Sunny days in Ventnor

What fantastic blogs - what wonderful dancers your grandsons are Ad, ' it's in the genes '
 as Krysten said to me when I said what a terrific soccer player she is!
That's a fantastic photo of Kali and Alex, He's growing so fast already and Kali looks as beautiful as ever.
Peter's returned today - I'm awaiting the solicitor who's making a house call as I complained about getting the bus to Ryde! That's what I love about here - respect for the aged!
Agent just left - ecstatic about the cottage - the sky and sea are blue and all doors and windows open - it must be over 20 C He said we would easily get £250,000 for it which was a nice surprise - sea view counts for a lot.
Before him it was the rising damp man! More work needed though just for now he told me to wipe affected area with water and white vinegar - so I'll be doing that.
Man hasn't arrived to do bathroom shower and cut grass - supposed to be at 9 am - it's 3.15 and he just came!
Did a lovely walk yesterday and went to the Royal for dinner - so today I have lots to do
Next week I'll be back in Calgary - hard to believe after all this time
Miss you all lots and lots - love and hugs and kisses to you all

Alex & Mum

IMG_5386.jpg, a photo by Adrian Zissos on Flickr.

Alex took his first trip out of Calgary today and came to visit grand dad in Canmore. Puked all over the couch, so we've got a record of the visit ;-)

More photos on my Flickr account

Disco Alex

Warning for people looking at this in a public place - it has music by They Might Be Giants (so make sure the volume is low).

Here in Canmore the snow keeps falling and the skiing if fantastic. Three hours in Pocaterra yesterday - maybe another few up in Lake Louise today. The only problem is we have a big orienteering race in two weeks in Georgia and it would be nice to do some running before then! And I am organizing a race in Canmore in less than two months and I'm starting to worry the snow might not be gone by then!! Hope to see the kids/grandkids sometime this week - and of course we'll be getting a lot of MJ in a week or so when he brings his parents to Whistler for a nice break.

sunny day in Ventnor

Kali how could you be so cruel? Alexander is so gorgeous - but he will have the last laugh I'm sure! Yes - I'll be happy to go to Boots or Mothercare to get soothers  - the poor lad will need it after he sees his photos.

So many thank yous to everyone for the super photos and birthday messages - I hope that I replied to all but never know exactly what has worked on my computer - no Apple shop in Ventnor!
However this is the first blog written now that we have wifi at the cottage - so far it's remarkably good and so convenient. At the moment I'm waiting for phone calls about electricity and gas and insurance and damp course so it's lovely to be able to get in contact with you all while I wait. This has been the most technically challenging stay with TV going digital this month, tuning then  and getting wifi etc.

I tried to send photos on the blog but still no success - It's making the file that I don't get. Spring is here with warm sunny days and lots of flowers. Dave and Hazel came down on my birthday and stayed 2 nights but we managed to pack in a lot. Dave took us for dinner at the Pond cafe at Bonchurch . Michelin chef - it was scrumptious. I was trying to send photos of us all.

Peter is on the Downs somewhere. He took the bus to Brading and is walking back. He's returning early but I still have so many things to fix - damp course, some plumbing, roof insulation, change to cheaper suppliers - etc.

I look at the photos so many times , much love to yo all

Learning curves! :)

So speaking of learning curves, dad, we had a pretty good one today.  Alex had his circumcision - handled it like a champ, by the way!  At the end of it the doctor and nurse left and it was time for us to put a new diaper on our kid, dress him and be on our way......  we went to the diaper bag to find that we forgot to re-stock!  We didn't have a diaper!  ha ha ha We were too embarrassed to go find someone to ask if they had a diaper so we improvised.  We wrapped him up in the absorbent sheet they laid him on, threw a blanket on top of him so no one would notice and immediately went to Superstore to get a diaper.  It was pretty hilarious!!  Then, we got home and to celebrate the day we had some photo fun with Q-tips. :)  This is what he gets for keeping us up all night ;)   Poor kid- he gets a whole lifetime of us.

I remember when I couldn't lift my head too

I remember when I couldn't lift my head too, a photo by Adrian Zissos on Flickr.

AO & MJ came over for another great visit, filled with high entertainment, a few accidents, and the odd miscalculation - like when Charlotte threw MJ up into the air, but the ceiling was a little too low ;-) Fabulous to watch everyone growing up - I guess that's one good thing about getting older!!

more photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianzissos/sets/72157629267018274/

Happy Birthday Grandma

Hope your having a great birthday Grandma!

Lots of love

Alexander steals the bed :)

I just thought this was cute :)

Michael in Motion (iPhone quality)

Alex is 12

IMG_3026.jpg, a photo by Adrian Zissos on Flickr.

Alex had his mum bring him over to visit Grand dad AZ and Step gm Charlotte. He slept though the visit while poor mum had to try to keep her eyes open. Should have been the other way around - next time I'll rock Kali to sleep and wake up A.O.

More photos from the visit on http://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianzissos/sets/72157629588531561/

Hi Grandma!
Alex is doing good - a bit gassy at the moment, but good over all!
He is sleeping a lot, but it's rare that he lets us put him down peacefully so Darren and I are not sleeping quite as much.  But we're hopeful that we'll all figure it out and get into the groove of things.
Sounds like you're keeping pretty busy!  But I know one little guy who can't wait to meet you if you happen to come home early!  ,
We all miss you and can't wait to see you in a few weeks!!

