Walk the plank/ We live to tell the tale

Yesterday we were taken under the care of Capt Koen and First-mate Fleur- our first sailing lesson on the Zephyrus. We had to learn the official terms, Heave and ho and ropes are not ropes. My job at first was to sit low near the pointy end (stern?) and avoid getting my head hit by the main sail bar (I know that's not the Mast). A few seconds after the safety talk, the weather suddenly turned into the Perfect Storm and we were keeling over and taking in water. Seriously! And I took charge of one of the non-ropes (I had just had to let it go at the right time). It was terribly exciting and afterwards it rained SO HARD it wasn't even possible to drive. Thanks to Capt Koen, we live to tell the tale.

I can just eat her up!

Is it Rusty (the dog), is it Tyrita (the spanish Tyra) no it's .........Superman! Superman eats meat so she can fly- and is so cute you just want to squeeze her! In my childhood obsessions I used to be Nadia Comaneci.

Details

We saw hand(s), foot, stomach, heart, spine and that's about it... S/he turned circles and kicked after some prodding (coughing) from Kelly but otherwise slept peacefully throughout the scan (I know I don't like to be woken up!!). Now it's 12 weeks, due to arrive around 12 Feb, thank goodness there's something to distract from the long winter this year!

*Advertising Feature*
Moeders voor moeders is a great program that uses the hormones from pregnant women to help others get pregnant. Since the 6th week I've been collecting my pee which is picked up by an anonymous red van and taken for processing to extract the Human chorionic gonadotrophin that is used for both men and women to aid fertility. And those who have used the hormone preparation can in return, donate their pee when they've been successful- that's great karma!! So remember if you're in the situation:
mothers for mothers
*end Advertising Feature*

Akemi's Birthday

We celebrated Akemi's birthday on Sunday (2 days early) by going golfing (again) and having a picnic (it was just a regular curry and rice dinner that we decided to turn into a picnic at the last moment) and we had spontaneous guests (Fleur, Koen & Patricia) also join us for the moveable feast. It was a divine day!

Very exciting video

This video might put you to sleep, we found it very exciting! It kicks like daddy (probably a boy then) and sleeps like mummy.

Week off work...

We both had a week off work which was needed to sleep and get away from the non-airconditioned 37degC workplace (babarians). Swimming, summer festival (1 week of live music every night every where you turn in the city centre and food stalls on the street till late) and..........golfing- Douwe's new hobby. What do you think of his swing pa?

It's a heat wave, I cannot move without leaving a sweaty patch behind. However the water is deliciously cool. The last picture shows hippy circus girls (one was playing the accordion at the water's edge and the other handstands, both topless) doing backflips and other circus things in the water. Dirk and Douwe thought it didn't look too difficult (background music: anything girls can do boys can do better)......check out the video

circus 2

Take 2

Meeting Timo Meijer

We finally saw Marjolein and Justin being Timo's parents! He's a little wonder (and he also tried suckling from douwe's chest- er...no jokes about why it was his and not mine, thanks). The amazing transformation to mother, father, grandparents, aunts and uncles, family all by that little bebe.