The Final Countdown

I hope you all had a nice Christmas and are looking forward to Hogmany and 2012. Julia and I have been busy over the last week catching up with people and getting ready for when the baby arrives. Not long now! Her due date is the 3rd of January, though obviously most first time mums go a week or so after that.

Christmas Day itself was very relaxed - we had a roast dinner over at Paul and Simone's house and Simone and Ange did very well getting so much lovely food prepared. Larry and Ange stayed with us for a couple of nights after Christmas and we had a chilled Boxing Day, watching the cricket (Australia versus India in the first match of the Test Series) and drinking a few beers. Simone and Claire came over on Tuesday night and we had a Barbeque.

My integration into Australian culture is proceeding at a great pace. I've learnt more about cricket in the last few weeks than I have in 10 years or so in Scotland, and my barbecuing skills are coming along nicely. I got a special bbq apron and a bbq kit for my Christmas including tongs, a spatula and a funny scrapey thing. I cooked steak and chicken kebabs on Tuesday night, and then for our friends Martha and Penny on Thursday night I cooked Indonesian style prawns and chicken with rice and papaya salad. It was delicious, though I did end up drinking far too much and paid for it on Friday.
Last night we were out with Paul and Simone at a Mexican restaurant. Basically we are getting all our socializing out the way before the big day comes and we are at the beck and call of a spewing pooing crying cute and cuddley monster.

We saw the doctor again on Thursday and she is getting geared up for when the baby is due to arrive. She even said she wouldn't let Julia go too far beyond her due date and might start inducing things a week after if nothing was happening. I don't know if we'd prefer to have it all happen sooner rather than later. There's still lots to do.

It's New Years Eve today and we're planning a very quiet one. Also it's above 30C outside today and forecast for about 36C tomorrow, so its another day for staying in with the air conditioning. On days like this they often declare a total fire ban which includes not having any bbqs at all. I don't think its quite got to that yet today but we are just having salad for tea. Maybe tonight we'll get out for a small walk.

So the baby's bag is packed, Julia's bag is packed and today I'm going to pack my bag as well (I don't want to be left out). Julia's belly is very big now and the baby is doing lots of squirming as if its practicing what to do when it comes out. We've borrowed a car from Larry and Ange and I did a practice drive to the hospital on Thursday. It really is the final countdown now. I even had a dream last night that the baby had arrived. Though I did also have a dream where Julia was up a tree having a fight with a pigeon.

We are on red alert and I'll let you all know when we have exciting news to report.
In the mean time have a great New Year.

Barbecue Man

No Wasps!

Carlton Gardens, near the Hospital