bath time

had my first bath with robin this morning - not easy keeping his body under water (and therefore warm) and his head out (and therefore breathing) but great when he was.

am generaly feeling a bit out of my depth with everything like holding, bathing him etc but am not too stressed by it all - am looking forward to getting better at it and finding the things he likes.
bea's already found he likes having his feet licked (!) and he can often be heard loudly sucking things, often his hand, but also his arm (he gave himself a lovebite yesterday!) and even other peoples arms which is quite amusing.

he's great.

something else...

he's a boy.
not a girl.

apparently theres been a rumour going around that robin's a girl.

he most certainly is not.

and the winners are...

dan cooper, and kate hamilton!

dan was only 1oz off the birth weight, guessing a round 10lbs (robin being 9lb 15oz),
and kate guessing the 26 july - a huge 3 days out, but still the closest.

so then - preferences for drink - white, red or other?

that moment did come

bea got to eat her placenta. no pics for this one i'm afraid - bea did actually say it was like liver but nicer, and that she'd choose it over liver given the choice.

in the end, it was bea's mum who cut and fried it all up.
it left our bedroom smelling a bit like a little chef i thought - fried meat and tomato ketchup.

not as grim as i thought it'd be.
bea loved it

went a travelling

yesterday i got to go out on the first outing with robin using the sari that debbie jones had given us. he wasn't too keen on it at first, but once i got walking, he stopped crying straight away and went to sleep. we went down to see ben, charlotte and isaac, then si wilkins, then joy and isla, but none of them were in, so i went up to the shops to get a drink instead.
a very enjoyable and exciting experience we had.
or at least i did - robin did sleep the whole way.

day 2 in the big baby household...

9:26 am

robin's had his morning bath and got dressed in a new outfit including fluffy teddy bear boots which are almost too small.

11:52am

bea discovers "that addictive smell" that your own baby has.
have to say i got it from him too.

little video to watch

right click here and "save target as" to get a small (1.34mb/ 9sec) video of him gurgling and spluttering in the cute way babies do - taken about 30 mins after he was born.

robin ezekiel marshall

worship trick no. 12 for overdue day 12...

jonny baker listts wwjw (what would jesus wear) as worship trick no. 12. however, it's not overly practical as you have to do cutting and sticking and colouring. instead, i went to the 'zine link on the grace website which was where wwjw was at. i found a cool bit of liturgy which is what i'm posting as worship trick no.12 today.

it's called confession and is great - i would love to have a corporate opportunity to say it together.

alternative worship tricks...

johnny baker has lots of worship tricks up his sleeve. the last day or two i have found myself really drawn to his blog and i've been browsing through these tricks.

as today is my 11th day of being over due i thought i would access trick no.11 which is to do with prayer.

go to the labyrinth and click on station 10 - others.

it was acool way to pray for my family - mum and dad celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary today which meant my brother organised some amazing gifts from us kids so i had much to be thankful for and i was reminded to pray for my granny who is 18 months without poppy who died after they had been married for well over 50 years.

cathers came round tonight and was sharing about her experiences from her recent aiya nappa mission trip. she shared from somewhere in the new testament about Jesus pointing out to us that its not us who chose God but He who chose us and later as she prayed for me, she thanked God for chosing me to be my parents' daughter and I was also really aware that it's amazing that he chose them to be my parents. As hard as life is sometimes and as hard as families can be, the knowledge that God specifically chose you all to be inrelationship together is amazing.

news update...

today there was the usual parent-craft/ante-natal drop-in session at the hospital so i walked there and back. i gave myself an hour to walk there but it only took half an hour. the walk back took a little longer - my groin has been really aching lots.

i'm on the caullyphylum (sp?) which is a homeopathic remedy which should encourage contractions when my body is ready. if there's no baby by friday i'm popping into hospital for a scan and monitoring. they'll check the fluid, placents, baby and me. i'll also have a sweep (a cervix and membrane thing).

really wanting to get the baby out before pressure to induce starts - if i get induced i have to have a hospital birth. hopefully they'll not induce for as long as the scan and monitoring show no distress.

anyone know any news on grace and robby? their blog has been silent for a few weeks (in itself not a problem) and i'd love to hear news if there is any.

latest news...

there is still no baby. i have a very achy groin and i'm starting to get a little uncomfortable. one of the midwives has shown me various reflexology points so i shall be giving them a go.

oh, and i've also developed mild carpal tunnel syndrome but it should disappear after the baby arrives.

this baby has the laid back attributes of its father and certainly none of the punctuality of either parent!

painting the town red...

