Happy Birthday Nico!

We can stay...

On Thursday morning our passports arrived from the Home Office with another visa for the next three years! Woohoo!

Good news for those that did not know!

Melanie and I are expecting again. The due date is the 22 April 2005. She has been feeling really ill again, but seems to be managing it a little bit better now that 12 weeks have passed. The scan shows nothing out of the ordinary.

Benjamin is very excited and keeps asking if he can talk to the "new baba". The other morning he asked Mel's tummy if the "new baba" can come out as he wants to play! Sweet! We will keep you informed of any changes.

Thanks for the birthday wishes

Thanks to all who were kind enough to contact me via text, email or phone call for my birthday. I had a great day, hard at work and at home. Mel and Ben were very kind all day long. For those of you who missed the event, don't worry there is always next year!

Phil

A Sunday morning accident!

On our way to church this morning we got involved in a motor vehicle accident. The chap in the lane to our left decided to turn right, crossing our lane, without looking. Although I tried to stop in time, I couldn't and our fairly new car (we bought in April) ended up looking like this...


This means I will have to end up using this bicycle I bought last weekend.

Look who visited today...

At long last we got a visit from Nico and Fiona. Well at least they have visited us as we haven't been to see anyone for a while. Thanks guys, other guests are welcome as Benjamin loved the company!

Another Sunday School project...

Benjamin returned from Sunday School today with a new look...

Now using FIREFOX

I have been using Mozilla Firefox for about 2 weeks now and am really getting to enjoy it. Give it a try (free download) from www.mozilla.org

Three weeks in...

Three weeks into term and we still have our head above water. Lessons are going well, but the weather has not been great in the UK. A typical English summer, but I cannot complain as I am very busy with school, home and Ben. We should have a news update in a bit, but keep visiting and leaving comments.

P

I've got one...

Woohoo! Thanks to Adam Cleaveland for the invite and I am now the proud owner of schonken (at) gmail dot com

July 2004 - Greece

We have returned

Hi All

We have arrived back in Eastbourne after spending a week in Greece and 6 weeks in South Africa. The holiday has been relaxing and enjoyable. Benjamin had a wonderful time, enjoying the winter sun, running on the beach and seeing "old" friends. Thanks to everyone for the wonderful times and awesome meals.

love Phil, Mel and Ben

PS. We will be posting pictures of the trips in a short while - stay tuned!

A visit to Drusillas

Benjamin took me to Drusillas this morning. It is a type of zoo, theme park, childrens' play area. He absolutely loves it there. He runs ahead calling us to follow as he moves from one activity to another. He was not really that interested in all the animals, as he as probably seen most of them before! The displays that had buttons to press or leavers to pull were his focus. The weather played ball and we had a wonderful day.

This afternoon was spent at the beach. High tide and therefore not much beach, but gentle waves lapping the shore. He was so happy in the water, we stripped him down to his nappy and T-shirt and he was junmping into the water. Melanie found it too cold, but we loved it. After the traditional softserve ice-cream we headed back the house to commence packing for Greece.

Books by the bedside

Here is a list of the books currently on our bedside...


One for My Baby by Tony Parsons


Mother Tongue: The English Language by Bill Bryson


Want to Play? by PJ Tracy


Rich Mullins: A Devotional Biography: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven by James Bryan Smith


Bringing Up Boys by James C Dobson

Memories

Where in the world is Benjy?

top to bottom left to right:
Old Town, San Diego; Sydney Habour bridge; Venice Beach, California; Bondi Beach, Sydney; Christchurch Cathedral, New Nealand; North Shore, Auckland; Perth, Austrialia; Surfers' Paradise, Gold Coast, Austrialia; Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Benjamin - 22 to 24 months

top to bottom left to right:
Opening Easter eggs; Eastbourne Pier; Chomping chips in car seat; This little piggy...; Train to Brighton; The Burger King; Cutting his Birthday cake; At the zoo with Megan; Riding the train with Abigail.

Benjamin - 18 to 22 months

top to bottom left to right:
Turkey at Christmas; sharing a joke; enjoying the view from the Lisbon hotel; droewors is lekker; Harry Potter impersonation; enjoying some sleep on the go; feeding pigeons in London; showing off the scar; playing with Christmas presents.

