brandarling

Introducing Junior!

2012-01-12T10:21:00.000Z

First this:

7 week scan, 23.04.2011

became this:

12 week scan, 26.05.2011

which became this:

21 week scan, 02.08.2011

34 weeks

39 weeks

And on Monday 12 December at 19.20, Junior arrived!

It has been an eventful month. We came home from the hospital on the 14th: S's birthday and Day 2 for Junior.

Second morning

Coming home from the hospital

Day 13 was Junior's first Christmas, and the entire family came to celebrate with us in London.

Junior met his grandparents and aunt from West Yorkshire, as well as his grandparents from California. His aunt, uncle and 8-month old cousin came from California, along with his cousin's other set of grandparents. In order to accommodate everyone, we rented two flats nearby and it was amazing to spend Christmas and New Year's together.

Junior also took his first Tube ride to Camden. We had intended to go to the London Zoo, but spent much of the afternoon at the Lansdowne Pub instead, with a brief stop for P to enjoy the swings in Regent's Park afterward.

Now, one month later (!), his grandparents are still helping us get into a routine while Dad goes back to work. Junior's job is to regain - and exceed - his birth weight, so we are on a fairly strict feeding regime, sprinkled with midwife visits and advice. We are all getting along fine, even if sleep eludes us throughout the night, and we are so happy that Junior has joined our family.

Happy one-month birthday!

To watch Junior's progress, please bookmark his photo stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/juniordarling/

Junior also has an evolving wishlist of books he would like to read with us: http://www.amazon.co.uk/registry/wishlist/18O0GURVQWJOS

Ready for Junior

2011-12-07T09:38:00.000Z

Well, according to the 12-week sonogram, Junior is 3 days late. According to my own calculations, he is due tomorrow. Either way, we are ready for him when he gets here. I have had my hospital bag packed for several weeks and S is waiting for me to summon him back from work.

My parents arrived from California last week. We were a bit worried that they would have trouble getting here, since the public sector announced a one-day strike on 30 November which included a large number of immigration officers at Heathrow Airport. As it turned out, though, enough passengers were scared off that they got through immigration in about five minutes and no one even bothered to check their six suitcases (one of which was filled completely with goodies for the baby). What a relief!

They have been helping prepare Junior's space in our bedroom. Grandmamasita has been busy sewing, knitting and shopping. Grandpop is engineering a hanging device for the stroller at the bottom of the stairs. And everyone has been waiting anxiously for news...

Meanwhile, I am pleased to report that I am still feeling fine. I always feared that I would have a difficult pregnancy but it has been relatively easy: very little nausea, normal (well, for me) energy levels, decent appetite, almost no pain or discomfort, no swelling. I worked until Week 35 and only took two days off when I was not feeling well. I'm still walking, carrying home groceries, cooking and sleeping well. In fact, I think I might be too comfortable - Junior obviously feels happy inside or he would be making more of an effort to appear.

We are encouraging Junior to come late today or early tomorrow so that S can have the rest of the month off work. Come on, baby! We can't wait to meet you xo

baby talk

2011-11-08T13:46:00.000Z

I don't have to tell you that American English and British English are not the same. Sometimes you find subtle differences ("call me at..." vs "ring me on...") and sometimes they are more obvious ("elevator" vs "lift"). Ever since I obtained British citizenship, I like to joke that I am bilingual in English. I can spell it color or colour; organize or organise; curb or kerb.

There are two areas in particular where I have noticed the biggest divide: cars and babies.

Car and vehicle terminology varies widely: tire/tyre, trunk/boot, stick shift/gearbox, gas/petrol, rental/hire. Working in transportation and logistics for the past few years, I have started to adopt the local words, for ease of communication if nothing else.

Now I'm learning a whole vocabulary. While it is not yet second-nature, I figure there's plenty of time to confuse Junior later on - I might as well try to be consistent at first. Here is a glossary that I have started in no particular order (British to American). Hope it helps his relatives on both sides of the Atlantic!

antenatal :: pre-natal
Moses basket :: bassinet
carrycot :: bassinet
cot :: crib (although these seem to cross over a bit)
bath the baby :: bathe the baby
pram, buggy, pushchair :: stroller
babygro :: onesie (as well as more terms for each in both countries)
dummy :: pacifier
nappy* :: diaper
breastfeed :: nurse (some cross over, but preferences in each country)

*which gives a whole different meaning to the song we used to sing to put my sister to sleep: "it's happy nappy time..."

