forgot to mention that Wednesday was St. Valentine's Day. Anyway, my wife being hyper-organised as she is, managed to purchase cards, and have them posted to me so that I have them on Valentine's Day. Beautiful cards and sweet sentiments from my wife on the other side of the planet. I on the other hand am never that organised (just ask my wife!), however, I did manage to arrange for flowers to be delivered to her on the morning of Valentine's Day and a suitably worded message to be included - obviously, not quite the personal touch that she is all too used to however, sufficient for her to know I was thinking of her on this day.

To all who read this far - remember that love (like most things in life) is granted - not earnt.

Ain't We Slack???

What??? No blog entries for two weeks? Are you guys still alive??? I know, I know - No blog entries for two weeks. Ain't we been slack???

Well, it isn't that we've exactly been slack - in fact we've been very busy. Here's the update.

1. Baby News

Kathryn is now twelve weeks along. In the baby world, we've been busy. Kathryn and I went for 10 week check-up and referal for the 12 weeks scan. We saw the heart-beating again (I don't think I'll ever get sick of that one) and bubs had doubled in size again (now 6cm head to toe). A week or so later, off we go for the 12 week scan to check the risk of downs-syndrome etc, and bubs was in good form. By now, bubs is fully formed, all arms, legs, fingers, toes etc accounted for. In fact, during the ultrasounds bubs was jumping about (just to keep life interesting for the 'ultrasound-dude'. At the end of the session we got to hear the heartbeat which was a real surprise (and trippy) as we didn't expect that from the sessions. All in all - all is in order and bubs has had a great start. A couple of days later, Kathryn was back at her regular doctor to get the final "all clear for take off" prior to heading off to Australia. I missed this sessions (as it was effectively a formality) but during the ultrasound bubs was bouncing around again and even 'waved' at Kathryn - definately a special moment for her.

2. Home Alone

At the moment, Cameron is 'home alone'. Kathryn has headed off to Oz for some well deserved R-n-R. Despite some hiccups at the airport (the tickets were mistakenly booked for the night before) but after some help from our good friends "The Emirates Staff", Kathryn was on her way home. A quick stop-off in Perth, WA for the weekend had her catching up with friends and then off to Adelaide, SA to catch up with family and friends. After suffering for 12 weeks with morning sickness Kathryn is hoping the it all disappears shortly and gets to start really enjoying the next trimester and the time with her family and friends.

3. Cameron

Given that Kathryn has been suffering for the 12 weeks with the morning sickness, Cameron's body decided to get in on the act and so spent the Australia Day weekend laid up sweating out a bug. Unfortunately, the bug has turned into a upper respiratory tract infection which doesn't look like it is leaving in a hurry. Recovery time is the order of the day. Other than that, life here has been busy with frequent trips to Abu Dhabi for project work, heaps of work in the office and spending time with Kathryn.

4. Golf

As Kathryn wrote in her previous blogs, we learnt to play golf a little while ago. Since then, I've been trying to get out onto the course to get some practice in and keep the technique in shape. The lessons were great however the real deal has prove quite challenging. The first time I went out, we played the front 9 at Nad Al Sheba. While not really anything to write home about it was good to get out and have a swing. The next time we went out, we played the back 9 at Nad Al Sheba, which is nothing short of painful with water (typically crossings) on most of the holes. 10 balls lost in 9 holes - a frustrating evening. Last night was meant to be another night on the front 9 however the course was closed as the heavens opened with heavy rain and lightning. Oh well, something to look forward to and to keep getting better at (Rome wasn't built in a day!).

5. Other info

Well, there isn't too much else to add. A hello goes out to Ben and Kalee - who've recently move into their new home and for which Kathryn was the first 'guests'. To everyone else Kathryn will catch up with on her travels in Oz, I wish I was there - however someone's got to hold down the fort. Take care of mum and bubs for me.