November 21, 2004
Bath Reunion
November 14, 2004
Property Ladder
We have experienced an eventful couple of weeks. A week ago, we made an offer on a small mid-19th century Victorian cottage outside Bristol. After some negotiation, our second offer was finally accepted. Since then, we have been busy dealing with solicitors, estate agents and surveyors, and are beginning to realise the amount of work associated with moving. As of yet, we are still awaiting confirmation of completion date, and the contract has not been signed.
The decision to buy a house has not been easy. The British housing market has started to cool down after years of continuous increases. In Bristol alone, houses increased in value by 113% from 1997 to 2002 and by an anual rate in excess of 13% since then. And many people are now expecting an actual crash in the housing market over the coming years of between 10 and 30 percent. Thus, buying a house at this time becomes somewhat of a gamble. And we can only hope to have taken into account all the risks associated with buying a house at this particular time.
October 18, 2004
Moving-duty
This weekend, Chris and I were on moving-duty. Furniture had to be transported from Chris' childhood home in Cornwall prior to the sale to various places in the West Country for temporary storage with relatives. And so it was that we not only managed to visit Simon and Joy in Merryfield and Michael and Selas, but also Robyn and Martin on the farm. The latter proving a particularly lovely visit as Robyn and Martin are currently looking after two adorable Beagle puppies. When we left the farm on Sunday morning, we also caught a rare glimpse of newborn twin calves in the field, which made me seriously rethink life in the city. However, for some reason, I can't seem to convince Chris that I am ready for country living...
October 03, 2004
Wanted: cheap cottage in the country
With both of us working, we decided to browse the housing market north and south of Bristol yesterday. First, we took Kylie to the countryside town of Dursley, half an hour north of Bristol, to look at a small cottage on a hill. Unable to locate the advertised "garden" however (a few strands of grass and three patio tiles surely does not qualify as a garden?!), we tried our luck south of Bristol. By this time, we were damp and cold from the wet bike ride, so we left our details with a few agents and escaped the weather at Nan’s for a cup of tea.
Ideally, we are looking for an affordable character cottage in the countryside with garden and garage, and within commutable distance to Bristol. Unfortunately, so is the rest of Avon and Somerset! So, realistically, we might have to settle for less!! And Bristol itself is looking more and more unlikely with house prices still unreasonable high despite a stagnant market.
June 05, 2004
Close encounters of the feathered kind
We made good use of the warm and sunny weather today, and took the MGA to Bath. After a stroll around the old city centre and a light lunch at the pub, cathing first half of England v Iceland (3-1 halftime), we headed back to Bristol via the country lanes of Chew Valley.
While the sun had disappeared in the garden by the time we got back, the roof terrace was still bathed in warm sunshine from a blue sky, and we rushed up - after grabbing a chilled bottle of wine! Only minutes later, we were sunbathing and watching air balloons taking off from Ashton Court. It wasn't long before we were joined by a young sparrow (or blackbird, we weren't sure) who spent a good 3 or so minutes examining us with not a hint of fear, which was pretty strange, it even tried to land on us a couple of times! It turned out that we were being sized up for potential dinner but after smelling Chris's trainers and then having a peck at my big toe (slightly tastier, I would imagine :) the little bird left us in search of more appropriate cuisine.
May 17, 2004
Summer in the country
Saturday, Chris and I drove down to Robyn’s on Kylie to celebrate Timothy’s birthday. It was a warm, sunny day and the ride down was really enjoyable. Also, it was nice to get away from the city and have a small break from steadily approaching thesis and project deadlines. We spent most of Saturday in the garden with the two little ones, enjoying the sunshine. When evening came, we took Tara for a long walk in the fields and countryside, disturbing a great many sleeping pheasants and rabbits in the process and getting our clothes stuck on barbed wire.
Sunday, more friends and family arrived to celebrate Timothy’s birthday, and Chris started the project of refitting a gate to Mat’s enclosure. We headed back to Bristol later that afternoon after a lovely (as always) stay at the farm.
May 12, 2004
A season of rounders
This afternoon, Chris's workmates rejoined for a new season of “rounders” (a simplified version of the Danish “rundbold”). Their team won last season, and I (as their loyal and only supporter) is convinced they have what it takes to do it again! It’s always great fun to watch them play - mainly because there’s no shortage of innovative jumps when it comes to crossing fourth base. Later, we met up with Nath and Sim for a curry. It was great to see them both again, and we had a really nice – although far too short - evening.