Aside from spoken and (eventually) written English, I would like to teach Junior sign language. My dilemma is American Sign Language (ASL) vs British Sign Language (BSL). I studied ASL for several years in high school, and while I don't remember much, it would be far easier for me to pick it up again. But would BSL be more useful in the long run? Or will it really matter if I just stick to a few basic words like milk, more, hungry, want, yes/no...?

Junior, like me, will be a dual citizen. I wonder if he will develop a London accent, which neither S nor I have. Will he be able to switch between American and British accents? Which one will he favo(u)r someday? Will he struggle with other languages? How much Japanese will he learn if I teach him?

It's exhausting/knackering just to think about it!

Invasion of teh Cute...

2011-11-08T12:52:00.000Z

...or as I have begun to think about it, 'baby creep.'

Not as in 'my baby is creepy' but as in the baby is slowly creeping into our lives.

Junior with Grandma C at 34 weeks

My bump is getting bigger. I went from a small, high bump just under my chest to a beach ball in the space of about ten weeks. Amazingly, most days I don't feel as huge as I look. S compares it to boiling frog syndrome, with the gradual growth over nine months allowing me to adjust to the change. I still have enough energy to walk around, carry bags, go up and down stairs, and run errands.

I can't say that the changes to the flat have been as gradual. The remodel is now done - we have fresh paint on the walls, new carpet throughout, and we have been rearranging furniture to accommodate the small human who will join us soon. We are, or at least I am, in nesting mode now.

So I have been washing tiny clothes.

And buying beds.

Combination infant bed, changing table, and play pen to see us through the first few months while Junior sleeps in our room. Eventually he'll move to a crib/cot downstairs.

And researching every type of pram, pushchair, buggy, stroller, carrycot bassinet, carseat, and 'travel system' on the market. Our main concerns were:

Stairs from the front door to the hallway with very little storage space, either at the bottom or the top
Transportation dominated by walking, buses, and the Tube
No car, but times when we will need to put Junior in a car (for example, getting home from the hospital)
Bumpy sidewalks (pavements)
Inclement weather, especially since Junior is expected in early December

Originally, a pram with a carrycot seemed like an ideal solution. The pram would allow Junior to face us; the carrycot would allow for easier movement up- and downstairs; and the carrycot could also double as a bed if needed. But we would still need a carseat on occasion, and the pram would have to fold small enough to keep near the door.

Enter the Baby Jogger City Mini.

After a brief flirtation with the (expensive! but impressive) Bugaboo Cameleon, a helpful shop assistant in John Lewis suggested the City Mini with a Maxi Cosi carseat. It was not until he showed me how to fold it - with one hand! - that I fell in love with the idea.

They should market it as the 'folding bike' of strollers. For the same reason that I bought a Dahon, I became obsessed with the City Mini. Turns out, it is quite a popular model with the yummy mummy set in London. It's easy to maneuver on buses and Tubes, it's rugged enough to go to the park or push through snow, it's lightweight and simple to fold, and incredibly it doesn't cost a fortune. Where the consensus seems to be that most families start with Bugaboos and move to Maclarens after a year, most Baby Jogger owners use the same stroller for years.

So Junior has his first set of wheels now. We chose a carseat instead of a carrycot after all - we can use it with a 3-point seatbelt in virtually any car, which will be useful for minicabs, rental cars, and (gasp!) our own car if we ever feel a need to buy one.

We are not quite ready for Junior's arrival just yet. There are still a few key items we need to prepare (primarily nappies/diapers and bathing gear - oh, and a name!) but we are getting closer, at least in practical terms. Mentally I'm not sure we'll feel ready for parenthood until ... ever? ... but I'm enjoying letting this little boy creep into my life.

irish wedding

2011-11-07T13:25:00.000Z

It is unlike me to wait so long before blogging about a trip, but here it is...

Our friends C&S tied the knot over the August bank holiday in C's native Ireland. Knowing that it would be my last chance to fly before the baby arrives, and our last chance to get away for a while, we decided to make it a mini-break.

We flew to Shannon and rented a car; then drove to our B&B just outside Tipperary in the scenic Glen of Aherlow.

