Rob Blog is 3

Today is the third anniversary of the day Ibolya and I found out we were expecting our first child. It was such an incredible and momentous moment and the realisation that our lives would never be the same again made me want to keep a record of what was going to happen in our lives, from that point on. So I decided to start this blog. I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to keep it going but I'm so glad I did.
I could never have imagined three years ago that we'd now be a family and have two astounding and beautiful little children.

I borrowed these pictures of magnolias off flickr as we paid our bi-annual trip to the 3rd Hampton Boy Scounts jumble sale on Saturday. Everytime we go for to the March jumble sale, Hampton is ablaze with Magnolia blossom. I absolutely love magnolia blossom and everytime we make this trip, I promise myself to buy a magnolia tree but always never get round to it.
I had my hands full with Ruby and Lucas so I couldn't take a photos myself.

Wizzy Wozzy

I was looking back, the other day, at some of the little films we've made of Ruby and Lucas on Youtube and realised what an incredible (and permanent) record they are of their childhood, our family memories and how I should be making a lot more. So here's little Lookie, taken on my iphone this evening, before bedtime. The thing he's in, that we call the Wizzy Wozzy, we bought for Ruby and he's really enjoying himself in it now, as you'll see.

Reading Half Marathon 2011

I finished the Reading Half Marathon yesterday in position 5,505th out of 12,483 and it took me 1 hour and 54 minutes. So far, my friend Richard and I have raised £370 for the Save the Childrens Fund. I'm so happy I took part in it and can't wait to do it again. Apart from the final, agonising, couple of miles, it was great fun. Nice to see a bit of Reading too which has some really lovely houses.

If you haven't sponsored Richard and I yet, you can here. Thank you to everyone that has so far.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/robertandrichard

Coram's Field

A beautiful, bright, sunny Saturday morning, in one of our favourite places, was a wonderful way to round off a really happy week.
Lookie's been feeling a lot better and continuing to sleep through, most, of the night; an absolute miracle for him after 8 months of waking every couple of hours.
Ibolya had some good news and I successfully completed, some things at work, I've been working on for a long time. On Thursday we had a lovely dinner with Stephen and Christophe. Ruby did her first sponsored event and raised £11 for Comic Relief by doing a sponsored obstacle course. And I took part in my first, organised, long distance run, at the Reading Half Marathon. A pretty fantastic week I reckon.

Stephen's Birthday

My goodness me - what a mighty day last Saturday was. I abandoned wife, children and home to spend the afternoon with Mark and Stephen to celebrate Stephen's birthday.
We started with a truly magnificent lunch at Rules. I had roast wild rabbit with wild mushrooms followed by Fillet of Red Deer with roast beetroot and chanterelles. A huge stilton and cheese board rounded things off nicely before we headed off to some fine West End public houses and a pit-stop for cigars, along the way, at La Casa del Habano on Wardour Street.

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Big Week

It was a big turning point in our lives last week. Ibolya returned to work, our daily schedule moved to 6.30am starts and 9.00pm finishes, to get everything organised for the children. Lookie started with our childminder Mary and is now almost exclusively on formula milk. I'm getting up for him in the night, taking Friday's off to look after the children and it was Ibolya's birthday on Sunday. What a week! But all the new routines are going pretty well so far.
We also had a really lovely weekend. I got to see all my sisters and most of my brothers in law, nephews and nieces, as the Bennetts were staying with the Hargreaves for the weekend. We went round there for afternoon tea on Saturday and ate the incredible birthday cake Jane had made for Ibolya.
On Sunday, Lookie, Ruby and I went to Roundwood Park while Ibolya spent her birthday morning, doing what she loves and rummaging at Chiswick car boot sale. As always, she returned with a handsome booty including a new shirt (for me), some wicked shoes for Lookie and these nice little pots.
Florrie stayed with us for the afternoon while the Bennett and Hargreaves families went to see the Lion King. Florrie was wonderful to have around and played so well with Ruby.
Kate made a gorgeous birthday cake for Ibolya and there was very little left by the end of the day.

Friday in the Park

One of the great pleasures of looking after Ruby and Lucas on Fridays are Babychinos in Roundwood Park cafe.

179 Harrow Road

I went for an early morning run along the Regent's Canal on Saturday, towards Little Venice, and ended up by one of my favorite buildings in London; 179 Harrow Road. I was sorry to see though, it's been renamed 'The Battle Ship Building'.