'You're doing a Maria'

So said one of the ladies at Church, on hearing of my latest hobby! Having acquired a sewing machine some time ago, I have recently had a go at making some clothes for the girls - these trousers are made from a pillow case (hence the reference to Maria - Sound of Music). Other items include a skirt and matching top. I've also just finished a dress for myself, and am pleased with the end result. Maybe I'll post a photo, if Andy takes me somewhere smart so I can wear it!

Esther's newest hobby seems to be playing with the washing machine. When it's full she likes to watch the clothes spinning, if it's empty she'll poke her head inside! (Emilia was just the same at this age!) She also enjoys posing for photos (can you tell?!)

Travels in our Bongo, part two - Blackpool

Our second trip away in the Bongo was to the Baptist Assembly in Blackpool over the last Bank Holiday. We had fun again, camping at a haven campsite and going off each morning to the meetings. We met lots and lots of people that we know from all over the place.

Emilia enjoyed the children's activites and the family funday on the Sunday!

More highlights!

Obviously, the main highlights of the last few years have been our girls, who keep us amused and entertained ....

but we have also enjoyed celebrating Andy's graduation from Bristol along with his ordination in July last year

... and several more holidays in tents (how much do we love camping? Of the six wedding anniversaries we have celebrated so far, five of them have been at campsites in various and random locations! Number seven is also likely to be the same!) And we have recently moved 'upmarket' in the camping stakes, with the purchase of our Bongo

Andy and Shona, still going strong!

9th May 1998, 10 years ago ......

...a shy young theologian approached a shy young linguist (via her friend!) and love's young dream was born!

Here are some highlights from the last 10 years! With apologies for the poor quality of the photos - these were in the days before digital cameras and also when Andy had longer hair than Shona!

Shona dressed up and ready for the first date, along with her friend Elizabeth who was going out for Lemon Chicken!

The location of that first date was Pizza Express, Exeter, followed by a walk around Marsh Barton Industrial Estate, oh yes, Andy knew how to impress me!!!

And it obviously worked, since 6 months later we took a trip to Torquay to celebrate half a year together! (Awwww!) It was cold and we circled the town many times searching for the public convienieces.

During our third year at University, Shona lived in France. We spent many hours and many pennies chatting on the phone and texting (on our HUGE new moblie phones). We also enjoyed several trips across the channel, including a weekend in Paris for my 21st birthday - a day sightseeing and a day at Disneyland with Shona's parents!

In July 2000, Andy popped the question! He took me to Torpoint to watch a football match (still an old romantic!) and then down to Looe in Cornwall for tea. While we were walking on the beach he got down on one knee, and I gladly accepted. At which point he opened the rucksack he'd been carrying so protectively all day and we toasted our engagement! The date was set for August 11 2001, and after much planning and crafting (and sitting of finals) the big day dawned!

For our honeymoon we returned to Looe in Cornwall, and spent a fortnight in a tiny little cottage on a holiday complex.

Since then we have enjoyed lots of holidays together, mostly in our tent - the furthest away from home that we have camped was in Copehagen in August 2003, we managed to cram everything into our backpacks, and took a cheap flight to Denmark. It was awesome!

The furthest from home that we have ever ventured was the following year, when we visited our good friends the Fage Family in Namibia. We had a fab time and would have stayed longer if we could have!

A couple of months after returning from Namibia we discovered that our lives were about to change sigificantly, as we would move from Exeter to Bristol, and also that we would be welcoming a new addition to the family!

To be continued ...