We spent our first full day exploring the area and taking advantage of the well-signposted walks (between rain showers!)

outstanding in their field

The wedding took place on Saturday in C's hometown of Hospital, near Limerick. Try googling "hospital, limerick" for directions to the church... I promise that what you are looking for will be the last link you'll find. But as it turned out, the route was fairly easy and we found seats with all the cool kids.

Perhaps as could be expected at an Irish Catholic ceremony, there was an emphasis on C&S's new married life together and encouragement to procreate. Inwardly, we wondered what their one-year old daughter thought of being excluded from the references to the joys of future children, but the three of them took it in their stride. Maybe words matter more if you place importance in them. The correct sentiments were there in any case, and C&S couldn't stop smiling - which is all that really matters!

The reception was held at the beautiful Aherlow House Hotel, overlooking the valley.

lucky private moment with the bride and groom

We indulged on scones and jam with tea and coffee while the other guests arrived and the bride and groom mingled. Sitting down to dinner later with nearly 250 other people showed just how happy we all were for C&S, and there were very few dry eyes when the bride's father sang her the loveliest song... (S will have a hard time topping it when their daughter gets married someday!) Gradually tables were moved, the band set up, and the dancing began. I'm sad to report that we didn't last long after midnight, but the party continued until at least 4 AM.

The following morning, we woke up late and had given up the idea of breakfast when the phone rang. Our wonderful Irish hosts would not take no for an answer: 'come down and we'll give you breakfast. Go on, go on, go on...'

We continued exploring the area, heading first to Cashel where we found the local brass band playing (practicing?) in the town square.

We walked up to the famous Rock of Cashel and enjoyed the views from above, although restoration efforts meant that it was not as picturesque as usual.

From there, we proceeded to Cahir Castle. Maybe it was the presence of blue sky, or the absence of scaffolding, but I preferred Cahir Castle to the Rock of Cashel. Fortuitous timing also meant that we got there just in time to join a free tour.

On our final day, we drove back toward Shannon Airport via Cork.

Driving in Ireland was remarkably easy but danger never seemed far away. Big trucks rush down narrow country lanes. Speed limit signs of 100 km/hour are posted just before tight curves (how?! and why?!). The slow lane is for passing...or for parking... And there are signs and reminders everywhere to stay on the left.

I could understand it on our rented car (many tourists come from parts of the world where you drive on the right) but presumably the locals should know? Entering Cork was harrowing, only because we ended up right inside the city centre with no real idea of where to go. Fortunately we were able to park the car and walk around.

After lunch, we got back in the car and drove to Blarney. Here are some facts about Blarney and the Blarney Stone that we hadn't anticipated: they charge 10 euro for the privilege of kissing a (presumably unhygienic) rock that has been kissed by strangers for years...and there's not much else to do in Blarney.

So we went along to Bunratty, (immaturely making fun of the name: 'Bunratty, heh heh') but got there too late to go inside the castle.

All that was left to do was have dinner at the local pub, check in to our hotel, check out a mere 12 hours later, and fly home...

We had a lovely trip. Ireland is comfortingly familiar from both an American and British perspective. Born as a Cassidy, I feel an automatic affinity for the Irish. And now that I live in the UK, Ireland's rolling green hills and full breakfasts are similar, though not the same. Looking forward to our next trip to the Emerald Isle. But maybe Northern Ireland for a change?

not-so-restful rest day

2011-09-28T13:14:00.000+01:00

The painters have finished! In 14 days, they painted the bedroom, living room, hallways, and spare room (S prefers to call it his office, but I think Junior might find it useful as a bedroom fairly soon.) They stripped back the wooden banisters and trim and re-varnished everything. They fixed the window sills, inside and outside. They painted the doors, door frames and edging. They even re-painted the wood covering the hole in the ceiling that leads to the attic.

The good news is that we love the new colo(u)rs. We chose a very pale green - almost white - for the main walls and used a slightly darker light green for feature walls in each room. The banisters have gone back to their original dark color. We had intended to make them lighter but as it happens, several coats of varnish scuppered that plan. I would be upset if they didn't look so much fresher than before; plus the dark wood gives a nice contrast to the clean, bright walls. We also chose a glossy white for the doors and trim. I hadn't really thought about the difference between glossy and matte before, but I like the extra sparkle.