baby marshall has still not decided to come out. last night sam and i went into town (after a brief stay at dan austin and jason's new pad) and hit the bars. we were trying to find non-towny bars or venues but it was very hard. we were left wondering where other people who don't follow all the fashion trends and don't straighten their hair religiously, and also those that have even one alternative bone in their body, go for their night's out.

anyway - our evening consisted of bar sola, cubanas, the green room and then the devonshire cat. mostly popwl just stared at me and really didn't know how to appropriately respond to a 9 month pregnant woman. we did get chatting to a lovely couple though who were really interested in the bump and how i was doing - they were utterly amazed that at 9 days overdue i was out on the town!! i was very flattered when the guy said goodbye to us and sid that he hoped the baby would be as beautiful as me!

today i got a bit frustrated because the morning was fab - we went to the monthly farmer's market and then i rested. in the afternoon i went out in the wirly gig with caroline and ben to the park and i couldn't get the sliding door to close properly. by the time i got home i had totally loost hope and called andy out to help. something seems to have unhinged or something and the door won't close properly so tomorrow we'll take her to get looked at. there's a place just up the road that does classic vehicles, particularly campers.

the thing is, this left me feeling crap in myself and desperate for comfort - i went to church and the first thing that was said by the guy leading was "what are you expecting from God tonight/" and i knew that my expectation was to receive his comfort. i had an amazing time of letting go of all these things i had been hanging on to and realised that he really would lift my burdens. then i cried lots and felt lots of release. God is great.

pancakes for tea - mmmm!!

also an IQ test...

Congratulations, andy!
Your IQ score is 133

This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others.

Your Intellectual Type is Precision Processor. This means you're exceptionally good at discovering quick solutions to problems, especially ones that involve math or logic. You're also resourceful and able to think on your feet. And that's just some of what we know about you from your test results.

IQ test

After taking the IQ test, linked from ant and caroline's blog, I am pleased to declare the following:

Congratulations, Bea!

Your IQ score is 131

This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others. Your Intellectual Type is Insightful Linguist. This means you are highly intelligent and have the natural fluency of a writer and the visual and spatial strengths of an artist. Those skills contribute to your creative and expressive mind.

fnm

is goin ahead. no baby.
so its still here, 7pm onwards.

no.... no news...

no baby yet.

in the meantime, this is quite an amusing things to see - i was only thinking the other day that its about time w bush's rival will start popping up in web based humour a bit more...

fnm: watership down

ooohh yes.
this friday, we show the classic from our youth, watership down.
whether we were scared of general woundwort, amused by the crazy seagul, freaked out by the trippy sequences, thrilled by the escape from efrafa or saddened to tears by the sad deaths that occured ("bright eyes.... burning like fire...."), this is a film that will surely be pulling at the sentimental, emotional and nostalgic heart-strings of us all.

this one's taking place at our house (3 freedom road, walkley) on friday 23rd july, starting at 7pm.
if the obvious gets in the way, there'll be a blog going up with the alternate address (so do check), but for now, bigwig, pippin, cowslip, hazel, fiver and friends (and enemies) will be appearing on the 28" (widescreen for what its worth!).

all welcome, bring drinks.

ahhh...

....ceilidhs...
i miss them.

photos are up...

in a rare display of punctuality and initiative, i've got the photos from last night up on the blog for all those who weren't there (and those that were). whole page of them here.
will have to have another mini party again soon with a keg of beer and the camper...

the ponderosa festival

hoorah

well the party was wonderfull - didnt feel i got to speak much to anyone - maybe needed more seats... anyway. it was great fun all the same... the home brew went particularly quick - i thought i'd have half a barrel left over to have at another party, but it had all gone half way thru the evening.
the van was a strong point on convergence/ convenience throughout too which was great...
 
but no - no baby yet, and no signs of labour either.
 
more news as it happens...

camper van in place...

its all coming together... picked up the camper van this afternoon. its now parked in the area across the road. she's luuurrvely.
guided tours and certain occasions throughout the evening....

home brew ahoy

have just tried a glass of the homebrew and am pleased to say it is at leats drinkable. although i think most of my home brew is drinkable, i may however be a little biased. anyway. if you fancy some, then there'll be plenty to go round. it is perhaps a little harsh and could do with a couple more weeks in the barrel, but it looks awesome

not such a great day today...

i didn't sleep well last night which has left me tired and cranky pants. i have snoozed this afternoon which was good but i think maybe my mind is trying to clear itself of junk before the impending labour and the concentration that i assume is required!

