ICE ICE BABY!!!

We journeyed with Ashley to Iceland, the land of fire and ice and the midnight sun this last week. Or should it be the land of HUGE 4WDs and madly expensive beer! Our journey began in the capital, Reykjavik. A small city of less than 300,000 people, making the 'centre' pretty compact. Ash and I sampled the nightlife (Em's had an early night). It seems that in Iceland, you walk your dog at 1am and go out to the pub at 3am! As we were heading back to our hostel (at 3am) we noticed that the pub we were in was just filling! Perhaps it is the fact it never really gets dark. As you walk home in the light you do get the sense that you have had a much bigger night than you actually have.

We hired a car and headed out of the city. Within 10 km you have highway 1 (the main highway that goes around the entire country) and the occasional before mentioned 4WD and a lot of scenery. Towering mountains sit by the road. We stopped to look at Geysir, an area of geothermal activity that leads to a huge surge of water flying up into the air. We checked out some amazing waterfalls, looked at the iceburg filled lagoon of Jokulsarlon, where some Bond movie was filled. We got close and personal with the world's 3rd largest icecap, Vatnajokull, and Ash and I grabbed our iceaxes and crampons and did some glacial walking. All amazing stuff.

Oh, in naming these places, I would hate you to think we mastered the language. In fact, the reality was that our navigation revolved around. " Oh, lets go to the V place" or "It's the B place, but with the double k?" Fortunately, along with being a very friendly bunch of people, Icelanders command of the English language is flawless.

A stop off at the Blue Lagoon, a thermal pool which was actually green when we went, for a relaxing dip, and then off to the airport. A great few days, and believe it or not, we headed back with a tan! Must be the sun, ice and midnight sun!

The above was taken at 11.30pm!

Why be a school teacher?

What will hopefully be vegetables!

Trust me, it is a boat.

Some one once said that if you can't do, teach. Now as a teacher I can't say I agree with that, but there is an element (and a joy) with being a primary school teacher where you can really do things you love. I've been lucky enough to have been working at a school where you can just do stuff. Anything that may get the kids involved, excited and active.

A couple of things I've started lately have been a veggie garden and the building of a boat.

The veggie garden is at a very early stage, although we are hoping that our first harvest of potatoes will ready in early July. We have also planted some broad beans, corgettes and sweet corn. I'm hoping I might get to eat some of this before I leave.

On the other hand, I have no doubt that I wont get to sail the boat myself and a few dads and children have been building. An 18 foot wooden sail boat. The building is fairly tedious but enjoyable all the same. We are getting there, but I feel I will be in Australia for it's first launch. I guess that sometimes it's nice to simply leave things behind.

PICTURES

We have a picture in our hall that Em took when we were snowboarding in Chamonix. We were off piste and trying to get an idea of the way down. I was in front of Em and she took a snap of me with a wonderful panorama of the mountains that tower over the Chamonix Valley in the background. Every time I look at that photo it reminds me of the pristine snow, the feeling of being overwhelmed by the scenery, the wonderful sense of peace. It's funny how photos can do that, seem to suggest so much more than a simple "freeze frame".

This is a photo of our baby. We watched as it moved, we have listened to it's heartbeat, we counted it's hands, fingers and feet (all accounted for). It's just a photo but it represents so much more. What I am sure will be the greatest journey we have ever, or will ever be on. It already feels amazing. Due date, November 7...

WOW!!!

Tree Essay

Ems has been taking some photos throughout the year of a tree in front of our house. Makes for an interesting photo essay about the changing seasons. Something we love about the UK.

A week in Devon

Well, it certainly feels like summer here! We have had a great week in North Devon and have enjoyed beautiful weather. We stayed fairly close to Woolacombe, a surf beach and for two days there was some swell, so Rich braved the 9 degree water and reminded himself why we are definitely getting back to Perth!

We spent a day at the Eden Project, a spectacular "garden" which highlights our need for plants. Considering the whole thing was one guy's vision, it's very inspiring stuff.

Heading along the north coast we spent a day in Exmoor National Park, doing some walking and mountain biking. The number and quality of trails should hopefully ensure a quick return trip before we head back to Oz.

Then it was lazing at the beach, something we haven't done enough of over the last 3 odd years. We stayed in a cute, self contained cottage on a farm, so a very peaceful, relaxing week. Just what we wanted!

Spring Rocks!

Spring is in the air! With longer days and a hint of warmth in the air it was time to head out to do some rock climbing. With far too long not climbing we took it very easy. It was a really nice day (despite what the pictures suggest) and in the sunshine, you could even say it was warm! We ARE turning English!!!