During the painting and sanding, however, we discovered that the flat was virtually unlivable. We spent the first four nights camped out on/in our bed (the only piece of furniture we still had access to) amid the dust and paint fumes before fleeing to Brighton for the weekend.

After one night back from Brighton, S cleverly decided that it wasn't worth putting our health (and Junior's) at risk any longer. He booked us into the local Holiday Inn Express - certainly for its convenience, not for its glamour! Facing the ugly, hated Colliers Wood Tower, and undergoing refurbishment of its own, I can't see how they can justify their prices, but at least it was clean...

Living in a hotel and eating out every night was beginning to wear thin, though. The painters finished their work yesterday and recommended that we give the final coats a day to finish drying before beginning on the carpet tomorrow. So the flat is resting in its semi-completed state.

Living room, still not very livable

Bathroom, AKA closet

Kitchen, almost completely inaccessible

Spare room, the only empty space left

Which brings me to the title of this blog. The flat is resting, but I'm not. Some combination of eating out for two weeks, Junior churning in my abdomen, and a possible stomach bug (?) kept me up all night. The midwife didn't think it was anything serious but recommended that I not go to work today.

Of course, after nine nights and a lot of £££, we had chosen this morning to leave the hotel. That left me with several options: extend the hotel reservation for one day/night; go home and rest as much as possible; or go to work after all.

Between daytime TV at the hotel but no internet, or internet but not much else at home, I chose to come home. I restocked the kitchen with a few essentials that don't require much prep and would be kind to my tummy (milk, bananas, yogurt, bread). I changed the sheets on the bed. And I'm catching up with hundreds of articles in my RSS feed. Not the most restful day ever, but far better than the chaos of my office.

I'm looking forward to having the carpet installed so that we can put everything back together again. All in all, several weeks of inconvenience is a small price to pay for a virtually new flat but it feels longer than that. I just hope Junior likes his home as much as we do!

preparing for junior

2011-09-11T20:38:00.000+01:00

living room shelves

We remodeled our kitchen a few years ago. Then we remodeled the bathroom last year. We have always intended to work on the rest of the flat - new paint, new carpet, fix the windows - and we started researching the project in March just before we found out I was pregnant. We would have done the project anyhow, but with a little one on the way, we decided not to wait.

bedroom shelves

One of our main objectives has been to use our small space better. Perhaps there is a better way to arrange the furniture. Perhaps there are better shelf options. Perhaps our choice of colo(u)rs will make a big difference.

We also want something that is easy to clean and maintain. Even without a baby to consider, neither of us is particularly good at cleaning on a regular basis (I admire people who can do it daily or weekly, if that gives you any indication).

apparently the walls were both lighter and cleaner at one point

So we decided to hire an interior decorator, not that we didn't think we could figure it out on our own, but we figured that a professional might have some other insight or expertise to offer. After several months of contacting people, it boiled down to a woman whose style sense was more traditional and posh than ours, and a man who can best be described as a hipster. We went with the hipster.

As the clock kept ticking, we entered the summer months. We went to California for two weeks. Just as we were ready to kickstart the project in August, we found out that the hipster was going on holiday for most of the month. We spent the next few weeks on our own, finding a decorator/builder, sourcing carpets, choosing paints, and generally doing the things we expected the hipster to do.

what's left in the bedroom

We are now ready for the project to start tomorrow. Or at least, we are as ready as we'll ever be. I used to wonder why so many people wait until they are six or seven (or even eight) months pregnant to move, remodel, paint, etc. Now I know: they may not have a choice!

In the meantime, S has been a superhero, carting books and valuables up to the attic we never used before. We have filled every inch of the crawl space in the bathroom with clothes and other essentials. We are anxious to see what tomorrow holds - where will they start? Will we have to move out? Have we packed enough?

Stay tuned for the continuing adventure!

California, baby...

2011-07-31T19:32:00.001+01:00

S and I spent two weeks in Berkeley and Lake Tahoe with my family. Unlike our usual trips, where we spend most of our time focusing on sightseeing and scenery, the major themes for this trip were people, food, and relaxing.

At 18-20 weeks pregnant, this was Junior's second trip abroad before birth. Any worries I had about a ten-hour transatlantic flight were allayed by the comfort of Premium Economy seats on Virgin, and a relatively easy pregnancy so far. The effects of jet lag and altitude sickness in Tahoe were not worse than usual. Even better, I had the benefit of support, hand-me-downs and advice from my sister and best friend, who had babies within three weeks of each other in April and May.