andy went for a job interview today but he doesn't feel it was all that good - as ever they wanted office experience and andy found himself in the same chicken and egg situation of 'need experience to get experience'.

i'm about to make a big chicken curry for the labour inducement party tomorrow night and then i shall try tidying - i could do with a splurge of nesting instinct!

i have noticed over time in blogging circles that some poeple get frustrated if others take a blogging break. that doesn't bother me too much as there are seasons for all things. illogically though i am bothered when everyone seems to be taking a season of not commenting. good for me to recognise this bothers me as it shows where i try to find my worth - oops!

it's raining here too and it's st. swithen's day and the bus driver told andy that if it rains on st. swithen's day it will rain for 40 days and 40 nights! good for the garden if not fo mental health!!

flyer...

labour inducement party update

i forgot to get a box of sierra nevada pale ale for the party, the order going in yesterday morning, so i asked if there was anything else i could buy off the stock shelves of the dev cat at cost price, and as luck would have it, the grimbergen opyimo bruno was available in large quantities. so we now have 12 bottles (actually 11 - i had one last night with laurence) - which'll be plenty at 10%. it was suggested it could be used as a toast at the party in the place of champagne.
so anyway.
things are progressing nicely for friday. will check the barrelled beer tomorrow i think just to make sure it'll be drinkable, otherwise a blog will go up telling people to bring their own beer...

midRange sessions

various artists
format: CD (coomb02)

In March 2002, Coombe records began a monthly event - midRange - dedicated to minimal and electronic sound artists working within the realms of electronica, mellow acoustic instrumental, ambient and field recordings and other forms of guitar and lo-fi music, shaping a sublime turbid undertone of moods, listenable in a silent - audience participating - environment. There were many artists creating this kind of music but limited outlets for them to be heard in concentrated surroundings.

Coombe have now compiled a cd of the artists who performed live at midRange or have been involved with us at some point to contribute some of their music to appear on this special limited edition compilation.

The cd will feature Midnight?s Silent Repose [UK], Yoshio Machida [Japan], Brown Sierra [UK], Dual [UK], . m u r m e r . [US], iD [UK], Paul Hood/Katsura Mouri [UK/Japan], Troum [Germany], Motion [UK], G. Richardson [UK], Slow Sound System/Posset [UK], Karina ESP [UK].

The artists appearing on this compilation form an exploration of the creative collision between a sound environment and the individual mind, originating a sculpture of layered and minimal gliding harmonies performed via live instruments, or constructed through self made objects and producing unique and engaging timbres. Often resembling incidental music for film, creating a brooding emotional response, this compilation captures a mélange of mood and imagination.

available soon...

blah blah blah

v good eve at the cask and cutler. not sure why more dont come. belgian's best beer at only £2.70 a bottle, england best beers @ £1.50-1.90 a pint...

so si wilkin's is taking what he calls a hiatii, a gaggle of breaks, a murder of rests, a sorority of sabbaticals, one of which being from leading worship, another being from blogging, so the deletion of his blog template was no mere mistake but a deliberate act of hiatus (?)...

and of course impending parenthod is looming, so you may never find us in such a far fetched climes at the cask & cutler. but then even farther afield places may find us home, once opun our camper is ours.
greenbelt, cornwall, wales, scotland, belgium, germany, bavaria.
and beyond...

and unlimited downloads helps... goonies, nirvana, be good tanyas, kate rusby, curve, breeders, sonic youth, alison krauss, mary whitehouse exp, pod, bigbrother etc...

ah, for the occasional mishap by the powers that be.

this is bea blogging - not andy! do NOT be deceived!!

so I've just got back from church and i realised that i (and we) have had an amazing week of God's presence, blessing and provision. i wanted to list some of the things as testimony is powerful and builds up the church. this list is not exhaustive - God has done much that i will forget to write, or am not even aware of...

:: provision of the beautiful whirly gig
:: provision of the finances for the beautiful whirly gig
:: breakthrough with emotions and attitudes towards impending labour
:: awesome time of intimacy with the Father in the cathedral - fresh revelation and many reminders of what God has done or spoken before!
:: ace time of prayer with diane and sharon for the three of us.
:: good time of mentoring with my mentor - felt really affirmed and encouraged
:: spoke to heather miller - at this end it felt beautiful and such a privilege
:: found cool desks for my bastilling table so put down a deposit
:: water leakage turned out to be less serious than expected and hasn't stained the paint work!
:: read andrew jones' blog and was inspired and fed by his doodlings on prayer
:: found a cute t-light lantern for 50p in a charity shop - i think it will belong with whirly gig

it's our labour inducement party on friday night (16th), starting at 7.30pm. there'll be curry and music and stuff. please come to encourage the baby out into this beutiful world!

