Christmas cat

New Christmas present from a
April.

Long time no post

It's been a long time since my last post, so here's a quick one with a photo of Flo in her new kitchen. It's from IKEA but April jazzed it up with a fresh lick of paint and some marble effect sticky back plastic.

We have a walker

Flo's been taking a few steps this past week.  Still prefers a bum shuffle but it's progress.

My plan tomorrow

Watch all the new episodes of Making a  Murderer before April spoils it again.

I've stopped my spreadsheet updates

One thing I have stopped doing these past few weeks is updating my various spreadsheets.

Not being at work means that I just don't seem to have the time anymore. It's what Monday mornings were made for.

Decisions, what to do?

Can I be bothered putting in the effort anymore?

My time's limited.
It costs me money.
Friends don't seem that bothered.

Probably not.

Halloween

Even our local butcher is getting in on the act.

F me they're big

Dropped a friend of at the physio last week so walked around a nearby garden centre before taking her home.

Look at the size of these whoppers!

April asked what could you carve them with. I suggested power tools. April suggested I don't buy a pumpkin this year.

If only I didn't have to look after Flo today

Football manager 19 released their beta last night. I've still got to look after Flo! Grrr...

Fun in London

I took Flo into London (Blackheath) last Friday to Shaheen and his daughter.  It was a good laugh and the two girls got on well.

The way there was eventful, Flo managed to shit herself which also required a full change of clothes.

We came home during rush hour, that wasn't fun...

1 year jabs today

We took Flo to get her 1 year jabs today.  Poor little girl was not a fan.  Not surprised really as she had to get 4 of them.  Early night tonight, let's hope she sleeps through.

Football Manager 2019 beta release this Friday

There's always a chance that they release it early so have been constantly checking twitter.

2 swans 2 cygnets

Plenty of swans with their cygnets on our walk round the lake today.

He's still got it

Not much left, but there's definitely something there.

Didn't think it was that windy

A tree's down in the park this morning. Must have been an unhealthy tree as it wasn't that windy last night.

Happy birthday Flo

One year old today! We made it. Let's just say it's been emotional...

Makes me chuckle every time

I see this penis every time I walk around the race course playing fiends. It makes me laugh every time.

Nosy cat

Luckily I spotted the cat before heading home otherwise I'd need to explain to April why we had a new family member when she gets back from Poland.

Birthday present

Late birthday present from the Dweebs. I wonder how long it will take April to spot it and make me take it up to the pub.

Just set up my new company

There's a couple of days wait, but should be ready by early next week.

Next task is to find a job and actually get paid.

Oh how I've missed you

I had my first pint of Kronenburg in about 6 months on Friday. Yum.

A bit bruised

But survived. This was my first game since rupturing my bicep. A few scrapes and bruises but my arm held up.

First game of the season

First pints downed. One was for dick of the day.

Meeting the local doggys

Flo's saying hello to the local dogs, this is Bella.

Poor ill Flo

Flo's got a bit of a cold, she fell asleep on me whilst climbing. Poor girl.

Can I see if you have any more new teeth?

No. My lips are sealed.

First game back

I played my first game of the new season yesterday, it's my first game since my injury last year. I played the full 80 mins and it was as much a surprise to me as everyone else. We won.

A big welcome from Tonbridge

We had a big meet up with our Tonbridge friends today. We went for a lovely Sunday dinner at the Plough in Leigh.

It was great to see everyone, and the food was great as usual.

We're home!

Last full day in the US

We're currently in Grand Rapids where we'll stay one more night before driving back to Chicago. Our flights at 9pm so will arrive back in the uk at some point on Wednesday.

Phew!

This is the life

We're staying in hotels and air B&Bs during our trip. One of the advantages is not having to clean up after ourselves. One of the disadvantages is having to turn the light out at 7:30 so that Flo can sleep.

We're taking turns in the bath and sitting in pitch black listening to podcasts.

Week left

Only a week left in Chicago We're not flying back just yet. First we're going to drive to Niagara Falls before driving back through Canada.

We fly back on the 11th Sept, arriving on Wednesday 12th.

Nearly home

I've loved these past 4 and a half months in Chicago.  It's a great city with really friendly people.  Having friends coming over for visits has been good too.  Thanks to the Matthews, Penneys, Clarks, Houghams and Olleys.

Looking after Flo has been hard work but it's been a lot of fun too.  She's come on a long way these past few months and has really got a distinct personality.

April's got 7 and a half more days of work before we head to Niagara Falls for a week or so (most of that is travelling and stopping off at various places).  On the way back we're going to head into Canada and have a day trip to Toronto.

We're finally due to fly back on the 11th of September, landing back in the UK on the 12th.  It will be nice to get back and start getting back into a normal routine.  However I will first need to find a job.

Yeah, boxes!

Best toys ever

Introducing Flo to LOTR

She's got to start sometime

I hope it's an airshow

For the past few days with been getting loads of flybys by the US air force.  The sound that these things make is emense, and it bounces off all of the high rise buildings so you can't tell where they're coming from sometimes.

Crazy golf

I'm not sure what handicap having a baby strapped to your chest gives you but I finished 2nd, a long way back from first.

April's highlight was this basket ball shot

Friend visit

We had some friends come and stay for a week last week.  It was great to see everyone.  We were very lucky as one of April's colleagues who lives in our building was away so he let us use his apartment for them to stay in.

Baseball game two

We went to the baseball again on Sunday.  The cubs dramatically won in the last play of the game with 4 runs on the last ball of the game.  It almost made up for the rest of the game being dull.

I so want this painting

I really want the Office Space painting (top left).  It's one of my favorite films and that was one of the best scenes.

The pub was full of these paintings.  Unfortunately they were not for sale.

Brewery tour

Last Saturday we went on a brewery tour of Chicago.  April wanted to go to a yarn shop and there happened to be 3 breweries fairly close by so we all headed out with her.  Chicago has a fair few decent breweries, I think we've been to 4 semi big ones.  And a couple of others that are attached to bars too.

In case you need something to stir your bloody Mary with

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you.  That is a strip of crispy bacon.

I found a new games shop a month ago

A pretty decent selection of games at this games shop.  There were the free to play ones.  The other side of the shop had games to buy.  Games Workshop, D&D plus standard boardgames too.

A great shop, that had games nights most days of the week.  Sometimes I wish I wasn't so bad with meeting new people as it might have been fun.

It's time to go for a walk

When Florence grabs the TV remote and turns it off you know that it's time to take her out for a walk.

Mr C

Florence likes these little plastic links, they're fairly good at connecting her toys to things like the pram.  However she's lost most of the ones she got from Australia.  I found them on e-bay so bought her 48 more.  They should last us till we get back to the UK.

Not a minutes peace

Now that Florence is crawling all over the place and constantly wanting to stand I get absolutely no peace and quiet (hence not many blog posts recently).  I sit down on the sofa for 5 minutes and she wants to get up there too.  Urgh, it's bloody hard work.

Star of the show

We both took Florence to her last baby play time at the library on Monday.  Flo was the star of the show.  Waving and clapping at all the appropriate times.  I don't know where she gets the extrovert gene from.  It's certainly not from us.