This was The Baby Trip.

It was so nice to see my sister and brother-in-law as proud new parents, not to mention my parents as doting grandparents. This small (but rapidly growing!) person has taken over everyone's heart.

But if one baby manages to attract the attention of every adult in the room, two babies and an energetic 3 1/2 year old is almost unbearably cute.

I wouldn't normally post a video of someone else's child(ren) on the internet, but this is too funny not to share.

At the park, H discovered the curly slide - an upgraded plastic version of the metal one I used to play on when I was little. With determination and enthusiasm, he climbed up and slid down again and again...

And we did manage to do some light hiking and exploring as well.

Memorial Point near Incline Village, Nevada side of Lake Tahoe

Eagle Falls near Vikingsholm Castle, California side of Lake Tahoe

Snow in Tahoe Meadows

Above Lake Tahoe, near Brockway Summit

Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

It was a great trip and I miss everyone already... A bit scary, but mostly exciting to see what lies ahead for us with Junior. I had such a good time reconnecting with friends, family friends and family. Thank you to everyone who came to our party and a special thank you to everyone who kindly gave us gifts for Junior. It's becoming more real everyday!

The Week in Planes :: 16

2011-05-31T19:27:00.000+01:00

Simple Simon, 24.05.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: good

Wombat, 26.05.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: so-so
Design: why call it a wombat if there are pictures of kangaroos on the wings?

Delta Dart, 30.05.11
Foldability: slightly difficult
Flyability: OK

slowly changing wardrobe

2011-05-31T19:19:00.000+01:00

Never been so happy to wear a shapeless sack! (Or leggings, for that matter).

Thanks, Gap!

tinydarling

2011-05-26T20:42:00.000+01:00

Announcing... Junior at 12 weeks!

Or so we thought. At the scan today, we were surprised to hear that they think I'm actually 12 weeks 4 days already. Accordingly, they have adjusted my due date to 4 Dec.

Everything is normal; there is a very low risk of Down's (which was the main point of the scan). Junior is measuring just over 6cm.

The sonographers were kind and informative. They spent nearly 45 minutes with us (mostly because it took a while to get the baby into the right position to measure the back of the neck) and let us listen to the heartbeat. It was amazing to watch it jump around, roll around, stretch and contract (mainly contract). Hard to believe there's a small person moving inside me. It does look human, or at least, humanish. We could see a face, 2 hemispheres of the brain, 2 arms, 2 legs, torso, heart, bladder, and stomach.

I also have a fibroid, which is currently measuring larger than the baby, probably why the baby wasn't stretching very much. They're not worried yet, and it is well-placed at the top of my uterus, but they'll keep monitoring its growth.

Speaking of hearts, I was invited to participate in a cardiac study of pregnant women: they are comparing a heart condition called left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) in black and white women. It seems that black women develop this condition during pregnancy more often than white women, so they are trying to see why there is such a big difference, as well as looking for ways to treat it. I thought it would be interesting to know more about my own heart, so I went for an ECG and ECHO before the scan. Everything was normal and I got to listen to my own heartbeat while watching it throb on the screen - eerie, but cool. I'll go for another ECG and ECHO when I have my 21-week scan at the beginning of August.

So happy that everything is going well..and I'm looking forward to the 2nd trimester. It's beginning to feel a bit more real everyday.

The Week in Planes :: 15

2011-05-21T16:39:00.000+01:00

Glider, 16.05.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: good

Drone, 17.05.11
Foldability: so-so
Flyability: not great

Starship, 20.05.11
Foldability: OK
Flyability: good

The Month in Planes :: 8 Apr - 13 May

2011-05-15T16:25:00.000+01:00

You may have noticed that I have fallen behind in posting the Week in Planes. Never fear - I'm still folding them and taking pictures with instagram; I just haven't blogged about it for a few weeks. Some of the initial excitement wore off once the models began to repeat, but that also means I am getting better at folding them. Here are some highlights from the past few weeks.

