BVI Holiday May 2013

We landed on Tortola the evening of 19 May. Dad and Colleen met us at the airport even though by now we feel very at home in the BVI and know the little path leading down to the beach from the airport. The sticky heat felt wonderful and my skin was happy to have a break from being continuously dry and flaky even with loads of moisturiser in England. We walked down to the dinghy dock together, went back to the yacht to wait for Andre's parents flight to get in.

The next morning we got to go on a helicopter ride over the islands which was just amazing. If you're ever in the BVI, you must make the time to do this. We went with Antilles Helicopter Services. We got some beautiful photos and video (which I'm still editing).

From Trellis Bay after the heli ride we went on to Guana Island for lunch. There is actually a rock sticking out over the sea which looks so much like an iguana when you're approaching. From here we went on to Brewer's Bay, Tortola where we snorkeled, kayaked and some tried out the stand up paddle board.

Conch blowing competition!

The following day the divers got to go on their first dive at Brewer's East while the rest of us snorkelled. We had  lunch at the beautiful White Bay with sundowners at Foxy's. We even spotted a southern ray right under the pier before getting back into the dinghy.

Now here's something funny and a warning too: Don't go on hammocks after enjoying sundowners! (This was on a walk along the beach at Foxy's.)

Posing on the hammock:

Oh so relaxing...

Let's put our feet up... whoops!!

Keep your feet firmly on the ground when hammocking!

On Wednesday there was more diving at Rainbow Canyon, Peter Island where the guys also managed to get a lion fish. These beautiful fish unfortunately destroy the reef fish and coral as they are not native to this area. They have no natural predators and so just multiply becoming a problem in the BVI. Wednesday evening we enjoyed sundowners on the beach at Pirate's Bight which they have now completely renovated and looks amazing.

Thursday morning the guys dived at Ring Dove Rock before we went on to Tortola where Marietjie and I went to swim with the dolphins. Always a great experience.

The next morning the guys did two dives on the RMS Rhone, the Royal Mail Steamer which stranded off Salt Island in 1876. I wrote more about it in a previous post which you can find here. Marietjie and I snorkelled above the wreck. The water was rather choppy which didn't make it all that comfortable but worth seeing the wreck from above. You can watch a video of a previous dive the guys with Simone did at the Rhone.

The evening was spent at Leverick Bay to watch the Jumbies show.

The following day the guys did a dive at Cow's Mouth, Virgin Gorda while us girls snorkelled there and then went on toe Eustasia Island where we spent the night.

Saturday morning it was time for the Poker Run. A well known cigarette boat race for charity. It was a hot day, loads of people, many coming across from nearby Puerto Rico. We spent some time before the race on land at Leverick Bay admiring the boats showing off their engines and blaring music! There was quite a party atmosphere. Before the race was about to start we made our way back to Madiba. We had an absolute prime spot - affording us to be in some heli shots taken from the air as well! From the boat we were able to see the dock and the boats pass towards the start of the race. There is not that much to see as they race actually starts but lots of white water as the boats speed away. Apparently Prince Harry joined a leg of the race, but must have been well protected as we weren't able to spot him.

From Leverick Bay we went on to Long Bay, Virgin Gorda for the night where we enjoyed another beautiful snorkel.

On Sunday the divers went for another two dives, one at a dive site called Broncho Billy at George Dog, and another at Coral Gardens where there is the plane wreck. Again Marietjie and I got to snorkel above the wreck, following the divers all the way from above. I've made a video of a previous dive here.

From here we went on to Trunk Bay where we spent the night. This was near The Baths. We also went in to Spanish Town to fill the tanks and get some groceries here. I always enjoy nosing around foreign grocery stores.

Early the next morning dad took us to The Baths. Good thing we went so early too as we were practically the only ones there and so were able to get lots of good photos without other tourists in our shots! On our way back a tour bus arrived at the top and people flooded the little beach. Luckily we had all our photos and were on our way back to Madiba by then.

After visiting The Baths the guys did two more dives that day. Busy diving holiday but they loved it! First one was Ginger's Backside. I know, strange name!! And the second was called Cistern Point. These were more new dive sites Andre had not done on previous trips. 

For lunch we went to Cooper Island which is another of my favourites. Really pretty and calm little bay, with lovely snorkelling. The restaurant here has also been renovated or was perhaps just in the process of being renovated when we were here previously as it looks really nice now. They even have a camera underwater and when you sit in the restaurant bar you can then watch the fish live as they swim past the camera.

Another two dives on Wednesday: first was the wrecks Fearless and Willy T off Peter Island and after that they did Randy's Reef nearby. We spent the night at Great Harbour, Peter Island, another favourite snorkelling spot, where we were so lucky to see a ray jumping out of the water. My first time seeing that!

