Having spent a couple of weeks trying to work and getting nothing but hangovers, I returned to the dusty rock from Gatwick to find quite a different situation. The good lady was now (nearly) the size of a Boeing 747 and the youngster seemed to have grown considerably. Not just in size but with speech and understanding. He failed however to understand that Argos had sold out of Wildmutt. Presenting me with the good argument that there is the internet!

It's getting to that nerve-racking period when anything could happen. It still has not been settled where 'Whitby' is to emerge. I'm told that as a cost effective exercise, we will get in the car, drive to the ferry and have the birthing experience in the comfy confines of the Gozo General Hospital. It's only a short distance away. Apparently so is air sea rescue but 'Thunderbirds Are Go' if there on another call! This evening we go to look at another alternative, the C-Section capital of the world, Mater Dei Hospital! It has been suggested that if we go here, there is a possibility of being automatically induced, I wondered to whom!? Actually, I think we're going to have to go private!

TheO is oblivious to it all. If anything, he has become more demanding, perhaps having an slight insight that he may lose a bit of the attention. Anyway, week 33 and the unborn at 2.5 kilo's seems to be having a right old time with visible kicks and general movement form within. TheO very much into the reinvention Ben 10 Alien Force and his recently acquired figures! He currently watches Aliens Vs Monsters and Hotel for Dogs, although obviously I don't have any copies of these!



A happy boy!... who has no idea about the realities of a little brother!

I'm told that having two boys to contend with, is a lot easier than having one. I'm quite sure that I will return to this statement to discuss either from a hospital bed or a secure psychiatric ward awaiting a much deserved lobotomy. Nevertheless, I seem to have entered, and remain in, an energy draining singularity that even Arthur C. Clarke would find mysterious. It would seem that TheO has now reached the age where he appreciates who is in control, and it's sure not his parents. Bedtime has turned into Trampoline time. The only thing he now agrees to wear without a Kung-Fu fight is his Ben 10 costume. It's at this point he'll 'go Four Arms' yes, it gets messy!

In the few remaining moments that are not spent removing 'Bakugan' from my various canals, the good lady and I talk of the new arrival. He (the one temporarily know as Whitby) is now 29 weeks, growing fast and really making his presence known. I know this because I'm back picking everything up off the floor, carrying everything and like his older brother, he has a mean snap kick.

The little lad is currently enjoying Gromiti toys, Watching Quest, Storm Hawks and Johnny Test (in fact anything on Cartoon Network) and eating Omelettes for breakfast. He is looking forward very much to meeting his brother!



My, the concentration...

Having been back only a few weeks, life has returned to normal for the young man. Gone is the excitement of cousins, sand in the eyes and snowballs, Things have indeed calmed down. Not for the rest of us however! We are now nearly six months down the line with the good ladies bump. TheO has named this unborn bump Whitby for some reason! I can only assume a fishfingers packet is to blame. None the less, with Whitby's imminent arrival, the lady of the household has started getting a bit clucky! Changes are afoot! I have been instructed to create more room in the existing space and prepare the recent purchase in the next eight weeks! Of course it has to be complete with Italian designer kitchen and inside toilet!

Number two has signalled the advent of yet more responsibility! Is that possible? If anything, I have discovered that after having number one, the wine bill from Lidel went through the roof along with my ability to make the right palatable decision! Flicking through previous entries has done little to prepare for what lies ahead. The Sicilian Syrah is none too bad though, and it's on offer, might as well get a case eh!!



TheO cops a snowball! on Guildford grounds...

Apparently I have only a few days to shape up or ship out. The young man is unhappy that I have not posted his tales from an airport lounge or beach like a true modern 'blogger' would. Explanation from my side is futile!

Needless to say, we all made it to England where we we were finally coerced to take 'the' trip with an offer we couldn't refuse. London to Hong Kong (7 hour visit between flights) and onto Perth, with the young man dressed as Superman for most of it!

TheO managed to have a totally fantastic time! Meeting his cousins, uncles & aunts for the first time and even catching up with some old friends from 'The Rock' Turning 3 with a party in Kings Park gave the little man a day to remember and his daddy an excess luggage bill! (nearly)

The youngster adopted his new temporary country with relish, shouting at everyone 'Good Day Mate' whilst pointing to every Aussie flag he saw and shouting 'Stralia!
With Australia Day approaching, this became quite a frequent shout.


Hat upgrade to XXS

Four weeks of house sitting later, we took a trip to 'Rotto' and booked into the Rottnest Lodge Hotel. The Quokkas which make the island famous quickly became the little lads new friends, pointing them out whenever he spotted them. Like the Aussie flag, this also became very frequent!



Us 4 at Rottnest Island, with one in hiding...

With medical facilities all over the place, the good lady decided it would be a good opportunity to have a 5 month scan. This was to be the decider! Would there be a flurry of shopping activity for small pink dresses, Barbie's and a wedding fund? We wanted to know!



A little boy at 22 weeks!

With a plane to the UK and the holidays fast approaching, questions of 'should I pack my Bikini' remain unanswered. I'm left fumbling around unsure what to do. Do I take the blue pill and wake up in my own bed or do I take the red pill and wake up with extreme sunburn on a beach far away from the strain of fiscal responsibility. 'NeO' seems to have made his own mind up already, talking of little else than meeting Kangaroo's and seeing his cousins. I try to show him pictures of wind, rain and financial catastrophe but the boy remains focused.



Somebody is packing, or is that packed...

Looking for some clarity, I hoped that it may be found in halls of academia. As the good lady graduated from BA to MA, I could really only think Quantas. The little lad was also somewhat distracted and chose to demand the toilet twice and a walk to the shops. This did little to shorten the ceremony or the fear of being on an aeroplane for 24 hrs with a ticking infant.



Creativity & Innovation

Being immersed into a large group of brainy people must have rubbed off on the little lad though. He has started chattering away, singing songs he learns at school in the bath! Structuring his requests, he recently asked from the back of the car "Daddy, can I ask you something?" After agreeing to listen further, there was then a demand for presents from Santa which read, 'Superman, Flash and Superman" I have decided to stop him watching any more programs about Santa!

Life IS moving pretty fast. With Christmas, a trip to England, a trip to Australia and the recent 'irrational purchase', time has increased it's velocity, and prompted a more spontaneous outlook. This and the now confirmed future family addition, requires careful consideration! Australia? May do! Will buy the tickets on the day! Needless to say, TheO is undisturbed by the quandaries and concentrates on his acquisition of the entire range of Ben 10 merchandise. The T shirt, the figures and the boxed DVD sets, (an element of creativity is called for here) and of course the official 'underpants' too!

With the youngster's discovery of communication, he has managed to tell us that his favourite colour is green and that green is for boys! He has also told us that he misses his friends who have escaped to Australia, and wants to go visit! Yes, another pebble for the heavily weighted scales of indecision. At least we'll save on the Christmas postage costs for the cousins!

Despite the fixation for all things 'hero' and 'alien' the youngster has recently enjoyed 'Jimmy Neutron' and some episodes of 'The Simpsons'. Whilst I despair at times of his viewing preferences, it does provide some respite from an overactive infant. Favourite food is noodles with anything (thank the Panda) and Jelly Tots!

The good lady is now approaching the 12 week mark. Still quite early days.
Despite the complications of growing out of everything, life is good!



Eight legs, two hands and ten fingers!

The little lad has managed to thwart my recent attempt to obtain a reasonable picture. Managing to look everywhere, except in the lens, has resulted in the publishing of a 'spider' picture from Halloween. Apologies!