Against all odds

Week ending 26th August was a long weekend and Ro and I decided to put to good use at least 2 of those three holidays. An overnight trip was out of question due to lack of advance planning. So I decided we would go to Leeds Castle - just a hour's journey from London, the websites promised!



After a whole lot of surfing and info-sorting on Friday, I decided on our schedule for the next day and kept reminding Ro to get to bed early. Inspite of getting a little delayed we managed to reach Victoria with tickets in hand at 11:00 (for a 11:18 train). Then onwards started our adventure. Read on to find out what transpired next..

We were informed that due to ongoing engineering work there was no direct train to Bearsted (the station for Leeds Castle) and were advised to change trains inorder to get there. Fair enough, we thought, the same tickets are still valid. We got onto a train which got us to Swanley - as deserted a station if any. Ro commented even Tiruvalla is more crowded! We had a half hour's wait here until the next train. We had our lunch soon as we got onto the next train - sumptuous sandwiches from Waitrose. No sooner had we finished lunch and were enjoying the scenic surroundings than we were interrupted by an announcement. Owing to a major gas leak at the station we were heading for, all train services were terminating at the next station!!!

We were already beginning to feel that this was not going to be a good day. At the station we were given no definite information on when the services would start again. There we 3 choices - head back to London, wait it out or take a bus. We were not guaranteed a refund on our tickets since the leak was beyond the control of the railway. Ro and I decided to wait for a while to see if the situation improved. After an hour we decided to take a bus (an additional 8 pounds!). The bus got us just one station short of Bearsted. We trekked a short distance to the railway station and got onto a train again (fortunately our original tickets are valid on the train journeys). We managed to reach Bearsted just in time for the last coach to Leeds Castle!

I dont know about Rohan but by this time I was quite tired due to the innumerable journey changes and waits. After having left at 9.30am, we reached Leeds only by 2.30 - 5 hours instead of the promised 1! The Castle of course was worth the effort aptly called the 'loveliest castle in the world' (not that I've seen many). After the view of the castle we had an hour to kill so Ro and I spent it wandering the grounds and gardens around. Nearing the end of the hour I suddenly jumped up realising we hadnt visited the aviary and maze - a significant section of the castle!! It was too late to make the visit and I was dead tired by then. I felt a lil foolish at not having remembered inspite of my meticulous notes-making the previous day. But well, we were happy anyway at having made the trip 'against all odds'.

We returned in 3 short journey changes, as against the 7 changes we had to make on our onward journey. No pics to post yet since we are still on the film camera. Despite everything it would remain a memorable trip for us.

Another week gone by

Fetal development facts at 15 weeks-
Starting this week, any stomach rumblings you feel may be your baby trying out some acrobatics, since she can now move all her limbs. She's also becoming sensitive to light. If you shine a torch at your tummy, she's likely to move away from the beam.

That's really wow!

I've been more out and about this week. Starting with lunch and church on Sunday, christianity explored on Tuesday (huge terrible mix-up with Rohan!!!) and the mom's bible study (where urs truly played host for the first time) on Thursday. Its been an active week, yet, I need to force myself to get out for walks. Come winter and I would be loath to do it anyway. Best to make it a habit now.

Just found out - At fifteen weeks I'm officially into the second trimester. Yippee!!

Midland mainline to Luton

On Saturday we visited our ex-Sonata friends at Luton. This was a long delayed trip, mainly because of my health during the last 3 months. Mohan had given an excellent recommendation of the Midland mainline over the First Connect trains. So I was determined to make it in time for the infrequent Midland trains.

As it turned out, we were delayed by rains and laziness and only managed the 12.30 instead of the intended 11.30. The journey was however very short, Luton was the first stop just 25 minutes away. The train, as promised, was very clean and the wet weather added a touch of romance to the scenic landscape. Rohan and I realised what we have been missing by not having travelled outside London and decidedly instantly to make the most of the coming months (before baby arrives).

It was a wonderful afternoon. It was great catching up and reminiscing about Sonata days. Food was in the form of a good authentic Indian lunch followed by tea at Satish's and snacks and sweets at Aurosish's place.

Families all

The above picture sums up the group - except for the photographer Kamakshya - the bachelor excluded from the family picture ;). Mummy Bini is proudly displaying a tummy, well ok, its not so evident in the above picture but I hope you can tell its not flat anymore :) That's a 14 week tummy!

Just a poem

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies

Growing bump

I've begun to show now.. at least I'd like to think that's baby and not tummy :) Getting pregnant is good.. no more trying to suck tummy in while wearing tight clothes :) I'm actually blowing my stomach out these days :)

I need to get new clothes .. cant get into any of my trousers anymore. I've been wearing the same skirt for 2 weeks now (eeks!). Begining to show also means we need to buy that digicam soon, which means I need to finish my research soon. Have dropped the idea of a d-SLR, too much investment in the long term. Am looking at the so-called 'SLR-like' models. So far I like the Canon S2 IS but am still looking.

Have decided to cook just once a day - in the morning. Trying to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner separately just tires and frustrates me. Also if you are cooking all the while you dont have much of an appetite left. Ro says he's been advising me about doing it this way all along.. from experience we know it takes me a few knocks on the head (more if the idea is Rohan's) to accept a suggestion. But, we're learning quick, aren't we? :)

Have started announcing the news of the baby to all now and the past week have been basking in the good wishes. I remember being similarly excited about my friends' pregnancies :)

Smitha visited with Ammini on Monday. It was a rainy morning but she managed to get here albeit later than agreed. She prepared lunch and tried to prepare cutlets for me :) I had a nice time. Guess she was worried that Ammini was messing the place up but I find the kid simply adorable.

I'm waiting to feel bub move. Somedays I'm just lying in bed with my hand held against my tummy, imagining movements :)

Awesome ..

This has got to be the most amazing experience in anybody's life - watching ur baby inside you. I can close my eyes now and recollect those few minutes of absolute wonder and pure joy! At first the technician pointed out the position of the baby, the head, the body, the umbilical cord (which I mistook for the arm) and the legs. And then bubs turned and we saw her face! Our bubs looking at us :)

She is very active, swimming around and moving a lot during those few minutes - looks like she takes to the water better than both her parents :)

We saw the tiny arms; a clear impression of the left palm at one point; the tiny heart beating oh so rapidly; the spine - so clear; the brain; the head and the eyes - still looking quite "ET" :)

At one point bubs even waved at us. The technician said it looked like a salute, I thought she was just saying hello :)

Bubs measures 6.43 cm from crown (top of the head) to rump (tailbone). The length, called the crown-rump-length CRL is what is used to determine the age of the baby. In our case thats 12w 6d as of today which ties exactly with the LMP date.

We just got 2 pictures for keepsake, I wish we could have the video. The next scan's only in Oct and that's oh so far away. I do want to see her again soon :)