Our Baby Niece Natalie!

In August, AJ and I became an Uncle/Aunt to little Natalie Marie Humbert! She is a doll! AJ's younger sister Dani Jo and her husband Daniel live in Oshkosh, and are sweet to send us pictures on occasion! We wanted to share some with you today! Enjoy!
Sweet little Natalie!

Daniel, Dani Jo & Natalie in October.

Mama and baby!

English Automobiles!

Ever since we moved here, AJ and I have been fascinated by all of the funny, little vehicles driven around! They're hilarious! We've been trying to take pictures of some of them along the way so that you, too, can share a laugh. The standard vehicle size seems to be something on the line of a mini-Cooper! Can you imagine a family of 5 on a long road trip in one of those things?! Ha.Ha.

There are so many more car types I wish I could share...hopefully I'll remember to take more pictures along the way!

The "Smart" Car!...so cute, you want to pinch it's little bumper! Ha.Ha. These little guys can parallel park in a standard parking space!

Not your typical car...but on one sunny day, AJ saw a Lambourghini, a Porche, and 2 Ferrari's!

One of the many ice cream trucks in Bristol!

Is this a mini-mini-Cooper?


This van was parked outside of our house. It is super skinny, and kind of reminds me of Bart Simpson. Ha.Ha.

I'm not sure what kind of "truck" this is...it is TINY! I think it sits permanently at this spot next to the grocery store...so if you ever come to visit, you'll get to see it for yourself!

The Friends Who Clothe Me!

Hello There!

I've been meaning to comment for weeks now on how often I think of our Colorado friends...especially when it comes time to go to work! I've come to realize that my entire wardrobe consists of clothes that my friends have shared with me! Here's a little snippet of this week's selection:

Today: jeans & blue sweater top (both from Heather!)
Thursday: trousers (Valerie), top (Heather), grey vest (Janee)
Wednesday: pink sweater (Sabrina), trousers (Valerie)
Tuesday: skirt (Bethany)
Monday: olive jacket (Sabrina), trousers (Valerie)
Running: everything from Heather...minus the socks! :)

Thank you ladies!

Prayer for Brayan

Hello Friends!

I wanted to draw your attention to our dear friends Tony & Julie Bolos's blog (link on right). Tony & Julie are currently in Arequipa, Peru caring for children at an orphanage Tony's parents began years ago. AJ and I are so encouraged by the work they do...from loving the children to teaching them lifeskills and Christ's love...THANK YOU Tony & Julie for your investment and care!

On November 30th, Julie wrote an entry about a little boy Brayan who just arrived at the orphanage who's endured harsh, harsh reality in his 11 young years. Could you please read this entry entitled, "Cry out to Jesus" and lift up Brayan in your prayers?

Thank you!

P.S. Today is the 66th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor...

Car for Culp's!

Isn't she a beauty!?! That, my friends, is a 1992 Citroen AX...very tiny, cute, and very British!

AJ and I have much to be thankful for...and in recent days blessings have quadrupled! AJ and I are overjoyed to finally be planting roots at our church Woodlands Christian Centre, partly due to joining a Home Group (relative to a Honeymooner's...this time we're the younger ones! Ha.Ha.). At our first meeting last week, we met a bubbly lady named Hannah. Our first moments with her went something like this: "Hi! My name is Hannah...are you new here? Do you need a car?" It was hilarious!

Since then, we've been praying about this new-found blessing. Wow, us, with a car, in England? We never envisioned such a thing since being here and have been content with walking and biking (though today, for the second time this week, we both arrived to school/work completely soaked from the pouring morning rains! Gotta love England!). We have been happily planning our weekly hiking trips based on train & bus routes and schedules...so the need for a car was non-existent. However, ever since Hannah planted this in our thoughts...there have been visions of roadtrips, seaside trips, visits to obscure places, and camping trips...and possibly airport runs! (hint, hint).

So, this Tuesday, after much prayer, budgeting, and brainstorming, we accepted Hannah's offer. Our next challenge is...how on earth do we get it back to our apartment?! Ha.Ha. (AJ and I are going to have to practice driving at midnight in a parking lot somewhere!)

Cheers!

Cross Country!

I am overjoyed to be able to still compete in cross country races! (AJ's thrilled that I have this "outlet" too! Ha.Ha.) It's been a good 6 years since I've strapped on the ol' racing shoes...but now they're coming back out! This past Sunday, we competed in the 2nd race of the Gwent Cross Country League series at the University of Bath. It was AWESOME! I am just fascinated with racing here! Typically in the States, cross country races tend to include high school and university-aged folks. Here, however, cross country is encouraged at an early age (13) and continues through the ages (see pictures below!). Our 6k race included ladies 20 years and older...including many college runners. It was fast, somewhat flat, and included "land mines" galore (a.k.a. cow pies!). Ha.Ha.