Benjamin - 12 to 17 months

top to bottom left to right:
Ben & Abigail; with Andrew & Marion, New Zealand; ready for bed; 4 generations; at play; suprise 1 1/4 birthday party in SA, August; the party-goers; Ben checking out his train cake with Auntie Lindsey, Brad, Kayla and the Greyling girls looking on

Benjamin - 10 to 12 months

top to bottom left to right:
eating birthday cake; on Eastbourne beach / pebble; various first birthday photos; with Great Auntie Jean in Scotland

Benjamin - 6 to 10 months

Benjamin - 1 to 6 months

top to bottom left to right:
Preparing for the first swim; Pooh and Piglet together; Rugby at 6 weeks; Sleeping with Piglet; Giving Aunty Gill a cuddle; Having a nap with Dad; Ready in the bouncer; The first swim; Having some lunch; Happiness is...; Ready for a walk with Mom.

Benjamin Philip Schonken - 12 May 2002

top to bottom left to right:
Melanie pregnant at 7 months; the 12 week scan; Benjamin at birth; Mel and Ben soon after birth; the new Schonken; Ben's first bath; Rugby practice at 6 days old; first family photo.

April 2004 - Family Visits

top to bottom left to right:
Mel, Jon & Sal outside the Lion King, London; Sal at Beachy Head, Eastbourne; Jon at Pooh Corner, Hartfield; Phil & Jon play Pooh Sticks at Pooh Bridge; Reunion of extended Doe clan in Winchester; Jon, Phil & Ben on Eastbourne Pier; Mel & Sal outside the Royal Pavilion, Brighton; Dad, Mom & Ben on White Cliffs of Dover; Phil & Ben investigating; Jon outside Eastbourne College; Sal & Ben on the train.

March 2004 - New York

top to bottom left to right:
Empire State Building foyer; Getting a better view; The Flatiron building; With the original Winnie-the-Pooh toys; Buying some roasted nuts; Brooklyn Bridge; Horse & Carriage in Central Park; View of Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry; Enjoying some Starbucks; Ice Rink Central Park; Some traditional Apple Pie.

February 2004 - Midlands

top to bottom left to right:
Chester high street; Outside Wedgwood pottery; on the Chester river front; Ben and Joshua Maritz enjoying a laugh together; Ben hiding in the veld; Mel at Buxton; Ben enjoying the midlands country side.

December 2003 - South Africa

top to bottom left to right:
Nathan & Kim Carr's wedding; Mel, Phil, Jon, Sal, Pete and Linds; Ben walking through the veld; Mom & Dad James in traditional Xhosa dress for a Christmas party; Ben, Kayla and Brad waiting to open presents; outside the landie at Inkwenkwezi; Ben chasing ostriches; Ben opening pressies on Christmas eve.

October 2003 - Portugal

top to bottom left to right:
Alfama, Lisbon; Beach near Sagres; Traditional Portuguese home, Tavira; Ben ready for a early morning swim at the hotel; Outside the Belem Tower, Lisbon; Tea in the Silves village square; Church bell tower in Tavira; Digging holes on the beach in the Algarve region

August 2003 - Australia

top to bottom left to right:
lunch with Erica, Duncan and Noel James, Surfers' Paradise; Ben making friends with the roos; on the lookout for more "locals"; koala sanctuary; Sydney Harbour ferry; surfing at Manly, Sydney; the Blue Mountains; snorkelling, Great Barrier Reef

July 2003 - New Zealand

top to bottom left to right:
Marlborough Sounds ferry crossing; helicopter landing, Fox Glacier; with Marlene, Marion and Andrew, Christchurch; view of Queenstown; Kawarau Gorge, world's first commercial bungy site; flight to Milford Sound; Lake Matheson

July 2003 - LA & San Diego

top to bottom left to right:
Chinese Theatre, Hollywood; cycling to Venice Beach, LA; Stars' hand & footprints, Hollywood; Hollywood Walk of Fame; the view from Santa Monica pier; Mexican restaurant, Old Town, San Diego; Trolley, San Diego; Balboa Park, San Diego

April 2003 - Scotland

top to bottom left to right:
Murrayfield ; Culloden battlefield; B&B in Inverness; Yrqhart castle on Loch ness; St Andrews Royal & Ancient; Royal Yacht Britannia; West Wittering beach; Camping in West Wittering; HMS Discovery

December 2002 - UK & South Africa

April 2001 - Brighton & Scotland

24 September 1999

"What I have vowed I will make good." Jonah 2:9

Lindsey & Peter Featherstone's Wedding - 21 March 2000

what a lekker weekend

We really had a fantastic weekend. Although it only started on Saturday afternoon, we enjoyed every minute of it. The party at the Field's was great. SA won the rugby and we spent a lot of time catching up with old friends that we hadn't seen in ages. The meat on the braai was fantasic and Ben enjoyed being the centre of attention. Thanks Dean and Lousie!