Early the next morning I was on a mission to see the big five, well two. I did the same here before: jumped in early on the day before we're due to leave the islands to go for a last really good snorkel, searching for turtles and rays. And as before I got to see a big turtle practically as I got in the water. I followed him for quite a while, he was really peaceful and not at all bothered by my being there. As I turned, right beneath me was a big spotted eagle ray. They're so beautiful. It too was very relaxed, I suppose with not anyone else in the water yet, they were calmly enjoying their early morning breakfasts and not in a hurry anywhere. After a while the spotted eagle ray swam off and next there was a southern ray. A successful early morning snorkel!

We sailed to Trellis Bay where the airport is as we had to leave the next day and had dinner at The Last Resort on the little island in the bay there. The next morning we had a last snorkel all around this little island where we spotted more rays among other fish.

Ended off walking up the beach to the airport with Sir Richard Branson behind us on his way to his private plane. We wished we could have joined him in his more comfortable and faster means of transport!

Another amazing holiday with our family on Madiba in the BVI. (12 days and 11 dives- a dream for the divers and just as perfect for the non-divers!)

Gardening

Loving the colourful flowers my mom helped
me plant. Looking forward to the hydrangea
flowering. After this season it will be cut right
down.

I noticed the first courgette this morning! I've planted quite
a few courgette and pumpkin plants. Hoping they'll all do
well. I'd love to have lots of pumpkin.

I think today will be a good day to start eating
salad from our garden. It's so hot and sunny today.
Perfect salad weather. The beetroot, fennel and
carrots are also slowly coming along and I planted
a few more seeds this morning of each so we can
hopefully have a continuous supply.

The greenhouse: tomatoes are doing very well.
The peppers and chillies are a bit slower, but
they've been in smaller pots so can't blame them.
I planted some into bigger pots this morning.

I just about forced Andre to buy this shredder and now he's
loving it! We absolutely needed it in this garden of ours. We
have some very serious trimming to do and even some trees
that need removing. This is only the start.

And baby girls rose which Andre's dad and
Marietjie bought after we found out we're having
a girl. It's called pink perfection and smells
really sweet. The rose is Andre's project and
he's planning on getting more roses for the garden.

Final HypnoBirthing class

Yesterday we had our final HypnoBirthing class. (Click on the link for more info about what HypnoBirthing is.) Now it's up to us to keep on practising for the next 15 or so weeks. Sounds so little thinking there's only 15 of the 40 weeks left of being pregnant!

The class was long. From 9.30 - 5.15. On an absolutely beautiful sunny hot day which does not happen very often. Luckily it happened again today!

Although the class was so long, it was very informative both in basic birthing/ baby/ anatomy info as well as the HypnoBirthing techniques of relaxation during labour. After the lunch break it was proved to me with a test of holding an ice cube in my hand. We had to hold it, focusing on the ice cube without using any of the relaxation techniques we've learnt at first. That lasted about 20 seconds before we let go of the cubes with burning, cold hands. Next we had to do it again, but this time using the relaxation breathing we learnt in class. We were easily able to hold it for 1 minute which will apparently be the average length of a proper contraction. Next we tried it again with 2 and 3 ice cubes. It made no difference to me and showed how well I am able to control my mind, keeping it away from the uncomfortable feeling in my hand. My hand also showed less signs of having held something so cold and recovered quicker afterwards compared to the first time when I was focusing on the cold cube only. That was a pretty amazing exercise to prove to myself that I can do it and manage it myself.

I finally finished all the painting in baby's room. After actually finishing the walls last weekend already, I then decided the wardrobe also needs painting. That took all week, working early in the mornings before work. A bit of a pain, but looking much better now that it's done. Pinterest if you're curious as to what I have in mind for the rest of the room...

This morning Andre put it all back together for me and I can now get baby's room and the guest room back to normal again. Next rainy day we're going to buy the cot. I'm looking forward to that as then it will start looking more like a baby room and I can then also start decorating the walls. I've pinned some ideas to

Some bump progress

From the previous post's photos where there was not yet much to see, baby has grown quite a bit all of a sudden! I found the most change so far between 18 and 20 weeks. That was also the two weeks while we were on holiday on the boat with our parents and I think all that relaxation, good food and sunshine helped!

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Compared to others I know who are at the same stage of their pregnancy as I am I'm still pretty small which I'm now thankful for as I'm sure the bigger I get the more challenging work is going to get. I thought there's not been that much change in my bump size but this evening I tried zipping up a particular jumper and it was pretty tight... I will have to wear it with the zip down now!

While Andre's parents were visiting us here in England after our lovely holiday in the British Virgin Islands with my dad and Colleen on the boat (more about that soon), we visited Ikea as we like to do. Mainly to look at cots. But we ended up buying some other bits and had to leave the cot for another trip as we didn't have enough space in the car. We might try to go back there next weekend for the cot. Instead we bought some great storage units for baby's room. Marietjie and I built the boxes to go in the unit while Andre and his dad built the bigger stuff. 

We also got a lovely wicker basket/ chest with lid to store toys in the lounge in and so hoping to avoid our lounge looking like a day care!