Wombat, 10.04.11

Flying Fish, 11.04.11

Predator, 14.04.11

Sideslip, 16.04.11

Loop, 19.04.11

P-51 Mustang, 25.04.11

Piggyback Jet, 29.04.11

Arrowing, 03.05.11

Ladybug, 05.05.11

Double Eagle, 09.05.11

Flying Mantis, 10.05.11

B-2 Spirit, 13.05.11

Secret Knitting Project

2011-04-30T20:26:00.000+01:00

Dear Bébé,

As I write this, you have not joined our happy family yet.

I do not know if you are a boy or a girl.
I do not know your name.
I do not know if you have red hair with blue eyes
or
brown hair with green eyes.

But I do know that you, like your Mom and Dad, will be a
loyal Giants fan.

Heartfelt congratulations to my sister and brother-in-law on the arrival of their son last Tuesday. They successfully kept the gender a secret, which made it slightly difficult to plan a knitting project in advance. One thing was certain, though: this kid would have baseball and ice hockey in its DNA.

I wanted to make a plush toy for them, and found this seal pattern on etsy. I had some orange yarn (which my sister had actually sent over xmas to encourage me to crochet a goldfish...) which seemed fitting for the Giants' mascot, Lou Seal.

I think it came out quite well, especially for a first attempt (I loathe frogging...)

Next, I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran to knit the Classic Cashmere Sweater from Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies, my go-to pattern for baby sweaters. Stockinette gets boring fast, though, so I designed a 'SF' logo for the front:

The finishing touch was a pair of Garter Stitch Booties from the same book.

The photos don't do the yarn - or dare I say, the creations? - justice, but the real star is my nephew. I've seen him on iChat but I can't wait to meet the little man in July.

Big kiss to everyone in California! xo

Rhodes Road Trips

2011-04-25T18:23:00.000+01:00

The easiest way to explore Rhodes is by renting a car. We drove down the East Coast to Lindos first.

We stopped along the way at the Seven Springs, which were slightly disappointing:

Sign helpfully says, 'The 7 Springs are at your left.' Wow, that's it? Good thing there is a sign because we definitely would have missed it.

We continued down the coast, and reached Lindos around 1 PM.

The main attraction is the acropolis which looks out over white-washed houses on one side, and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. We decided to go straight to the acropolis before lunch; fortunately we got there before it closed at 2:40! Not quite tourist season, apparently.

Lindos was beautiful, despite the threatening rain cloud which kept following us.

The next day, we drove down the West Coast to the Valley of the Butterflies. We had the place mostly to ourselves and enjoyed an ambling walk through the trees.

Mountain crab?

Continuing on, we visited the acropolis at Kamiros and had a late lunch on the beach.

S's parents go to Greece every year for their holiday. Having been there at last, I can see the appeal - but I still preferred the perfect weather of April rather than the heat of August/September.

Happy 5th anniversary, S!

Symi Island

2011-04-25T17:51:00.000+01:00

Symi Island is a popular day trip from Rhodes, accessed either by ferry or high speed catamaran. We chose the faster option, which just meant I had slightly less time to wallow in my seasickness getting there. Oof.

It may be their 'Pride' but it was my nemesis...

Thankfully, the pace of life is pretty slow on Symi so there was no pressure for me to recover quickly. We spent a while walking around the scenic harbour.

Symi's fortune was made by sponge merchants (no, really) and most of the old houses date back to their heyday. We took a long walk up through the houses, many of which are currently being repaired and/or sold.

Work horses bringing supplies down the hill...

...and back up again

Greece's most forlorn donkey?

Later in the day we walked around the other side of the harbour, where we found a shipyard and a beach. The Lazy Days was enjoying a peaceful retirement.

By the end of the day, I was finally perking up - just in time to go back to Rhodes. Fortunately the boat ride back was smoother. Next time, I'll look into helicopter options, though...

Rhodes :: Old Town & New Town

2011-04-17T20:31:00.001+01:00

We spent a week on the Greek island of Rhodes (also known as Rhodos, Rodos, or Ρόδος), which lived up to its sunny reputation.

The Colossus of Rhodes, considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was said to stand above the harbor. These days, the harbor boasts two statues of a stag and a doe - according to legend, the deer scared the snakes away from the island. Personally, I agree that the deer make a better mascot. But the main attraction seems to be the fishing, which attracts lively groups of men who manage all to talk at the same time (a gift we observed in many of the locals.)