Kali, Darren, and Alex

From internet cafe, Ventnor

Hell everyone
How are the babies - send photos! - What's happening with the boys?
I should have wifi at the cottage next Tuesday if all goes as planned but I'm beginning to get used to the planned not happening. Evrything seems to thwart.  There's a new garbage collection system which means 3 bins and stuff collected every two weeks - charming for rental properties with little space!
Then trying to get wifi phone and TV sorted. I know it's easy for you ut I don't even know the words they use I've signed a 1 year contract so will see if it works and if phone is then astronomical - change-over March 20th.
Dave might be coming down for a couple of days but he knows less than i do and he's not well at all.It will be good to see him. Peter's thinking of returning early but I have so much to do don't think I'll make it if he does.
Went to but settee at Laura ashley -  lots of measuring and choosing for days -   final decision made - fill in forms for delivery in June! then free delivery turns into £90 delivery because our access is too small for a big truck -  start again. No-one has a stock to choose instantly anymore.
Last night took Peter as a thank you for lugging a new TV from curry's in Newport - digtal changeover inMarch meant old TV didn't work -  to the Pond Cafe in Bonchurch - just fabulous meal from Michelin Chef - so some things are brilliant. Also the spring flowers.
So I need some more news of the family and your adventures.
Is Alexander feeding well and sleeping? How many teeth has Michael got now and is he rolling over?
Very much love to you all
Grandma, Greatgrandma

Canmore Spring

Reflected Sister, a photo by Adrian Zissos on Flickr.

Haven't seen the grand kids lately, so the camera's had to turn to other things - like the glorious spring weather we're having. It is hard to knock blue skies and warm days - but as beautiful as it is, you can't ski in this stuff and you get really wet feet when you run in it ;-) But there's a lot of joy looking at the cool reflections.

Looking forward to seeing the grand kids (and their parents) in a few days

My super family

Thank you so much for the fantastic photos - I'm at the Met again after a day on IOW buses and failed furniture purchases - we hope to get some food now but this is just to say you're all fantastic - I've only had half glass of wine  -  and the great grand children are extra fantastic.
I'm still having to go to cafe's Chand but will organise Skype next week -
Hope that you're all fine
Very much love, Grandma

Happy birthday AJ

AJ & MJ, a photo by Adrian Zissos on Flickr.

Here's a photo from last night's visit. There are more now at http://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianzissos/sets/72157629535465847/

In Canmore today it is incredibly beautiful. Great blue sky and warm temperatures and fresh snow.

How wonderful - how fantastic - how gorgeous

Finally I've seen the photos of the new arrival ad his cousin - how wonderful they are - cant wait to see you all .
Kali you just look marvellous and I'm so pleased and relieved that everything went so well - you lucky girl - in so many ways.  How big Alexander looks for a new-born who's 2 weeks early. I can see that he and Michael are going to have lots of fun together. I sent some small clothes to your Mum's for the baby shower - but it they arrive I'm sure that they'll be too small.

Good for Michael - his first teeth - he still looks as happy as ever. I have his photo at the cottage and it makes me smile when I enter the room. He looks so big now.

We're at the cottage just as the TV etc switches to something else and I'm in a technical fog. I do think that I've registered Wifi and Phone to start up on March 21st and bought a new TV this morning with included freeview - about 40 programmes - we'll see when it gets out of the box and we attempt to "tune " it. Easy for you guys but major stumbling blocks for me!

We had a great time with Nick, Mag and the boys though our German Train journey nearly did me in! Haven't been well since. They found a 2nd WW bomb near the line so train stopped and we piled onto station. We'd been to Heidelberg and were in small village. They said buses would be sent somewhere else so we trooped off mile to the place, glad that Germans could understand garbled messages. got to place as bus left full, promising to send another. Hour's wait in cold  - taken to another station for another train  -circuitous journey, back hours late and hadn't started packing to leave Darmstadt the next morning.

Yes Ad - grandchildren are wonderful - as are GReat grand children - I'm so lucky - to have so much joy.
Very much love to you all, Mum, Grandma, Greatgrandma,

Treat for AYZ & CharM

Tonight the kids gave us a very special treat - for the first time we had the girls, husbands (partners, whatever), and grandsons all together. Maybe this kind of thing is a bigger deal as you get older - I don't know. But for me & Charlotte it was fantastically moving - and so much fun to watch & play with the kids. I guess we're becoming those kinds of grandparents.

Baby Alexander

Hi Everyone,
After a few days home with Alex we are still completely amazed with him.  It's unbelievable how much you can love someone.  So far we are totally those parents that think every sound, poop, and movement is fascinating!
We cant wait for everyone to meet him!

Here's Alex hanging with his dad.

Alex and Mike :) 

And baby makes three

And baby makes three, a photo by Adrian Zissos on Flickr.

Alexander Owen still fascinating his parents a day after he's born

Alexander checking out the world

Alexander checking out the world, a photo by Adrian Zissos on Flickr.

Wow - what a great day. I spent some sweet time with my daughters, their partners, and their kids. That's a nice day.

Got to hold A.O.S. for a nice bit of quiet time. Must say that MJK seems an absolute giant in comparison ;-)

More photos at my flickr page