Hope you enjoy the photos!! Can't wait for the next race on December 2nd in Bridgend, Wales!

Here's the ladies team just after the race! Go Great Western runners! Did I mention that the majority of our teammates are over the age of 55?!! Audrey (on my left) is 67!! Go Grandma! She's a sweetheart and a super-funny lady!

The University of Bath campus sign welcomed our team!

Here's Arthur, competing on the men's team! You may notice that there's a "great range" in age of male running participants, too! (hee.hee)

Here's Audrey and her husband Chris after the race! Chris took some great race photos. He even got one of me surrounded by 50+ aged ladies during the race! Phew...there are some tough ladies out there! I'm pleased to say my teammate Hollie (age 20) and I got 31st and 29th place, respectively, which boosted the team score! Our teammates were so proud of us! :)

Until next time!

Costco vs. Small Refrigerators!

Thanks to our wonderful Colorado friends (the Crowley's, Pedersen's, and Pitzer's!), we were introduced to the wonderful world of Costco - the land of large quantities and yummy things! Often times, AJ and I miss the joys of buying 4lbs of peeled garlic, 15lbs bags of grapefruit, and 2.5lbs bags of spinach in one fell swoop! Not to mention a 12lbs hunk of cheese and a loaf of bread large enough to fill your refrigerator! Look, I still have my card!
However, I must admit how much money we're saving on food here in England...and it's not because we're eating ramen, carrots, and parsnips! It's pure and simple...using a small refrigerator! AJ and I used to joke about our "little guy", but now we're thankful for the lack of space! It would be impossible to freeze a 4lbs bag of chicken (note: our freezer is the size of an ice cube tray holder!) or house a 3lbs tub of sour cream (it's known as "soured cream" here and is sold in tiny yogurt-sized containers). As you can see below, our little guy is stuffed to the max and is well loved! Ha.Ha.Ohh..and another money saving idea is having to walk 1.5 miles with groceries! It really cuts down on overbuying! Ha.Ha. AJ and I miss the luxury of overeating Costco things...but are enjoying the savings! :)

Note: There is a Costco store at the edge of town...what I want to know is, how do the English manage?!! Ha.Ha.

Hedgehog Rescue!

Who can resist this little guy?! My co-worker just informed me that the Hedgehog Rescue in town is searching for foster care-givers over the winter months for their little "chappies". Unfortunately there are too many of them for the volunteer staff...thus they're going into premature hibernation. I tried to "work my angle" by giving a sound argument for being a hedgehog foster care-giver, but was reminded that our property manager won't allow for it. Darn rules! Can you imagine us with these little guys?! So scrumptuous!!

What I Do

Enough people have asked about my studies that I'm beginning to think it's more than mere politeness! So here are some bits about my life as a PhD student. Regarding routine, I try to keep things quite regimented. At least 8 hours a day are spent in the library. The basic breakdown is like this: 1 hour doing Hebrew reading, 3 hours doing research--lunch break--1 hour doing German, 2.5 hours researching, and some more Hebrew to finish the day.

Concerning the research itself, I'm looking at remembrance in Deuteronomy. You will see by looking at Deuteronomy that remembering has a lot to do with how the people behave. In fact, the books following Deuteronomy record the distaster of when the people don't remember the Lord and his ways. So, anywho, right now I'm studying exactly what 'remember' in Hebrew means. The tool I'm using for this is modern linguistics. People often want to know why I don't 'just study the Bible and not mess with frilly-dilly ideas such as linguistics.' A fair question. The simple truth is this: Linguistics is the study of human language. The Bible is written in human language. Therefore, linguistics can greatly aid our interpretation of the Bible. Anywho, that's a little about my studies.

Here's where AJ sits! (posted by Andrea)

If you're sneaky enough...you can hide behind bookshelves and scare Mr. AJ!

AJ on Sunday Mornings

AJ is such a goof! I thought I'd share some of the fun moments of this past Sunday. Looks like we're not lacking in entertainment at our house!

At one point before church our place got quiet...so I peeked around the corner to find AJ sitting on the couch "researching" fly-fishing in a manly fashion!

Practicing his balancing moves just after breakfast!

AJ found a big leaf near our home and wanted everyone to see!

Reenacting Adam in the garden! Hee.Hee.

THANK YOU AUNTIE GINNY!!