Lighthouse seen from the Gate of St Paul

Rhodes Old Town and the Palace of the Grand Masters are surrounded by a dry moat, effectively two sets of walls that protected the people within.

I half-expected to see a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail played out above the turrets. Alas, no Trojan rabbits...

Inside the Old Town, a series of narrow streets appear to be designed for maximum confusion - it is easy to get lost - while providing shopping and cafes for eager tourists.

Preparations for Easter

Our idea of relaxing is walking around (with SPF 50 sunscreen) taking photos, exploring back streets, and enjoying mellow lunches in shady spots. However, Rhodes also appeals to beach bunnies and underage lager louts who drink beer out of oversized boot-shaped glasses.

Just south of the New Town is the acropolis of Agios Stefanos, more commonly known as Monte Smith.

We also visited Rodini Park, which was largely deserted on a Wednesday afternoon...

...except for a peacock who proudly displayed his tail for a passing peahen.

And throughout the week, as the weather got better and the tourist season got closer, the beaches began to come to life.

The Week in Planes :: 14

2011-04-08T20:25:00.000+01:00

Trojan, 05.04.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: good

Harrier, 06.04.11
Foldability: OK
Flyability: so-so

Swept-Wing Fighter, 08.04.11
Foldability: difficult
Flyability: good, stable

The Week in Planes :: 13

2011-04-01T19:16:00.000+01:00

B-2 Spirit, 28.03.11
Foldability: OK
Flyability: not good

Drone, 31.01.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: good

Space Orbiter, 01.04.11
Foldability:good
Flyability: better than expected

The Week in Planes :: 12

2011-03-25T19:52:00.000Z

Double Eagle, 23.03.11
Foldability: difficult
Flyability: poor

The Double Eagle stumped me again. Clever S was able to figure out that I had folded one part the wrong way and helped me solve it. Kinda anticlimactic, really. But I'm glad I know how to do it now. Thanks, S!

The Week in Planes :: 11

2011-03-18T21:21:00.000Z

You may start to recognise some of the airplanes. As the calendar promised, there are over 40 models with different variations, which means that I'll get better at folding them as the year goes on...!

Piggyback Jet, 14.03.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: OK (better with some tape to hold it together)
Design: still my favourite

Mirage, 16.03.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: OK

Arrowing, 17.03.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: good, smooth

Flying Boat, 18.03.11
Foldability: complicated, did it better the second time around
Flyability: so-so

The Week in Planes :: 10

2011-03-11T19:44:00.002Z

Orion, 08.03.11
Foldability: fine
Flyability: so-so

P-51, 09.03.11
Foldability: difficult
Flyability: surprisingly, satisfyingly good

Nighthawk, 11.03.11
Foldability: so-so
Design: cool
Flyability: awful

lessons about hot water bottles

2011-03-08T08:26:00.000Z

I asked for a hot water bottle for xmas. I have never used one before, and it took until now to try it. S, my human heater, does not understand why I would want to add more warmth to the bed, so I took the opportunity to use it last night while he is away for work.

The instructions made it clear that I should not use boiling water. I'll admit, I was doubtful that hot water from the bathtub would be effective, but if anything, it gets hotter inside the bottle. It's still warmish this morning. Score 1 for the instructions!

I also discovered that it is not very moveable - once you curl up with it, it'll be there until morning. I tried to shove it to a different position, but it doesn't slide very easily between the sheets. In the end, it was easier for me to move around it, rather than the other way around.

I don't think S will enjoy it very much, but I have something to keep me warm when he's not around now. Thanks again to my sister-in-law for the gift!

The Week in Planes :: 9

2011-03-04T20:54:00.000Z

P-47 Thunderbolt, 28.02.11
Foldability: difficult
Flyability: bad

Sideslip, 01.02.11
Foldability: fine
Flyability: fine

Wildcat F4F, 02.03.11
Foldability: OK
Flyability: OK

Loop, 03.03.11
Foldability: fine
Flyability: supposed to do stunts but couldn't get good results

DC-9 Airliner, 04.03.11
Foldability: difficult
Flyability: better than expected

The Week in Planes :: 8

2011-02-25T20:21:00.000Z

Wombat, 22.02.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: OK
I still don't see how this resembles a wombat...

Skylark, 24.02.11
Foldability: fine
Flyability: OK

Delta Dart, 25.02.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: not great