We flew to Canada on Thomas Cook Airlines. It was almost £200 (per person) cheaper than many of its competitors (and a direct flight). We were a little wary, but it turned out to be fine. No frills, but plenty of leg room and reasonable service. No TV in the back of the seats, and we ignored the movies on the small TVs in the ceiling (Mr & Mrs Smith and X Men). Instead we did Sudokus and ate several meals.
We were met at Ottawa by Ian and Sarah and a sign saying "Dr, Mr and The Bean Kent-Taylor". It was a very welcoming welcome. Ian forgot where he'd parked the car. When we found it we drove back to their apartment in The Glebe, a nice old area of Ottawa. We had another meal and chatted until we were exhausted.
Ian and Sarah are working during the week, so Anne and I spent Tuesday recovering from lack of sleep and exploring the area near to the apartment. It's 30 degrees here and we were pooped and hot.
On Wednesday Anne and I went to the Canadian Parliament and had a free tour. It's a great building and was interesting to see the centre of Canadian democracy. We've now seen the parliaments of Australia (Federal), New South Wales (state) and Canada, and yet have never been into the British Parliament.
We met Sarah and Ian in town after they'd finished work. We picked up food for a picnic in a supermarket and drove for miles to find a good spot for to eat it. When we found somewhere the wind was picking up, and so we had our picnic in the beginnings of a storm. For the first time since we arrived it was cold. Even so, I've not laughed so much in ages and it's good to be spending time with them.
Today we've been to The Canadian Museum of Civilisation and seen lots of exhibits on the aboriginal Canadians and Canadian history. We're now shattered, especially Anne who is finding carrying the weight of The Bean tiring.
We've been trying to figure out what differentiates the Canadian accent from the American accent. We asked Ian and Sarah:
Me: Can you recognise a Canadian accent?
I&S: Yeah - easy.
Me: So you can tell a Canadian and American accent apart?
I&S: Oh no - we've no idea how to do that.
Hmmm. What did they think I was asking?
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Sunday, September 11, 2005
The great blog crossover
We're flying off to Canada tomorrow. Ottawa, in fact. Anne's only 24 week's pregnant, so can still travel. Our friends Ian and Sarah are living in Ottawa and have offered to put us up for a couple of weeks. And we wanted to grab the opportunity as people tell us that travelling won't be so easy after The Bean's born (I read the other day that you can't check babies in with your luggage on planes, and must take them into the cabin with you!)
They blog their Ottawa experience here, so you'll be able to read both sides of the story of our visit.
The Bean is going to be a well travelled Bean. It's already been to New York and Atlanta (though as a stowaway - Anne didn't know she was up the duff at the time).
They blog their Ottawa experience here, so you'll be able to read both sides of the story of our visit.
The Bean is going to be a well travelled Bean. It's already been to New York and Atlanta (though as a stowaway - Anne didn't know she was up the duff at the time).
Gender stereotype day
We had a busy gender-stereotype day today, doing jobs. I spent the morning stripping wallpaper in the smallest bedroom (which is to become the nursery if I can pull my finger out and get it finished). Anne changed the bedding, did some washing and put washing away, made bacon butties for brekkie, cleaned the bathroom, stewed some (home-grown) rhubarb, and roasted some (home-grown) tomatoes to make pasta sauce.
Yes, that sounds like Anne did loads more than me, but mine was one big job and hers were lots of smaller jobs. Stop nagging me.
After lunch (soup, for those who care) we went to a "nearly new sale" run by the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) to see what sort of things you can buy there (we weren't intending to buy anything - just looking). We'd only been there a few minutes when it became clear that Anne had a bad attitude and wasn't going to be much use. She got all hormonal (something that she never used to get before she got pregnant and so finds it particularly hard to deal with) and ended up in tears. She announced she didn't think she could cope with kids and would rather be living in London and drinking in All Bar One after work.
In order to make her feel better I took her to a local garden centre and bought her some new gardening gloves. That did the trick.
Anne later said she didn't mean it about All Bar One.
Yes, that sounds like Anne did loads more than me, but mine was one big job and hers were lots of smaller jobs. Stop nagging me.
