We made a special photobook for the young Concannons, as a memento of our trip to Perth in October.

Now that they've opened their Christmas presents, we can share a "virtual" copy of the album with the whole family.

Click here to see the album

Exchange!

Completely forgot to blog our news - that we've finally exchanged on 16 Shepherds Way!

Completing on 7 January and really looking forward to having some space for ourselves and our visitors.

You'll all be very welcome in 2011. x

RRrrrrraaaaaaarrrr!

Fun in the bath!

The whole tooth and nothing but the tooth

A corny title for today's blog update... Tim's back in the Magistrates Court today, and it's high time we uploaded some new pictures of Euan and his increasingly toothy smile!

Still here

We've been back from our holiday for a few weeks now, but keeping busy...

All the documentation for buying our new house is with the solicitors, and we've got our fingers crossed for an exchange of contracts very soon. It's becoming a bit of an obsession and we can't wait to get the deal done and move in!

This weekend Tim went to Twickenham with Toby, Gav, Jez, Dave and Andy to see England beat Samoa. It was good to be back in Twickenham, and Tim wandered into the garden at The Bingham to reminisce over our wedding day. The game was good but - it seems - not as good as the one that was unfolding at the same time in Edinburgh. Jo and Euan watched Scotland beat South Africa in the warmth of our lounge, and Gav's dad sent regular updates throughout the game.

On Sunday it was off to the cinema for Jo and Tim, to watch Harry Potter VII Pt 1. It felt funny to be out without Euan (for a whole 3 hours during the day), but when we got back it was clear he'd had a great time making Grandma and Granddad practice his walking all afternoon!

The wee'un loves being on his feet these days and is really enjoying his weekly trips to the Little Gym (he can already bench press more than his dad...).

Back in the UK

We're back from a fantastic few weeks in Australia with the Young Concannons.

It was really great to hang out with Tim, Nina, Keira, Tiani and Lilia for so long, and they all really looked after us, with a full itinerary and lots of home-baked biscuits!

WA stands for Western Australia and Wedding Anniversary, and Tim and Nina surprised us on the first night by producing a bottle of bubbly, at sunset, on the beach to celebrate our first 2 years. They also booked us in for a delicious anniversary dinner and babysat while we went out. Tim celebrated his 31 hour birthday on the plane, but not before enjoying a barbeque breakfast and banoffee pie birthday cake. Yum!

In between, we spend a few days on a farmstay with wild kangaroos and a highland coo named Gus, we fed 'roos and stroked koalas at the wildlife park, hunted for elusive dolphins, visited a brewery, Euan enjoyed his first taste of sand on the beach, and we met all of Tim and Nina's friends over a sausage sizzle. Tim was pecked by a vicious magpie and chased by a bemused cow, mustered some chucks and ate kangaroo skewers.

Photos will follow...

JETx

October is here...

It's been a wet few days, but Saturday morning provided a beautiful example of Britain in Autumn. There was a low mist over the grounds and the sun was in the sky at Hatfield House as Jo stepped out for her first competitive race in over 16 months. In aid of The Willow Foundation, Jo ran an impressive 51 minute race over a bumpy course, supported by Tim, Euan and former Arsenal legend (and 2-time Scotland goalie) Bob Wilson. Bob was so impressed with Jo's sprint finish that he even gave her a high-5 as she crossed the line!

Is that shell-suit-wearing-new-messiah David Icke on the left of Des Lynam?

Straight after the race, we headed to Harlow for Jo's birthday lunch, where she opened all her presents (thanks, everyone!) and ate a lot of lovely cake.

The tube strike and rain today would make us all very miserable, were it not for the fact we're looking forward to our trip to Australia in less than 5 days' time. The bags are just about packed, and we're really looking forward to seeing Tim, Nina and the girls.

Mum and Dad Reid have just downloaded skype, so we can keep in touch with everyone back home whilst in Australia with the "young" Concannons.

In other news - Euan stuck his finger so far up his Dad's nose on Sunday that it bled for about 10 minutes. Considering Tim can spend a day playing rugby without earning so much as a scratch, that's pretty impressive.

Cuddle

On the swing with daddy

What's up?

It's Jo's birthday this week Cripes Off to Harlow on Saturday to celebrate Tim is playing crazy golf with his clients on Tuesday and off out for a beer with the Harpo NCT boys on Thursday Had better think of something special for Wednesday night Getting nervous about what we need to keep Euan happy during the flight to Australia Less than 2 weeks to go 27 degrees out there today Could do with a holiday Hope Tim and Nina are looking forward to looking after a 4th child for a fortnight ;0) Wedding anniversary when we get there too Hooray! It's been an amazing two years Tim won an iPod at work Jo and Euan are enjoying Euan's swimming lessons on Mondays and have started sing-and-sign The survey is in today and it's all systems go for the new house in Shepherds Way Phew

iPrize

A lovely surprise today, as Tim was given a new iPod Shuffle as a prize for innovation in marketing!

Corporate lime green, naturally.

A chance for us to separate our "music" collections, much to Jo's (and Euan's) relief...

Law Society 7s action

Pooped

Ringer

Rumours that Hogan Lovells had drafted in a 7s player who "doesn't even look old enough to be a practicing lawyer" were vigorously denied this morning...