We then spent the night at Nico's place in Farnborough. Ben absolutely adores Nico and just wants to follow him everywhere. He gets so excited when we mention his name. Had a great evening and then Nico and I played X-Box after Mel went to bed. Great games!

Sunday was spent chilling with Nico, while he had to sort out some work related issues. After lunch we headed back to Eastbourne, where all Ben wanted to do was go for a swim.

Thanks to all for a great time and we will see most of you in September when we return to the UK.

P

a visit to the fields

After my last lesson today we are off the Dean and Lousie Field's place (Raynes Park) to watch the rugby (SA v Wales) and to have a braai. Let's hope the weather plays ball for the braai as Ben is more excited about the sausages than the rugby.

We are spending the evening with Nico in Farnborough before returning to Eastbourne tomorrow afternoon.

Have a good weekend!

the questions

All went well this evening at youth group.  Not quite what I was expecting, but good all the same.  Isn’t it nice to have your socks blow off every now and then by the unexpected?

 

Chris had told the kids to bring things to hand to me and I would explain how each one related to or showed me God.  Quite a challenge when you are just seated there in front of these teenagers trying hard to catch you out.

 

Here is your chance to give me some ideas on what you would have said for the following items…

            Riding Crop

            Pepper Grinder

            Packet of White Button Chocolates

            Rosette

            Packet of Tissues

A frustrating visit

After Mel picked up Ben from school yesterday morning, she took the train (or “toot-toot” as Ben calls it) to Brighton to visit an art gallery.  Very cultured, I know, but the plan was for Ben to have his nap, while Mel floated around the gallery. 

 

Guess what?  Yes, you got it!

 

Ben did not fall asleep and was pretty ratty.  This did not make for a pleasant experience.  On the way back to the station he fell asleep, so what did Mel do?  No, she did not return to the gallery, but went shopping!

A evening on the couch with...

Philip has been invited by our youth pastor to be interviewed by the youth this evening.  Let’s hope they do not come up with too many strange questions.  It is called an evening on the couch with…, but I think they are using deck chairs and making it a summer themed event.

 

I will let you know how it went later.

Three weeks to go...

My how time flies!  We have 3 weeks to go until we head off for a few days in Greece, before holidaying in SA.  Term is winding up, with the odds and ends that exist as AS candidates are returning to lessons and A2 candidates are preparing for their final exams.

 

Benjamin has now been attending playschool for 3 hours twice a week for about a month now.  We cannot tell you the difference it has had on him.  He is becoming far more confident and is prepared now to play on his own for a bit.  Even his vocabulary has improved, which Mel is very happy about.

 

I am off on a CCF field day and night out today and then we have a formal dinner on Thursday evening.  Mel is off to watch centre court tennis in Eastbourne this afternoon, which should be great fun.  The weather has been awesome over the last couple of days and Mel even thought about going for a swim in the English Channel yesterday, but better judgement prevailed and she “chickened out”.

 

Have a good day!

 

P

A day of emotions

Early this morning my IPAQ arrived. I was so excited, even woke Mel up to show her. She was not impressed!

After sitting and thinking about it and pondering over the imminent birth of my collegues first child, I realised how meaningless my excitement was this morning.

The message was pressed home futher when Mel told me one of her friends had just lost their baby after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

At least it got me thinking!

P

Sunday, a day of rest...

Well, after a very enjoyable and good service at Church (well done, Chris, Martin and Sally!) we came home to have a lekker braai.  Ben is all for braaied meat and gets very excited about it. 

After his nap, we headed to the pool for his weekly swim.  He was again very nervous, but warmed to the idea and was upset about getting out.  We had a walk and then afternoon tea in the garden (not that we have much!) 

When we arrived upstairs, all he wanted to do was phone Pa and Nana (Phil’s Dad and Mom).  Ben was disappointed not to speak to Pa as he was sick in bed, sounds like a little bit of a bug floating around in EL.  He and Nana had a very lengthy chat and after they said goodbye, Ben wasn’t through and arrived back a couple of minutes later to continue chatting.  I need to do some work for school now.

Until later

P