After lunch (soup, for those who care) we went to a "nearly new sale" run by the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) to see what sort of things you can buy there (we weren't intending to buy anything - just looking). We'd only been there a few minutes when it became clear that Anne had a bad attitude and wasn't going to be much use. She got all hormonal (something that she never used to get before she got pregnant and so finds it particularly hard to deal with) and ended up in tears. She announced she didn't think she could cope with kids and would rather be living in London and drinking in All Bar One after work.
In order to make her feel better I took her to a local garden centre and bought her some new gardening gloves. That did the trick.
Anne later said she didn't mean it about All Bar One.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
The Spawn of KT Returns
We had our 20 week scan today!
The photo we got isn't as good as the 12 week one (I don't think it is anyway) but it was great to see the little tyke kicking and moving. We saw its heart beating and they did lots of measurements. Everything (they could see) was fine, and sizes were slightly above average. Yay - a behemoth bean!
Exterior view:
%205-754191.JPG)
Interior view (click for larger image):
Well I didn't originally think it was too good, but Anne's just pointed out to me that you can see its toes. I think that's pretty cool.
Halfway there now. Not to be opened until after Christmas...
Interior view (click for larger image):
Well I didn't originally think it was too good, but Anne's just pointed out to me that you can see its toes. I think that's pretty cool.
Halfway there now. Not to be opened until after Christmas...
Monday, August 08, 2005
Fancy that
A few weeks ago Anne and I went to a five year old's birthday party. Given out impending parenthood, Simon and Kate had thought we might like a taste of what they have to put up with day in day out, so invited us to their son Sam's party. It was fancy dress, with a superhero theme.
Sam, who likes The Incredibles (as do I) went as Dash. His two year old brother, Nathan, went as Noddy. Not really a superhero, but I let it pass with just a stern word. We had to decide on costumes. We don't have a lot of imagination so it was a bit of a strain. Here's me with Nathan:
That's right, I was The Hulk! The funny thing is, Nathan didn't seem to think it odd that I was green from head to toe. (Less than a week later, the area of Birmingham we were in was hit by a "tornado". No one seems to have connected the extensive damage with The Hulk's appearance, so I'm keeping quiet.)
Anne's was slightly less exciting and went as Catwoman. Julie-Newmar-era Catwoman, you understand, not Halle Berry.
I have to say, it was slightly exhausting with all those kids running around everywhere. It's a good few years before we have to put up with kids of that age, so perhaps we'll be better equipped to cope by then, but Anne and I had a great time as some of the few adults there withoput any real responsibilities.
I went on the bouncy castle and I had ice cream.
Most of Sam's school class were there and he had lost of gifts. Some of the gifts were pretty good, and I look forward to my kid getting presents I want to play with. However, some weren't so good, and I look forward to upsetting my child when I tell him/her that he/she can't have the latest plastic tat his school friends are raving about.
Sam, who likes The Incredibles (as do I) went as Dash. His two year old brother, Nathan, went as Noddy. Not really a superhero, but I let it pass with just a stern word. We had to decide on costumes. We don't have a lot of imagination so it was a bit of a strain. Here's me with Nathan:
That's right, I was The Hulk! The funny thing is, Nathan didn't seem to think it odd that I was green from head to toe. (Less than a week later, the area of Birmingham we were in was hit by a "tornado". No one seems to have connected the extensive damage with The Hulk's appearance, so I'm keeping quiet.)
Anne's was slightly less exciting and went as Catwoman. Julie-Newmar-era Catwoman, you understand, not Halle Berry.
I have to say, it was slightly exhausting with all those kids running around everywhere. It's a good few years before we have to put up with kids of that age, so perhaps we'll be better equipped to cope by then, but Anne and I had a great time as some of the few adults there withoput any real responsibilities.
I went on the bouncy castle and I had ice cream.
Most of Sam's school class were there and he had lost of gifts. Some of the gifts were pretty good, and I look forward to my kid getting presents I want to play with. However, some weren't so good, and I look forward to upsetting my child when I tell him/her that he/she can't have the latest plastic tat his school friends are raving about.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)