The main event of the last two months was the birth of Jessica Elizabeth Salmon.  Graham and Beth seem to be copping very well!  Although I think Jen and Ryan will say some babies are more hardwork than others…

We have had many BBQ’s and been to see Shona and Simon over the last bank holiday weekend.  As usual the trip to see them in Birmingham was a most enjoyable one with plenty of food and beverages

Lets hope England can pick themselves up on Wednesday, maybe the mighty All Whites of NZ will set the example tomorrow by thrashing Italy!  Stranger things have happened… none spring to mind right now but I’m sure they have.

The Udberg B&B is now officially open and has accepted its first guests.  We now have a fully finished and furnished guest room featuring futon bed (sponsored by Jen and Ryan) and carpet (sponsored by Mary and Dave).

Last weekend saw its christening with Shona and Simon making the trek up from Brummieland.

Its was a feature packed weekend that included a Folk gig at the Preston Grange community centre, Josh’s first birthday BBQ and a games night with Graham and Beth.

Photos from the BBQ are up now.

Tomorrow is the 11th of March and it marks 4 years since we all gathered in the chapel by the lake in Hamilton while Andrea and I exchanged vows.  It was nearly as fun as the quad biking.

Last weekend we were in Edinburgh to see Wendy and Dave get married.  They chose a stunning location just outside the city called Linlithgow Palace, an old ruin of a place right on a loch.  The reception was in the equally impressive “Caves” venue in back in the city.  It was our first attempt at a Ceilidh, I’d like to say we did well… and I can!  We rocked the party.  Or at least that’s what I remember.

It was a fantastic wedding, we were so happy to be invited and hope Dave and Wendy are having a great time in South America!

There are a few pics up from February and March, ranging from the unfortunate porpoise that washed up on Longsands to Andrea dressed as the “Cat in the Hat” for school.

Photos from December are up which show Andrea and I cooking at Powburn (and nearly having to eat it all ourselves after the snow moved in…), Christmas day and the first of many card nights with Graham and Beth in the house.

January photos are also up with the snow on New Years day and a brief appearance from our new bay window curtains!

There are a few new photo’s up starting here.

We are still settling into out new home.  Everything is out of the flat now and we are busy with finishing touches…

Happy New Year everyone!

In fact, the only slip was by Graham and he only carried one thing! Cheers Graham

The big old house is feeling like a home now, the tree is up, the kitchen is stocked and there’s beer in the fridge.

Pics will be up in a few days… enjoy your Christmas everyone!

John and Andrea.

There are some new photographs of the house up here, these were from just after the plastering was complete, it looks a lot different now!

A few weekends ago we went down to see Shona and Simon in Birmingham to mark the occasion of Simon’s 30th.  As usual, good times were had and there are pics up here.

The “in by Christmas meter” is currently on a 9.9 out of 10! Current pics to come after the weekend.

We’ve had a great weekend of friends, football, fine food and fun at the house!

Our long-term lodger, Debs, is leaving us on Monday and Julie was visiting this weekend, so today was the perfect opportunity to exploit, I mean have assistance, at the house.

We were all present, along with Graham and Beth, at Newcastle United’s victory yesterday.  Sitting right down by the corner flag where Carroll celebrated his equaliser.

Today we all descended upon the house along with Mary and Dave to continue stripping, painting and cleaning.  We have now had the house 2 months and next week should hopefully see the end to wallpaper stripping.  It’s been a long time coming.

As you can see from the new photos the French doors were fitted last week, we are still waiting for them to be finished.  We now have a consumer unit instead of the old fuse box and the remaining building work should be finished in the coming week.  Plastering is set to commence in 2 weeks.

The “in by Christmas meter” is currently on a 7 out of 10.

This is our wall 3 weeks after our roof was “fixed” and we paid £120 for the privilege.  After rain last week and the damp re-appeared I rang them back and informed them the leak was not fixed.  To cut the story short this then led to 3 planned visits that did not happen and  I have rang them at least once a day, every day since to get it sorted.  Yesterday, 6 days later, he finally got round to examining the roof again.

This morning I rang back  (the promised call yesterday not materialising) and the roof needs more pointing and the gutters cleaned… but it will cost us another £120!

Other quotes are now being sought.

Here are the details you do not want to use…

M Lynch Emergency 24hr roofing, 11 Oxford Street, WHITLEY BAY, NE26 1AE, 0191 251 6312.

John.

The builders are in replacing a couple of ceilings along with a few other jobs and the windows are done.  New doors going into the bay next week.

The “in by Christmas meter” is currently on an 8 out of 10.