We've started getting baby's room ready. I just completed the painting this evening. The whole room, including the ceiling was magnolia, which is the colour you see in the lounge in the photo above. It was a bit much. So we've now painted two walls and the ceiling white and the other two a light grey. I'll post pictures of that soon. Tomorrow morning I'll check if the grey I did today need any touching up and then I can clean the room and move furniture back in.

Oh and something I've decided not yet to announce on Facebook... It's a girl! Here in England as I've probably mentioned before, you only get to go for two scans. Two on the NHS anyway, in other words free. Any more you can go for privately and will have to pay for. So we went for our 20 week scan on a Friday afternoon. Baby was not showing any interest in saying hi to us and was fast asleep throughout the scan. The sonographer had me jumping up and down, tilted the bed so my head was lower than my feet and sent me on a walk, but nothing could wake her up. Due to that she couldn't check everything that needed checking and also not tell us whether it's a boy or girl. Luckily as more check needed to be seen, e.g. checking baby's stomach which wasn't visible due to her position, I was booked for another scan the following Monday morning. Again she was asleep but a few jumping jacks this time woke her up. The sonographer was able to tell us that she thinks it's a girl but that it's not very clear. That didn't help us much as we can't exactly go out buying pink if we think it might be a girl. I booked a private scan then for the Saturday and this time it was very clear! A girl! So many people like the surprise of not knowing, but we both just preferred to be able to prepare the room nicely and buy a few nice things too.

Second 20 week scan

We've been for our first ante-natal class too. I think it might be called pre-natal in the US, not sure about SA? We decided to go for hypnobirthing classes which is all about relaxation and relaxed breathing and Andre helping me to basically go into a state of self-hypnosis to calmly and naturally birth our baby. Anything to help me through what has been a bit of a scary thought to me having to do it naturally here unless complications arise. Many people also say that babies birthed through hypnobirthing are calmer and happier and will more easily go to other people which will be great to have. Not that we want to hand our baby over to others, but it will help to give us a break when needed if she'll be happy to be with family or friends for a bit.

So anyway, that's enough for now. I'll try to again get more into regular blogging, but we do have a lot to do around here in the next 4 weeks before going on our last holiday before becoming parents. Some serious gardening to do and on rainy days I'll be trying to completely edit all the video footage of our last holiday before starting on the next one.

Baby bump 12-16 weeks

Here are the first three photos. We're only taking one every two weeks because as you can see there isn't really any difference. I could even suck my tummy right in and not look pregnant at all! But I thought you might like to see the slightest bit of a bump there ;-)

I bought my first pair of maternity trousers. Black ones for work. They are so so comfortable. Everyone should have them. They're 'under the bump' ones so only difference is they have a soft stretchy band instead of zip and button at the top. Feels like I'm wearing jogging bottoms but looks and fits way better than my previous work trousers. At the moment I have no desire of ever getting rid of them after pregnancy!

*update (29.6) oops, I see I messed up a bit here saying it's 12-16 weeks and then posted pics of 10, 12 and 16 weeks, totally missing 14 weeks (we take one every other week). Not that it makes any difference, there's really not much to see there! Not much change between 12 and 16 weeks!

Apple tree blossoms

I just took this picture this morning. The apple tree has started blossoming in the last few days only and already looking this beautiful. I should have probably waited a few days to take it as there are more blossoms to open. Hopefully we'll have lots of apples this year as we had none last year.

(click on the picture to enlarge)

We've just had a lovely sunny few days. Now rain is predicted for the next four days until Saturday. I'm really hoping it will be better weather by the weekend so I can plant out the pumpkins. They're wanting to get out their pots now!

First baby pictures

The last of the backdated pregnancy posts. I'll be 16 weeks tomorrow and will be taking another belly shot, not that there's much to see yet.



11 April 2013

Since after the Easter weekend I'm feeling so much better again. Before that I've been very tired and nauseous. Easter weekend was spent being sick for the first time since being pregnant. Not morning sickness, but more like late afternoon sickness. Not fun and I'm very grateful it only lasted that weekend. That seemed to have gotten it all out of my body and now I'm pretty much back to feeling like my normal self. Andre is speechless seeing me do cooking and cleaning and tidying around the house again!

Now it's only the headaches that still bother me. I've bought a dvd- yoga during pregnancy. It's really good and I'm enjoying it. At least this way I'm getting some form of exercise. It also helped get rid of this morning's headache I woke up with.

Yesterday Andre came with me to the hospital for the first scan. It was exciting getting to see our baby and we were amazed at how much detail you can already see. It's only about the size of an egg right now, but you can already see the little nose, skinny legs and tiny feet. Arms were crossed over the chest. 

Andre had a better view on the sonographer's screen and said he could see the heart beating. I got to watch on a smaller screen which was great too. She did all the measurements and checks and said all looked absolutely fine which we are grateful for.

New due date is now 20th October.