Euan's first rugby games

We had a great day out at the Law Society 7s on Sunday.

Hogan Lovells made it through to the semi-finals, losing to ultimate winners Herbies. Jo and Euan watched and waited very patiently as we defied the odds to win game after game, although Euan did miss his dad's first (and only) try of the day, because he was chatting with his toddler pal Jacob.

As you can see, the entry fee (in aid of the Wooden Spoon charity) included a free Euan-sized rugby ball, which delighted his dad; almost as much as the ball-handling skills he then showed whilst juggling the ball, a carrot stick and some soggy brocolli (one of his favourite "finger foods" at the moment).

We got home tired and broken, ahead of a busy week (both at work and at home), with swimming coming up on Monday, Sing-and-Sign on Thursday, and plenty in between.

Lost soles

August seems to have finished. What's been happening since the last blog?

Decisions, decisions

August has come to an unexpected end. We were up in Godmanchester for Kate's birthday a few weeks ago, and spent the Bank Holiday weekend doing odd jobs around the house. On Saturday we saw another property, and promptly put an offer in. Now we have two offers accepted! We hope to drop the first property soon (the seller has been rubbish, and this property is nicer) and crack on with buying and installing ourselves in the new one.

On Monday we had a nice lunch with Jo's friends from Harpenden NCT, and their husbands and babies, and on Tuesday we sorted out the mortgage with the nice people at HSBC (it's like the NatWest adverts, and nothing like the Halifax adverts) and spent the afternoon in IKEA looking for a rocking chair.

The damage

Today, Tim lost his trainer to a long-running rip (see picture). From memory, these were the trainers that completed the 2007 marathon, so they've done very well!

Euan is experimenting with his food, and is now quite happy in his highchair, with messy hands.

This weekend, the Premiership rugby season starts, and Granny & Grandpa Reid are coming over to visit. We might even let them babysit, if they're good!

We really ought to start planning our trip to Australia. No idea what to pack, or what Euan's going to eat on the plane!

First tooth!

News today...

Euan's first tooth is coming in! You can just about see it, but

you can definitely feel it when he (inevitably) sticks your finger in his mouth.

He's been in remarkably good spirits so far, if teething is supposed to be a difficult time. Hope he stays this chilled through the rest of the process.

It might explain why he's been waking a little more at night. It probably doesn't explain why he likes butternut squash but doesn't like sweet potato.

p.s. Here's Euan with Smartie, the cat Paula and Dave bought him when they first came to visit. Smartie has really come into his own in recent days, and is a firm favourite, so thank you both! x

Long time, no blog

At long last, we've made some time to upload more photos to the site!

Tim's been a bit self-indulgent here and has put together a slideshow of recent pictures of Euan.

If you'd like to see more, click on the photo above. x

Tim's mum and dad are in France and Jo's mum and dad are almost on their way back from their long holiday in Oz with the "young" Concannons.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

JET x

bouncy bouncy

New Super Kenny Logan Fan Club member

Echoes of '78

It's World Cup Final weekend, and the Dutch have made it to the final for the first time.

Talk of Holland and football would not (for a Scot) be complete without mention of Archie Gemmell and "that" goal (click above for a brief reminiscence).

Which takes us nicely to the big news of the day:

Toby and Rach have had a baby boy - Archie George Allebon

Born 7 July 2010, 7lb 15 ounces.

Congratulations to the new parents. I suspect this Archie may never play football for Scotland...

So what's new?

Brief newsflash:

• Euan has been swimming, and is loving the baby bouncer that is now hanging in the doorway to the lounge in Westfield Road. Photos of his beaming, bouncing face to follow!

• We've had an offer accepted on a house in Harpenden at long last. Fingers crossed it goes through, and in good time.

• Today, Euan paid a visit to Hogan Lovells and to GOSHCC as Jo popped in to catch up with her team. At time of writing, Euan wowed the lawyers and PAs in Holborn Viaduct with his cheeky smiles. I'm sure reports from GOSHCC will be much the same (unless a long-threatened poo makes an untimely arrival)

• It's too hot to sleep! Poor Euan doesn't like it much, although he's still all smiles in the morning. 5.30 in the morning. Looking forward to a slight drop in temperatures and a good night's sleep.
  Off to Brizzle this weekend to hang with Ed, Eliza, Tia and the bump, Sara and Beth. Looking forward to a good catch-up round the BBQ and to reminisce over Beth and Patch's wedding.

Gus

Congratulations to Gav, Andrea and Jessie on the arrival of

Gus McGregor Horn

on Monday evening

OK, we don't know football

Told you it wouldn't last. Now sitting 15th worldwide.

Once upon a time that would have amazed me. Now I just feel hollow inside.

I'm afraid that leaves me hoping for a Germany 2-1 England to match the weekend's predictions and get me back up the table. At least it will spare our English readers the nightmare of more penalty heartache. At least that makes the game win-win: everyone's happy if England win; and I get points if Germany do.

Have a good weekend

We know football

It won't last, but here's evidence that Tim was (yesterday) 2nd out of 6,100 competitors in the sportguru.co.uk world cup predictions game (predicting winners, margins of victory and scores). He even got a mention in the game's daily bulletin (described as "Castaignede, an Algeria fan").

All this goes to show that football is utterly unpredictable.