J+B Baalbergen

2010-01-13T20:54:00.005Z

Julian came back on Boxing day from a three week trip to Sydney for Jodie and Pete's wedding. He had a fantastic time catching up with friends and family, including meeting Aimee and Mattias for the first time and seeing the lovely (much larger!) Mya and Evie.

2010-01-13T20:50:00.002Z

Our wedding pictures that have Julian leaping like a gazelle through some long grass were taken just beside this road!

2010-01-13T19:34:00.002Z

We not only had a white christmas, but a white advent (the last week of it anyway), a white boxing day, new year, first week of term.... in fact, the snow is ongoing, when will it stop? The scenery is beautiful, but the roads and pavements can be treacherous when it ices over!

Holidays + Competition

2009-07-23T11:25:00.005+01:00

Beth + I have arrived at a time of year that all teachers crave and wait for in eager expectation.

SUMMER HOLIDAYS!

We are very pleased to be away from school and are looking forward to 3 weeks or so in France and possibly Holland. Beth will be staying at the same school next year and is excited about a new head who is coming who will hopefully shake things up for the better. Here are our classes in costume for Roald Dahl Day and Egypt Day.

I had this class for the last 10 weeks of the year. Full of prima dona Pharaohs/Cleopatra's and stiff necked mummies, but i had the strength of a pyramid to keep them in line.

Recently Beth has been playing for a netball team and has enjoyed getting in to competitive sport again. She played on Sunday for 2 hours and proved herself to be the best player in the team scoring 7 goals compared to the 6 goals scored in the previous 5 games.

While Beth has been energetically competing, I have taken a more sedate approach. As I looked for birthday gifts for Beth I was perusing different spa breaks/days when I found a competition. Well I entered and a few weeks later wa la (I'm sure that is a misspelled french phrase, but hey I am still an Aussie) i get called up and told from 1300 entrants I have won.

The Home Website proudly displaying my name as winner.

This time of year Sheffield residents like to gamble...they hold outdoor events. Fortunately for us the gamble paid off on two occasions.

1. Shakespeare in the Park where we saw 'As You Like It'. Great fun, very clever and more than a little bit confusing (at least for the uncultured, uncouth fellow that I am).

2. Jazz in the Park. As you can see below they had a good turn out weather and people wise.

They spent millions restoring this place to it's original glory.

In the five of our 51 days off so far we have been quite busy. Between us we have been to 3 Birthday parties, 1 stag (bucks) party, a 5 hour marathon netball competition, welcomed home the McAlls back from sabatical (including a major cleaning and garden sprucing spree), Multiple gym sessions with a free trial (Beth more than I) and finally moving house.

God has blessed us richly through the McAlls hospitality and being able to look after their house and continues to bless us in providing a new house for us to house-sit for another couple going on sabatical to the end of this yr. The timing was perfect and it will be great to have our own space for the next 5 months, but we will miss our huge bedroom with its amazing view.

I just read that Sydney has been warmer than Sheffield by a fair bit for the last few days.

Happy Summer Holidays.

Spring has come...and maybe gone too?

2009-05-23T10:37:00.009+01:00

Spring!

One thing that I say when people ask if I like living in the UK is that I love seeing the change of seasons. It really is impressive and revitalising to have our winters followed by the warmer days (in the teens Celsius), sunshine (spits and spats), flowers, lambs, longer days and more smiles of spring.

After 2-3 weeks of sunshine on and off we have just had cloud and rain for the last 2-3 weeks more on than off. But those sunny warm days oh so good.

I tell you what it's no wonder the weather is such a consistent subject of conversation, and it would seem I am progressively becoming more English a whole blog post about the weather. Oh well 'toorah'.

Poor mums. They just walked over.

Lads night for students, one of the first of many bbq's hopefully.

Surfing weekend in Devon. I got sunburnt this day. Sunburnt in England ... who knew?

Sunset over a field of dandelions with promising swell building up.

John, Josh, Jerry and Julians walk. Good times, good people.

2008 in pictures.

2009-02-28T16:47:00.016Z

Hello well this post is long overdue. It seems I have not kept up with this blog very well. Here is a bit of a snapshot into our year last year. We have had some good times on holidays and enjoyed the changing seasons, Jodie and Dad coming to visit as well as a quick visit from Dan Rach and Nathaniel. But the year will be remembered mostly for Davids (Beth's brother) death at 21. God has comforted us and the family so well through friends and church family.

This New Year has begun with busyness. Lots of work at school a move to a mansion a lot of snow and a trip to Tenerife. Hopefully we can keep you better informed for the rest of this year.

Trip to Cornwall.

My Christmas Pressie. TWISTER. (Only a little dodgy)

Sunset.

Sunset Karate Kid style.

Tenerife Times.

Hello Kitty.

Poolside.

Near the top. The Fam at the base of El Teide which is 3700m at the top.

We have moved.

Moonshine from our bedroom window before going to school.

Our backyard.

Our Bedroom window, and our house has a name 'Perhentian'. How classy are we?

The new Baalbergen abode. (Housesitting for 6 months in this 6 bedroom beast.)

Lotsa snow in early Feb.

Trip to Scarborough

for a very cold surf.

Nice stacks

My name is known all over this land.

Matlock

Walking with Friends

France in Summer Hols with Paul and Sue.

This was on our anniversary.

Sunset mmm.

Beth surf lesson...they didn't teach her much (She already knew it all).

At home

Beth's B'day in our old lounge room.

The Reitsma's visit, Beth was at work so we found a replacement.

After a rare victorious football game. Thanks for the pic Jodes.

Dublin.

Our beloved car.

Cost us £86.50.