It all started with an early morning doorbell...that only means one thing in our household...a package has arrived!!! I ran down the stairs of our 3 story house, flung open the door and there was a Mr. Royal Mail guy with a big ol' box of goodies from Aunt Ginny!!! The mailman said he would be back to "take halve-sies" of our treats! Ha.Ha. The moment I brought the box back up to our flat, we tore it open to find pounds and pounds of our FAVORITE candies and bags of chocolate chips! AJ and I were sooooooooooooooooo excited!! THANK YOU AUNT GINNY!! You brought miles of smiles to our faces! Here's a picture to prove our happiness...AJ eating the fruits of our first batch of a true American classic...chocolate chip cookies!!! Mmmmmmmmm...

A Peculiar Thing!

AJ and I are just fascinated with folks running here! We live adjacent to a big park (approximately 4 mile perimeter), which hosts hundreds of runners on a daily basis. What amazes us the most is their speed! Everyone seems to be running as if they're on the home stretch of a big race...it's crazy! For example, just this morning we saw a grandma sprinting! She was going so fast that we were RELIEVED that she was going the opposite direction! Seriously! And what's even more funny is what they wear. I have to admit that I think someone's a seasoned veteran when they dress "the part". Here, you'll see scores running in polo shirts, collared shirts, spandex (about 90% of the women wear spandex, I swear!), and the infamous 80's super hi-cut running shorts. These things provide ample entertainment on our morning runs!

You all have to come witness this peculiar thing!!

Missing Colorado!

The sun is out today and it's so bright, cheerful, and inspiring. It makes me miss Colorado all the more!! AJ and I are thinking of you, our beloved CO friends!!!

Hoping to visit in March 2008!!

My First Day of Work!

On Monday, I started working at Parsons Brinckerhoff! Just two days in, I'm beaming! I enjoy my co-workers, my environment, my responsibilities, and having the ability to walk there! Here are a few fun photos!

Here's a self-portrait on the way...I forgot to take my 'first day' photo in front of the door with my lunchbox! Ha.Ha.

This is a shot of Durdham Park Road, which is the road I take to the office...it's so nice not having to fight traffic. :)

Here's the building I work in! It's called the Queen Victoria House, which used to be a nunnery, I believe. The company conducts meetings and gatherings in the old chapel. Neat!

Here's the little company sign.

A view from our window! I work in a small room with 7 other engineers and scientists ranging in 2 years to 20 years experience. I LOVE this new work environment...where you can just shout a question across to your neighbor or tell a joke. I think the only hang-up is plowing through work if someone is on the phone....but it works well to plug your ears!

My computer hadn't arrived in time for my first day, so here I am working at a co-workers' desk (hopefully I can keep things tidy...I wouldn't want to lose anything in Jon's piles! Yikes! Ha.Ha.) Thanks for the fuzzy, pink sweater Sabrina!!

I was hoping to catch a shot of my co-workers...but they politely declined the opportunity today. Ela said she had a bit of a cold...maybe another time! It's interesting that in our little room, 3 out of the 7 are internationals! Michelle is from Quebec, Ela is from Poland, and there's me! Technically, Alasdair is originally from Scotland, which the English like to think as "foreign"...but we won't count him. Thanks for viewing!

Tea Question

Yesterday was my first day of work at Parsons-Brinckerhoff! Yay! I'll have to post some pictures soon!

I've noticed that it is customary to take tea or coffee throughout the day. I was offered tea on 7 occasions by a little lady with a platter of mugs! Wow...they are serious about their tea here! My question is...do your teeth turn brown if you drink too much tea? Just curious!

A Nasty Cough...and a Remedy!

For the past 5 days I've been having coughing attacks...with most of them occurring in the middle of the night, it seems. I've been spending most of those nights camping out on the living room floor. AJ and I thought we'd try to find a remedy...so off we went! The grocery store had slim pickin's...perhaps everyone else is suffering from the same thing! I grabbed something called "Soothers", which looked like cough drops (made by Halls), but later found out that they were for sore throats. Whoops! That would explain why they were so ineffective! At least they tasted okay (juicy centers with REAL fruit juice!) Ha.Ha. After that discovery, we set out again and went directly to Boots Pharmacy. After inquiring from one of the lady workers, we picked out a store brand cough syrup for dry coughs. What the package didn't say was that it tastes NASTY! If anyone has tried Marmite, you could appreciate it's flavor! It tastes like liquid Marmite with the essence of Black Licorice...not a good combination by any stretch of the imagination. Though it tastes disgusting (AJ almost gags at the thought of it!), it is somewhat effective, which is a relief!

Common Phrases & What NOT to Say!

AJ and I have been royally entertained by common English phrases and by what not to say as Americans here (unfortunately, we speak from experience!). We thought we would start a blog pinpointing some of them so you can be well rehearsed, just in case you come for a visit! :)

(American phrase = English equivalent)

1. khaki pants = poopy underpants

2. do not say 'fanny pack' here! = "hip pack" is more appropriate

3. you're welcome = it's alright!

