Homebrew

For Christmas (after quite a lot of hint dropping) I got a homebrew kit , complete with the malt and yeast for a strong dark Belgian ale. It didn't take me long to get the brew gurgling in the airing cupboard.



After 10 days it was bottled, and a secondary (6 week) fermentation started which gave it the flavour and fizz.



And the product of my toil is an 8% tramp killing special brew, that any Belgian monk would be proud of.



Next it's pilser...

http://www.brew-it-yourself.co.uk/

Elliot's first month

I can't believe a month has gone by already. Elliot has put on some good weight (precisely average on the growth chart) and has settled into a bit of a routine (when it suits him).

Sadly my time off work has come to an end, so It's back to the office on Monday.

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Elliot Astbury

Elliot was born at 9:54AM on Sunday 1st February 2009 at Ipswich Hospital. He weighed 8 pounds and had a normal(ish) delivery. Mum and Baby are doing very well and are now back at home after spending the night in the Hospital.

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GRIM 2008

After completing the GRIM challenge last year, I talked my brother-in-law Joe into doing it this year. Accompanied by Heather's personal trainer (Nik) we ran round the 8 mile course of mud and deep ice covered lakes with the 1900 other mad people. It was fun, and I beat last year's time (1 hour 19 minutes 47 seconds). What's next? A 20k race in Rendlesham forest where teams of two have to share one bike, but you have to stay within 10m of each other. Dan and I are tackling it in March 2009. Can't wait.

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Back online

After a few months of upheaval (new jobs, house move, imminent baby) we are finally settled (well almost). We're sitting out the credit crunch in a rented house, which is a stone's throw from both sets of parents in Woodbridge. Perfect.

Sri Lanka

Clare and I just got back from an awesome two weeks in Sri Lanka (via Dubai). We stayed with Jan and Lesley (who arranged most of our trip, and really looked after us - thank you!). Also, a big thanks to Mr B.C. who drove us around the country and acted as our guide, utilising many of his special 'BC shortcuts'. We stayed on a tea plantation, watched 70 elephants bathing in a river, went to a turtle sanctuary, stayed in a 'eco hotel' in the jungle, chilled on the beach, body-boarded and drank a lot of tea.

All in all (despite some illness) we had a great time, and can't wait to go back. Didn't think all that much of Dubai though...

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Bun in Oven

Cooking for 9 months at 200 degrees, it should be ready by Feb 2009.

Graduation

Clare became a member of the elite group of Warwick University graduates last week, she also swore the Declaration of Geneva, making her a proper doctor. Since she started studying for medicine almost diectly after we got married, we never got the chance to have a honeymoon, so we're off to Sri Lanka for a much needed break, 4 years late.

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France

We just got back from a week long break in the Loire Valley with Mum & Dad and the Tal-bots (Astburys in Disguise). It was to celebrate my father's 60th birthday this year, so we stayed in a huge chateau as a treat. We had a great time, and it was thoroughly relaxing. The highlights of the week were a great meal out on the last night, and the polar bears in the local zoo.

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Doctor doctor...

My medically minded wife (pictured) has successfully passed her final exams and is now, albeit short of saying the Geneva declaration, a doctor! Well done to Clare, she's worked hard for 4 years, and passing came as a great relief. To celebrate the end of this era we went to an excellent medical ball, and had a surprise barbecue at our house on Saturday.

Sadly its not all good news, as the health of my camera has deteriorated. Now all my photos look like the above image. Although many would argue that the artistic quality of the shots have improved, the subject matter I feel is slightly obscured. However, a new Ixus has just arrived, so you'll all be enjoying 7 megapixel masterpieces shortly.