April 13, 2004
Easter in the country
We spent an enjoyable Easter weekend in the countryside on Robyn & Martin’s farm together with Chris’ parents. It was fantastic waking up to grassing cows and horses outside your window, wild pheasants courting in the garden (somehow knowing it was not yet the hunting season!), and some stunning views. And going to bed at night; the outside pitch black and silent. While I initially found it discouraging being dirtied with cow pat by the farm dogs on arrival at the farm, I soon realised it was all part of the experience. And I thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by horses, cows, dogs, and a rather tame rescue lamb named George (which seemed to think he was one of the dogs!) by the end of the weekend.
On Easter Monday, Paul, Chris and I took the children to the Castle Combe circuit near Bath for a race day featuring GTAs, Saloons, Aston Martins and other classics (or so I’m told!), and three modern championships, including Formula Ford and Special GTs. After watching a few races, Paul and Chris decided on a closer look at some of the racecars in the paddock. This also allowed us to get a little closer to the action and inspect those engines! Luckily – and with the help of ice creams - the children seemed to enjoy the experience as well.
April 02, 2004
Becoming a driver...
Today, I took the first steps to becoming a driver – by applying for my provisional license! And what an odd and lengthy experience that turned out to be. UK citizens may have their passport validated by the DVLA (driver and vehicle licensing agency) when applying for a license (for the totally unjustifiable sum of £4), whereas EU citizens must hand in their passport (a passport almost identical to that of UK citizens) for validation at a designated office for free! This process takes 15 working days. We naturally tried to explain the absurdity of this to the clerk at the DVLA, soon realising that it was her first day there and she was unlikely to challenge the system on our behalf.
We spent the remainder of the afternoon cruising Bristol on Kylie, discovering a fantastic and beautifully situated organic Mediterranean restaurant/ café on the Princes Wharf beyond the Industrial Museum called The Olive Shed. Here we enjoyed wonderfully tasty seafood tapas in the Spring sun, while overlooking the water front.
April 01, 2004
Back in Bristol
After spending nearly two months in Denmark, I returned to Bristol yesterday evening. Chris picked me up at the airport, still looking a little fragile and somewhat thinner!
It’s easy to forget that Bristol is much further South than Copenhagen, but it became evident when I revisited our garden a little later that evening. Daffodils, tulips and hyacinths were everywhere. Chris had been busy weeding and planting (something he will adamantly deny if asked!) while I had been away, and fighting a continuous – and loosing – battle with the blackbird and the neighbouring cats! Still, our garden looked amazing and deserves an entry!
February 01, 2004
Birdhouse capers
For many a month now we've been filling up a lonely little peanut holder, waiting a few weeks then emptying the somewhat mouldy peanuts, and religiously running through the whole silly ritual again in the vain hope that a robin or some other bird life may visit us for some free food.
Currently the only visitors to our little garden are a number of cats who have adopted it as the local litter tray and a black bird, who ignores the peanuts and digs around for worms, flicking the woodchip all over the path just to wind me up. Hopefully the birdhouse will attract some other welcome feathered friends and give something for the cats to look at whilst they relieve themselves :-)
November 25, 2003
Birthday at the Zoo
November 22, 2003
Birthday Soiree
Last night, Chris and I spent a really lovely evening with friends; Neil & Paula, Ana, Matt, Chris & Hayley, and Kryn. Because my birthday falls on a Monday, we decided to celebrate it a few days early in good company with lots of food, some of which Chris decided to BBQ in the garden.
November 14, 2003
Xmas decorations in Bristol
They put up decorations as early as possible here, like most places to get the shoppers in Christmas mood thus enticing them to spend more money!! We have bought our first box of 50 Christmas cards and I give serious thought to buying candles and other lovely Christmas accessories over the weekend.
August 07, 2003
Bristol Balloon Fiesta
Some 30 tethered balloons illuminated like giant light bulbs using their liquid gas burners, creating magical patterns against the darkening night sky. Under coded instructions via radio communication, the pilots created a variety of amazing effects from three main commands: burn, flicker and flash. These sequences were set to a special music mix, and succeeded in getting the 120,000 people gathered at Ashton Court swaying to the rythm.