From London to the Lowveld

It is all about the accessories

Helen Turvey — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:05:33 +0000

Oh my little darling really is working it – and here we were hoping she would be a helicopter rescue pilot or noble prize winner – looks like she is more into rocking the accessories of the season… Justin seems to be getting in on the action too…

Hugo Mortimer Turvey

Helen Turvey — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:43:47 +0000

So… the 2nd time round – you really do take it in your stride (well – apparently I tried to bribe the anaesthetist, not a high point) and finally we get to meet the little man, a more relaxed and stockier version of his sister, could not be more perfect. Love, love, love him.

Hugo Mortimer Turvey, born 7th August 2010, 7 lbs 14, 02.14, Winchester Hospital. FFT loves her perfect little brother, we only worry he may get kissed too much…

Spring is on the way

Helen Turvey — Sun, 02 May 2010 09:54:14 +0000

FFT enjoying walking through the bluebells.

Madam is one

Helen Turvey — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:26:10 +0000

Poor lass was feeling a little rotten on her big day, but she is not one to let that get in the way of a party!

Christmas 2009

Helen Turvey — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:38:16 +0000

I have to say – we did not miss the snow….

Ubuntu baby

Helen Turvey — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:25:33 +0000

She loves the open web soooooo much:

YUM!

Mum is SO boring

Helen Turvey — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:50:07 +0000

Someone please come and save me from the doldrums of my life!

Easy living

Helen Turvey — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:51:22 +0000

My little dude, chilling on the beach.

Mark Oaten impresses…

Helen Turvey — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:56:56 +0000

A while ago, I rather smugly wrote to my MP, Mark Oaten. It was a snotty note, using the service provided by: http://www.writetothem.com/

Dear Mark Oaten,

I have been following the latest parliamentary debacle on expenses with
vague disgust and resignation. Today however, Vine on BBC Radio 2 was
encouraging people to go online to see the latest expenses on
www.parliament.uk, in the vain hope that your MP may have been actually
doing their job rather than fleecing the hard working, honest general
public.

It was with sorrow that I then saw my MP, you, had bought an incredible
amount of computer equipment (not to mention repairs on your house…)
and I wanted to ask: How is it necessary, in your line of work, to use
an iMac (£1291.15), an Acer notebook (£1063.21) and a Fujitsu Siemans
Tower PC (£1504.10), complete with labour, printers etc… all
purchased from September 2007 to March 2008. I would assume that your
job is not so technologically critical as to use all 3 (and I also
assume you had some form of computer beforehand) at once. You surely
need time to watch DVD’s on the DVD player purchased…

I shudder to think what is not being revealed in the blacked out
sections.

I look forward to your speedy reply,

Yours sincerely,

Helen Turvey

I pressed send at 20:52, and at 21:01 the phone rang. You could have knocked me over with a feather when the voice at the end of the phone said: Helen? Mark Oaten here, I would like to chat to you about your email.

Now, I know he is an MP, and makes a living out of politicking, but he seriously impressed me. Not only did he answer detailed questions about his expenses, but chatted to me for about 20 mins about the state of the country and whether Gordy will call an early election or not.

When I asked if he called everyone that wrote to him (to which Justin shouted across the room: it is ok, he will claim the cost), and he told me I was the first. So write to them! It may restore a wee piece of faith in our elected representatives.

The chickens have arrived!

Helen Turvey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:23:28 +0000

After receiving a chicken coup for my birthday (January) we have FINALLY got our chickens. Woop woop. In the name of being greener/influenced by Hugh F-W, we decided to get some ex-battery hens and therefore were reliant upon the farmers good will and the wonderful work that the Battery Hen Welfare Trust does.

The ‘girls’ came up from a farm in Devon last Saturday and then got health checked, claws trimmed etc… in time for us to pick them up. We did only cater for 6, but they had unexpectedly received 30 more, so we took another one.

The only thing we had not really considered… what on earth we would do with all of the eggs… 7 chickens, 7 eggs a day… you are now no longer allowed over the threshold without an egg box!

Farrah checking out the girls:

Our 1st egg – laid after 3 hours… impressive:

Mum proudly holding the 1st of many egg presents:

Breakfast, delicious:

Happily exploring their new home: