Saturday 23 November 2013

Settling down

After an exciting and nerve wracking first three weeks as a new family followed by a couple of weeks of visitors, we are now settling down. Settling into a new type of normal now we are plus one.

Thank you cards have been written, posted to the mainland and delivered across the island. Over a hundred new baby cards have come down and the front room is looking a little bare!


But it feels like we are getting into a relaxed pattern and the days seem to be passing by very quickly. The mornings start with coffee, followed by baby smiles as it is definitely Marcus's favourite time of day.


We have small aims each day like to get the house hoovered or attacking bakery paper work. I have learnt to lower my expectations as to what I can achieve. I attempted to get my sewing machine out earlier this week but this was not to be- my plans for homemade Christmas presents have now gone out of the window!

In between these little activities we are busy undertaking important jobs like making friends.


And chilling with daddy on the sofa.


We have also been meeting with friends. Marcus is the third baby to be born in a baby boom year on St. Martin's. The fourth was born 5 hours after him, the fifth was born on Friday and the sixth is due in spring, exciting times for a small island! Marcus is very lucky to already have so many pals and it is pretty good for me too! We have had our first baby and toddler group at the new reading room and it was great fun. Marcus really loved it and soaked up all the noise and activity around him.

The weather has been a mixture of strong gales and glorious sunshine, it is the time of year where I have a woolly hat in one pocket and sunglasses in the other!


We have been meeting up with the other babies and mummies for walks and it has been great to get out for some good exercise and fresh air. In fact our walks have been too long, we haven't had time to stop for tea at the end, something that we need to rectify!

Mostly we have been learning so much about our little man.

He loves-
  • Music, he concentrates so hard when it is playing and has such a funny expression.
  • Light, there is nothing more interesting than our living room lamp.
  • Bath time, he loves being in the water and has learnt in can kick his legs against the side.
  • The bell in his stripy whale, it provides entertainment for approx. 3 mins.


He hates-
  • His hat, is there anything more insulting than having a hat put on?
  • Getting ready for the bath.
  • Getting out of the bath.
  • 5pm, not a good time of day!






Friday 15 November 2013

A new addition to the family

Last week was the week of the McLachlans. Despite a slight set back with the weather everyone made it over to St. Martins. And it turned out being stranded on St. Marys in the Star Castle hotel presented Tom with a pretty good opportunity...


Barney and I couldn't be happier for a more lovely couple!


Ellen is already a firm part of the family but I am a believer that marriage cements relationships, not just between husband and wife but between family members. I am very excited to have a lovely sister-in-law and fellow Mrs E McLachlan!


I am sure Ellen will agree with me that the McLachlan family is a special family to be a part of.


Plus Jo needs some help with all those boys! That is slightly unfair, they all managed very well with a week full of baby and wedding talk!

We had some lovely weather when everyone was here and spent a particularly nice day on Tresco. It felt more like spring than autumn with the hydrangeas coming into flower already.


We had hoped to spot the red squirrels that have been recently released on Tresco but instead we saw this very colourful and confident pheasant!


We had lunch in the New Inn, I will always have a special affection for that pub given it's where my waters broke! We spotted this signed picture of the Culdrose navy helicopter and of course Marcus had to have his photograph taken next to it. Poor thing, he's never going to live down his arrival into this world!


Back on St. Martin's we took advantage of a low tide and some sunshine to walk across the flats, it was hard to believe it was November.


Marcus loved the week with his family. Grandma got lots of smiles, Ellen got lots of cuddles and Uncle Tom got hi-fives. But one of his favourite times was being sung to by Grandpa.


Barney and I are now desperately trying to remember the songs of our childhood to sing to the little man because he really does love it. However I don't think it will be a patch on Stuart's rendition of The Rose of Tralee!

Everyone has left now but it is less than a month until we head back to the mainland for Christmas. We can't wait for more memory making times with our families.

Saturday 2 November 2013

Against the odds

As October came to an end these gorgeous narcissi have come back into season.


Narcissi are associated with the islands as the warmer winters we have here means the season starts much earlier than on the mainland. Their heady scent takes me back to when I arrived on the island nearly five years ago to work at Churchtown Farm, a postal flower company. I still work part time at Scilly Flowers as the marketing assistant (although I'm now on maternity leave) and the novelty of having a jug of narcissi in the house still hasn't worn off!

At this time of year Barney and I usually head off on holiday and to catch up with family and friends on the mainland. However with the arrival of Marcus this year family came to see us. Last week when they were due to arrive the storms were forecast and it wasn't looking too good. But against all of the odds everyone made it. We have had the most wonderful week filled mainly with lots of baby cuddles...


Walks in the wind, rain and sun...


Sewing, Mum helped me finish off the chair cover I started nearly a year ago, such a relief it is now done!



Meanwhile Mike helped Barney build a chest of drawers and Kate baked some seriously tasty muffins for our little Halloween party.



Of course it wouldn't have been a Halloween party without a pumpkin, a joint sisterly effort!


Thank you Scotts, it's been fab!

Now for the McLachlans to arrive. So it turns out there are storms this weekend too... Against all of the odds and a rather bumpy flight Tom and Ellen made it to St. Mary's this morning. However the sea is too choppy for the crossing to St. Martin's. We have our fingers crossed they will make it over tomorrow!


(This photo doesn't do stormy weather justice but trust me I had sand blowing in my eyes!)

It's funny to think when we planned for our family to come and stay we were worried Marcus wouldn't be here yet and they would have travelled all this way to see a very grumpy pregnant person! But we needn't have worried.

Our little boy is now one month old. He has grown and changed so much. This photo was taken in hospital and it does make me a little emotional when I see it. Such a small little thing!


The main change is his strength, he can lift his head and is not far from being able to roll over. He has also found his lungs, boy can he make a noise! He also loves looking at light and every day seems to be taking more and more in. One thing is for sure, he still a real cutie.



He is also a very lucky boy to have such dedicated family travel all this way to see him.