After God's incredible provision of our beautiful whirly gig we are keeping our side of the bargain. This means we are selling my alto saxophone and our car.

The alto saxophone is a vintage SLM Gold Medal. I bought it 10 years ago for £750 and these things increase in value. I'm trying to get accurate valuation at the moment.

The car is a Rover 220 SD turbo which is 1996 P reg, 5dr, 51.3mpg. It's value is £2,081 (according to 'what car? online) but because it needs £250 work on it (as quoted by autosave), we'll happily sell for £1,750.

If you know of anyone who may be interested please pass on our details to them.

when it rains, it pours.

found that not only does our bedroom window leak water when it rains, but now our living room frame is somehow letting in water.
i cannot believe this!

the whirly-gig

a new addition to the family - the most amazing camper van we could hope for, is now pretty much ours. we have paid a deposit on the vehicle having been out to see it again this evening. we had a little trip out in her to wentworth and it drives amazingly well, especially considering it's 5 months older than i am! it can seat 4 people with belts, and can sleep at least as many, its got automatic gears, a 2 litre engine, good stereo, a fridge, a pop-top and soooo much character its untrue! in the past couple of years its been to cornwall, glastonbury, france etc.

so we've already got a years worth of holidays planned for her - greenbelt, cornwall, scotland, geneva (to visit my dad and jenny who've helped us out BIG time with buying it!), and hopefully sometime some breweries in and around belgium, bavaria and germany at some point.

And God's been amazing too in keeping it back for us - the amount of times we thought we'd lost it or just couldnt afford it, and it came back to us.

i've not been this excited about something we've bought in ages - more than the house!

so we should be able to pick it up mid next week, in time for the labour inducement party on the 16th... for now, the piccy will have to do.

overdue... but not late....

whilst the baby prayer shower happenend last week, i've finally got round to putting the photos of bea's henna tattooed tummy. hopefully you can see all the writing on it...

rogue beers...

not sure why this is getting a whole blog of its own, other than perhaps to encourage our american friends to support an excellent beer trade over there and keep drinking the fine stuff made by your fellow americans.
(and not the rubbish stuff!)

other special mentions go to shiner bock (texas), the pike and anchor (san francisco), sierra nevada (chico, ca), alaskan smoked porter (alaska presumably), petes wicked ales (somewhere north) and fat tire (texas again).
if only we could get these in england more easily...

on a positive note, our local, the cask & cutler, i've noticed does sell the westvleteren 12. for those i've not explained it to, of the 6 trappist monastaries that produce higly alcohol ales, one of them refuses to distribute any of it. the only way to get any of it is to go to the monastary itself, knock on a hatch and buy them off a monk. and you're limited to a maximum of 3 cases at a time. its that rare. anyway, they somehow sell it at the pub and it tastes amazing, especially comnsidering its a 10% dark ale.
yumm yumm.

bea's news...

so i haven't blogged for a while. i have been busy and therefore tired! i can't quite manage my time well yet since being off work but i'm learning. i have discovered that it's best if i don't book things in for the morning.

debbie jones and shannon have just been up to stay which was amazing. i was going to head back to london with them for the weekend but my new skills of setting personal boundaries (!) and being sensible about looking after myself meant that i decided to stay put.

on wednesday night i had my baby prayer shower. the english don't do baby showers as a rule but a few girls i know have had prayer showers and this was something that i had wanted to do too. it was amazing - God really showed up and gave some amazing words and blessings and affirmation. it was all girls and i felt saturated by God's love and my friends' love. God had told me to get some henna for body tattoos so everyone chipped in with their design and I have a big tattooed belly now! andy took a couple of pics while the henna was drying so i think they'll go up in the next couple of days.

i am starving all the time the last couple of days. i think the baby must be having a growth spurt - very exciting as i have been told by more than one person that a heavier baby is generally easier to give birth too - but not too heavy!!

i'm now at the stage where i'm uncomfortable a lot of the time - in bed and when sitting down, particularly i the car. i've also started getting up to pee in the night ( a miracle i've lasted this long - some women know they're pregnant because they find themselves peeing all night long!!).

marco is out of the big brother house. this is sad becasue he was a great source of entertainment. i am not yet addicted to BB but well on the way. my excuse is that it gives me quality time hanging out with my next door neighbour because she's the one with the TV license. i also watched wimbledon on her TV - saw henman have his ass whipped - good job too as the english will now be able to get back to normal! the final is this weekend so may have to watch that - not sure!