Road Trip

It’s been so long since we’ve been on a road trip. Our travel tends to either be based around airports and flying or short (ish) trips away for the weekend. So with a week off, we decided to head for them there hills!

Coming from the west of OZ, one thing we don’t often see are hills, let alone mountains. The mountains are one thing we have really fallen in love with.

Driving up to the Lakes District we spent a few days around the pretty town of Keswick. With ice and snow on the big hills and without crampons, we stuck to the lower heights, but still got some great views. We were also able to hire a couple of mountain bikes for a day. The area is littered with some great 'wilderness' biking. It’s fantastic to head out into the hills. You really feel away from it all.

Heading to Fort William in Scotland, we had one thing in mind, snowboarding. It was a bit of a “want to snowboard in Scotland” feeling as opposed to a “we cant miss the epic conditions” feeling. Scotland doesn’t get a heap of snow, and usually when it does, you can't see a thing and your in a gale. So we considered ourselves lucky to get it on a relatively clear day, with not much wind, and we even got some fresh powder!!! Scotland also has a quite rustic feeling, with the need to do a bit of walking to get to lifts or decent snow, just adds to the adventure.

Speaking of adventure, the drive back to London took 13 hours! Makes heading down to Margaret River seem like a trip to the shop.

Our love affair continues…

My three hour trip to work!

Wednesday night, weather report - snow predicted in London the next day, 2 to 6 inches to fall between 6 and 9am, so the report said the commute in could prove difficult - well they weren't wrong there! I had to be at London Business School near Regents Park to deliver a training session for 8.30am, a trip that usually takes under an hour from home, although due to the report I left an hour earlier at 6.30am. Walked to the train station, it was about 6 inches deep already and still snowing hard, ahhh so pretty. THEN..... arrived at the train station to be told trains are running, waited 25 minutes then "Attention all passengers on platform 1, all trains to London have been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions" - bugger - so went to the bus stop and waited 15 minutes for a bus. Which then proceeded to get stuck in a major traffic jam.... so it was now 8am, I left home 1.5 hours ago and was about 1 mile from home! Got to the next train station, pushed my way onto a packed train, got to Waterloo - only to find out all tubes were suspended. Eventually got a cab and made it to London Business School by 9.30am .... 3 hours after leaving. Meanwhile Richard enjoyed a lovely ride to work through wintery Greenwich Park.

Snow in London

Woke up Wednesday morning to a blanket of snow over everything, even snowed in central London. It melted by midday, but was pretty whilst it lasted.

One Year On

A year ago we were celebrating our first day as a married couple in beautiful south west Australia, enjoying sunny skies and warm temperatures. So what better way to celebrate one year on by spending a weekend in wet, cloudy, damp New Forest in Hampshire. New Forest was the first National Park in England and was started up by William I who enjoyed shooting deer. Just before dusk the sun broke through and we were able to see wild deer grazing. Ems enjoyed her first year having to look after her husband who due to a persistent back problem (herniated disc – waiting for MRI to confirm) walks around more like an 80 year old. I, on the other hand, enjoyed being looked after by the most caring, wonderful wife anyone could possibly ask for. We also enjoyed some Wise Wine courtesy of Tony and Val to celebrate a year on.

Christmas and snowboarding in St Anton, Austria

St Anton.... SNOW


"Help, I'm being attacked!"





Em and David


"Do these make my hands look big!?"


We just got back from a weeks snowboarding in St Anton, Austria. Travelling with Sarah, David, from Ems work, Jason (Sarah's Boyfriend) and Ash (Rich's Brother) we had a great time. The snow was on the low side, but considering how little snow the area had it was incredible how good the conditions of the pistes were. Sarah and Jason were trying snowboarding for the first time and Ash was riding for the first time in over 5 years. They all did so well and were flying by the end of the week. Ash seemed to be a day behind in his purchasing of body armour. i.e: buying arse protection on a Wednesday having had fallen badly on his arse on the Tuesday!

The "Apre ski" in St Anton is great. A definite highlight is heading to the "Krazy Kangaroo" for several rounds. the best way to get there is to ride. Then, once you are suitably lubricated you get to strap back into your board and ride the run down to the resort, IN THE DARK! Great fun (I can say that now that no one in our party broke any bones on the way down!)

Rich's back has just survived... I'm getting an MRI scan in the next few weeks, and based on that, we will plan our next snowboarding trip... Easter? Ahh, JOY!