4. it's cold outside = it's really fresh

5. nice outfit = you look smart

6. cell phone = mobile

7. to add more = top-up

8. drawings = drawrings (this one's hilarious!)

Monday, October 22, 2007

Mountain Biking in Leigh Woods!

AJ and I are so blessed that we live in an area with adventure at our fingertips! On Sunday after church, AJ and I set out to explore miles of groomed biking trails in Leigh Woods...it was a blast!

AJ trekking by!

A self-portrait...in action!

The trail eventually led down to the River Avon. It was a GORGEOUS fall day. Wish you all you were here!!

Beautiful Bath!

WARNING...massive blog ahead! I have to apologize for all of you AJ-blogging fans...he was going to take the reins and add commentary to our adventure to Bath...but I spoiled the fun when I told him we should include 20+ pictures. So...you're left with another blog from Andrea!

AJ and I ventured to the beautiful little Roman-inspired town of Bath on Saturday. We are so excited to show this town to all who may wander our way! (We were thinking of you Pitzer's!) It's just a 11-minute train ride there! Amazing! We found a Borders bookstore in the Bristol city-center after church one weekend and found a great book of 30 area hikes around our city. One of the trips was a 8.5 mile trek around Bath and the surrounding countryside. We were inspired to give it a try. We hope you enjoy our photo journal of our day!

Here we are in Bath! Brrrr...it was super cold! We could see our breath for hours!

AJ standing next to one of the ancient wooden locks along the man-made canal...stretching from Bristol to London. This amazing engineering feat enabled industry to grow in the late 1700's.

Common features of the canal include canal boats. We were told that a sort of "indigenous" folk live on these boats, which range from old-timer "RV" type, well-to-do models, to run-down boats just keeping afloat.

Houses line part of the canal, giving it a little feel of Venice!

Another pretty shot of the home on the canal outside of Bath.





A saying we've been living by! ("Pudding" is equivalent to dessert!)

Here's Dave...a friendly retiree who moved to a river life with his wife..."now that the kids are out of the house!". He gave us a great history about the "River Folk" and learned that 18 kids were born on the boats in the area in the past couple of years! Wow!

A pretty shot of the embankment behind Dave's docked canal boat.

Here's a photo of the countryside along the canal path, just a couple of miles beyond Bath.

One of the villages the trail led us to was Bathampton Spa. Here's a shot of one of the local gathering spots!

At one point we spotted a little kitty on the trail. AJ stooped down to pet him, and he immediately made himself at home! He eventually crawled on AJ's neck and perched on his shoulder. Looks like he needed some love! (A man on a bicycle came by and said that one of the canal folks had lost their cat...and this little guy matched the description...phew!)





Eventually, the hiking route took us off the canal path and into a little village along the bank called Cleverton. Some of the buildings were constructed in the 15th century. Unbelievable!

AJ and I ascended a relatively large hill along the way and came upon a random American Museum. We didn't feel the need to check it out...maybe next time!

As the day progressed, we realized our hike took us to many random encounters! Just when we thought we were in the middle of the countryside, we came upon a bobsled training center. A couple steps later we found ourselves at the edge of the University of Bath property. I still think it was random! Ha.Ha.

At lunchtime, I made AJ stop for a pose!

Towards the end of the hike, we stumbled upon the "Sham Castle", which is just a small castle-like structure that a gentleman built to enhance the view of Bath from his cottage up the hill in 1792. Interesting!

Descending into Bath once again!

This was a hilarious attempt at getting a self-portrait of ourselves with Bath being the backdrop. Instead, we've made ourselves look like goomba's!

Once back in the city, the trek led us along the River Avon, where a boat trip came and docked. You can't tell in the picture...but the driver looked just like Steve Faulkner!!! To our Faulkner friends...we miss you guys!

A couple steps further we came across Bath's local rugby team stadium...sort of like the Packers or the Broncos are to us back home. It was a beautiful field!

With just 45 minutes before our train departure, AJ and I ran through the center of Bath to catch a glimpse of the area. Here's a photo of the The Abbey. It was beautiful! The day was so perfect...and it was so nice to see the sun!

As if to make our day of random encounters complete, we came across a sword-juggling, unicycling clown. His commentary was hilarious!

On our little journey home (11 minute train ride, an 18 minute bus ride, and a little walk), we saw a big ol' hot air balloon just over our heads!

Then it got closer...

And then it landed on the Downs! AJ couldn't wait to share this photo...notice how massive his hands are! Ha.Ha.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)