Hi All!

[Alice Abbott]

Did you think I had disappeared altogether?

In fact, the reason for my absence was pretty major. Twins! Completely unplanned but welcome nevertheless. Two beautiful girls born last month. I thought it was flu!

So we are still here, still self-sufficient as far as we can manage (although in a little more luxury now), still trying to turn this ruin into a home and still encouraging the mayor's belief that all foreigners are totally crazy.

I will try to be a better contributor from now on but will zip off to read everyone's news in the meantime.

[Green Aura]

Alice, hello honey, welcome home!!!!

Did you just think you'd been overeating?

Congratulations and welcome to the two new mini-Ishers.

[MuddyWitch]

Welcome Home

And congrats on the liitle ones!

MW

[MKG]

You thought you had flu? That's it - that's what's wrong with me. I'm pregnant, everyone!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome back, Alice.

Mike

[Millymollymandy]

Blimey!! I did wonder about you Alice as we never heard from you again after there was flooding down your way last year! Twins, good grief but congratulations - and lovely to hear from you again.

[Mrs H]

Congratulations on ur little surprises!! We had a little surprise last year!!! Hope u r all keeping well. Xx

[spider8]

Welcome back and well done on your double-trouble surprises!

[Milims]

Congratulations and welcome back

[thesunflowergal]

Congrats Hun on you new arrivals. Some of us were talking about you in the summer, and wondered how you where doing?

What did you call them?

[ajs88]

Congratulations

[Alice Abbott]

I exaggerate a little. I had chickenpox, caught from the older two. Then I thought I had flu. At about 10 weeks I suddenly realized where the problem lay. All those years studying pre-med came in useful at last... So now we are two adults, four kids, a lurcher, a semi wild cat, three ducks, five chickens and two goats (we started with one but the kids decided she was lonely so we have the original Rapunzel and now Bridget, who was a gift from the same guy who conned me into having Rapunzel).

Anyway, they are identical babies (they have to wear bracelets so I can tell them apart), five weeks old, big (6lbs 3oz at birth) and no trouble so far. Just as well as we have NO equipment. But we're having fun! Pia & Luca want me to use the wheelbarrow for a pram but I think somehow we might get a couple of strollers. They have only gone out wrapped in make-do slings so far but we DO have two cars seats on order. We shall need a bigger car but I'm trying not to think about that... They are named Vienna Rae and Geneva Meadow.

We did so well with our first year of basically living on nothing that we've gone for a second year (and probably many years to follow). Just as well as our budget for this year (to next June) has already gone on buying white goods, having the electrics connected and basic plumbing sorted. We have an upstairs now (although no upstairs dividing walls) with a bath, loo and shower standing in splendid isolation for all to see. I have a fridge/freezer, washer & drier in the kitchen, although no sink so we still have our bucket system. We have floors throughout the ground floor. So we have the attic flooring, wall partitions and lots more plumbing to do but we feel as if we are in luxury. Still just the roof done on the barns but we are taking things as they come, we are having a friend coming over for four weeks soon who is going to help out with some minor building bits and pieces. Mack thinks there is a concealed fireplace in our bedroom (that sounds grand as it is basically a chalked out space upstairs) and they may investigate that too. I have a bulging freezer, stacks of stored items and lots still growing.

So we are all set for our next year!

[Thomzo]

Congratulations, what lovely names. So glad you are all well. How are your older children getting on with them?

Sounds like you've done masses on the house. How do you manage it all?

Zoe

[Alice Abbott]

We chose the first names ourselves but Pia and Luca chose a second name each. Pia had no trouble with Meadow but Luca was pretty insistent that he wanted his choice to be Jake. We had to work hard on persuading him it was a boy's name and not really the best idea. So he chose Rae, which is a typical American name but pretty unusual out of the US. I think he was a little disappointed that one of them wasn't a boy!

Generally speaking they ignore the twins. Occasionally they shake "rattles" at them (at the moment these are peppercorns and small beads in a taped screwtop jar) and pull faces at them.

I must admit we PAID to have the plumbing and electrics done. We needed it done quickly and with all the certificates it was the only way. All we've done ourselves lately is lay the oak floor on the first floor but that was a massive job. The total space involved is basically around 48 feet by 28 feet and just sawing the wood to the right length was a struggle. It was bought in prepared lengths but even so... We have also fitted skirting throughout and that was just such a big job too. We bought ALL the bathroom items but only have the upstairs one and the downstairs cloakroom fitted. I suspect the others will wait until next year unless we tackle the job ourelves. Our main job this year is the attic floor. We have no phone or internet, fortunately our wonderful neighbour still lets us plug into their broadband supply and I use a SKype phone through the same system. Once the electrics are set up there the house will be basically finished. Basic being the operative word but it's functional and warm so we will be happy to do things in our own time to finish it off. Then we start on the barns...

Word about the babes spread as far as the town hall on Monday and the major tripped along with a gift - a bunch of pink roses. He is still totally unsure about us and looks incredibly nervous all the time. I was able to give him a proper cup of coffee (new supplies) and a slice of apple pie (apples from our orchard) so perhaps his visit could be seen as a success for once!

[MuddyWitch]

Alice, you are a ray of Sunshine & hope in an 'over-consumerizing' world! Thank-you for keeping us all informed, you and your (expanded) family are inspirational.

MW