Call the Midwife!

So, as you've been following the prenatal progress, you've probably begun to wonder "Where is that baby?"

A question I've been wondering myself.  Today is over a week past the ultrasound due date, but no signs of a baby yet.

We've been booked into St. Thomas Hospital on Monday April 28th for induction of labour. St. Thomas' has 6,800 babies delivered each year (around 18 each day) and is one of the best hospitals in London, it is also located across the Thames from the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben so the view from the maternity wing is pretty impressive.  St. Thomas is a large teaching hospital and has been providing healthcare since the 12th Century.  St. Thomas is where Florence Nightingale established a nursing school, and it is one of the most famous london hospitals, it is part of the Guy's and King's Hospital trust.

Of course it is a tentative booking, we will see how busy they are and it may take a few days, but I am relieved to have an actual date as the expecting was getting to be a bit tedious.

Will keep you updated!

Rose

St. Thomas' Hospital in the 18th Century

St. Thomas' Hospital today

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! 

Busy week...

We set up some of the baby stuff... 

...then the London Marathon came past the end of our street, so we went around to a neighbours (who is also pregnant) to watch it, and saw this kettle band...

...and the famous running Rhino's... 

...and the Wolverhampton Bob Sled team...

...and a whole marching band running (well marching) together...

... then the following weekend we hung out in Greenwich...

...and also ate some lovely Vegan Cup Cakes..

... so as you can see we're still waiting for the Baby to come... 

1 week to go!

Hi All,

It is one week until my due date, no baby yet but maybe this weekend? Perhaps if we make plans it will be more likely to happen.  

There is a full moon this weekend, but I've heard that only matters if I am giving birth to a werewolf. Team Jacob anyone?

Thanks to everyone for the notes, cards, and gifts, it has been really amazing feeling all your support and Dan or I will post to the blog once there is news about the baby.

love!
Rose

The cockney connection

"Legend" 

The little man will be born a "true cockney" growing up within the traditional sound of Bow Bells, just around the corner for example from where the legend that is Michael Caine was born (above is the blue plaque on the wall of the old hospital); there's a LOT of other famous Cockneys too. Cockney's are an important cultural group within working class English culture; famously with their own Rhyming Slang, songs, and the visual culture of Pearly Kings and Queens.

So where do we live? Here's a few photo's of the area. 

There's a lot of green space in South East London, here's a view through Southwark Park, one of the bigger parks near our house. 

The park has a nice bandstand in the middle of it... last year we watched the fireworks of Bonfire night from this park. 

There's an interesting seat made out of a fallen tree

Just outside the park is St Olav's Church, you might just be able to see that the flag is Norwegian, Rotherhithe is home to a Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish church, as a result of it's long connections with shipping and seafaring. During the Second World War this was the home of the Norwegian Government in Exile. 

We're lucky to have one of the best public Libraries in London right on our doorstep, the inverted pyramid of "Canada Water Library" has been praised in national Newspapers. It has a great collection, an amazing cultural space (mini-theatre), a cafe, and loads of kids activities too. 

Dock Managers building, the Surrey Docks were the first buildings to be destroyed in the first raids of the Blitz. 

The areas old docklands and shipping heritage are everywhere used as "features" in the redesigned residential and commercial districts. 

I've mentioned that the area is a docks, and famous for shipping a few times, so it'll come as no surprise to know we're right by the Thames... here's a couple of images of the view each direction on a pretty rainy day just after we moved in. Above on the north bank, to our west, you can see the famous corporate centre of London represented by Canary Wharf. 

Further around the southbank, to our east, you can just make out the sails of the Cutty Sark.  

Quite a few of the old docks are now water sports centres. 

Street Art is ever popular in London, here's a kid sitting under the bridge.

.. and here's John Lennon.