Tuesday, July 06, 2004

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.

Monday, July 05, 2004

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.

Sunday, July 04, 2004

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