hurricane season ends

officially today
while it's been a mad year for hurricanes, for us here it's actually been quiet. no real storms landed - in fact only one came close, ophelia in september. no evacuations and no hurricane parties either!

air con

november 29th and we're still using the air conditioning!!

becks does discipleship

i noticed david beckham's football (or soccer as they call it here!) academy opened today, seems like he's looking to train paduan learners in the ways of the force

choccy

skye had her first taste of chocolate today - she loved it! uh-oh!

chilling

watched the amazing bbc video on auschwitz today

woohoo!

went out biking for the first time in two years today
john took me out to harbison forest near columbia
a great day out in a beautiful place on some fun trails
here he is logging it very nicely:

it was all going well until i managed to writhe the rear mech into the back wheel and then got so hungry i felt sick and nearly fainted!

thanksgiving

is a top hol - it's probably our fave american celebration
apprently it arose from a thank you party the first settlers had after surviving a harsh winter and the native indians gave them some food
it's always the fourth thursday in november and you don't need presents, just a big meal with special family or friends and an attitude of gratitude :)

our biggest thank you is of course to God, for the amazing gift that is skye

climbing

got some more climbing in this afternoon with some of the Year Team gang

hello spoon!

skye had her first food with a spoon today
she displayed the healthy kelly appetite and devoured every morsel!

easy week

today's the start of a twelve day break in the Year Team schedule for the thanksgiving holiday

a big kiss

with love to all my adoring fans

jets 3, panthers 30

today joe and i went to watch our first nfl game
(that's american football to a limey!!)
the carolina panthers beat the new york jets 30-3, which is probably equivalent to something like a 4-1 footie result (ish) - in other words the jets got a good kicking!

clockwise from top left
a panther at the gate
the bank of america stadium
the breathtaking sunset over charlotte (my best bit!)
joe enjoying the spectacle
the game

happy birthday gran!

wishing you a very happy and peaceful day!

climbing

out climbing for the first time in quite a while
went with jim and john to the artificial wall nearby
it's pretty good for the flatlands!

busy day in the office

skye and mags took over to chat online with auntie maggie in germany - GruB Gott!

new car

we bought a car today! woohoo! it's the sleek vdub we've been driving on loan over the past year big thanks to john for the loan and the generous deal

also a very happy birthday to amy!