Very Foxy

We've been to half a dozen weddings of friends. This one had a jumping castle that I spent half the night on...yes those wet patches are what you think they are. Hence Beth trying to keep away from the very sweaty boy.

Lotsa love to you all and Gods Blessings.

xxoo

J+B

Wedding!

2007-08-26T17:13:00.000+01:00

Beth and I are Married! At about 1:37 on the 30th of July 2007 we were pronouced man and wife. Yippeeeee

We had a fantastic day where nothing seemed to go wrong and were blessed with a rare day sunshine. All of both our families we there and service and reception were splendid if I do say so myself.

For honeymoon we travelled north to Scotland for a few nights, followed by a week in the Lake District in a nice little cottage.

We are now settling into our new house in Crookes and getting ready for the busyness of school starting on the 3rd of September.

Photos will be placed in this space when they can be uploaded (technical difficulties).

Wedding Info!!

2007-06-11T18:44:00.000+01:00

Here are a few websites and numbers that may be helpful to you regarding our fast approaching wedding!

Accomodation in Sheffield:
www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/tourist-information/staying-in-sheffield
a general website, look for places in the West of Sheffield if you want to be close by!

www.stayinsheffield.co.uk
Nice looking self-catered apartments, also very close by to the
Hopkinson residence and the church.

If you have a car you might like to stay in the Peak District which is beautiful. There are several youth hostels and B+B's there.
www.peakdistrict-nationalpark.com

Gift List Details:
We have made a gift list at John Lewis, if you would like to buy us a gift from there the website is www.johnlewis.com. You can buy online or pick up from the store. Our list number is 262266. Thank you :o)
If you would prefer to make a donation to tearfund enter our names and our wedding date into this website: www.weddinglistgiving.com

Directions:
To Fulwood Church:
www.fulwoodchurch.co.uk/directions.html
To The Maynard Arms:
www.themaynard.co.uk

If you have any questions or concerns...or just want to say hello! Our email addresses are:
Julian: jdog.papa.gs.man@gmail.com,
Beth: rusty_sunshine@hotmail.com

England...the little differences.

2007-06-05T18:13:00.000+01:00

So as it is said in Pulp Fiction, it's the little differences that make an impact when one travels ('when one' who says that? Well I do now that i'm semi English) .

In Pulp Fiction it's a glass of beer in cinemas, mayonaise on fries and in France, they don't have quarter pounders...apparently it's got something to do with the metric system?

So the UK to Australia?

It's the BBQs
They may be smaller, they may be disposable, they may be made of foil but boy it still tastes divine.

Bigger drain pipes!

Glad I didn't slip.

Less leaves on trees (during winter).

But that means when spring comes in full bloom it makes a more striking contrast.

Longer days. This is about 10pm and it's not even the middle of summer yet.

(sailing trip in south of England, near the Isle of Wight)

Different surfcraft

(trip down to cornwall)
But there are some decent waves.

This day there were some 3-4 ft waves and I LOVED it (except for the almost killing Beth part)

Anyway life in England is not at all bad for an Australian.

And I am so glad to be here together with BB and her friends and family!

Much Love to those Australians still home....and some who aren't. XX00

Updates!

2007-04-03T17:43:00.002+01:00

Hello one and all. Beth and i are recently both on holidays for a couple of weeks and will be in the thick of wedding preparations.

We have made progress.

We have also confirmed a place for reception which we are very pleased about. Set in the green English countryside with rolling hills all around, a place called

'The Maynard' http://www.themaynard.co.uk/.

We have being working with Jon Bradley (friend from church, web-http://www.ninefootone.co.uk/ ) to produce our wedding invitations which will hopefully be ready in the next week or so.

Beth has successfully found a frock for the big day after numerous excursions to various bridal boutiques (which she found sooo tough) it was a toss up but she is happy with her final decision.

The bridesmaids are going on an excursion next week to London to find their dresses.

So if this progress keeps up we may have to move the wedding forward.....maybe not.

Till next time.

Leaving Home

2007-03-04T16:55:00.000Z

So at the end of January after my last surf, my last farewell dinner, my last sleep in my non bedroom, I stepped on a plane headed for a Japanese stopover before Italy. The farewell at the airport was at times tearful but overall a real encouragement to see my family approving of my final solo voyage. The plane trip was fine and arriving in Japan I was able to see on the big screen the pilots landing abilities. There was a camera at the front of the plane which showed the landing strip racing up to meet us. As we touched down there was a sudden jerk to the right and the burly OZZY bloke next to me grabbed the headrest in front of him and let out a little yelp. I made my way to my hotel, tried on the complimentary slippers that managed to cover half of my feet.

After a restful sleep I leisurely made my way to an amazing buffet breakfast which I ate with a sprite young lady (78) called Ethel. After having a wander around and discovering that there was absolutely nothing of interest within walking distance. I jumped on the bus back to the airport. Another long flight to Milan, 3 movies, 2 sunsets in one day (yes 2 see above), 1 train, 1 bus later and I arrive in my final destination of Padova, Italy and am greeted by a couple mates I knew from San Diego.

After our group all came together from America, England (Including Beth!), Scotland, Italy, Chile and Australia, we took a day trip to Venice. The fog had stuck around from the previous night (which had delayed half of the group as they couldn't land) but didn't hinder the romance of this place. Although the fact there was a dozen people instead of just Beth and I did. Pretty cool place.

A couple days later we were off to Cortina, the site of the 1956 winter Olympics. We were spoilt rotten staying in a chalet owned by the Francescos family. We enjoyed ice skating, midnight sledging (after huge portions of food and wine), snow fights and of course snow boarding. The mountains here were so beautiful and impressive. The night we went sledging we ate a hotel at the foot of this huge wall of Dolomite magnificence glowing in the full moons light. We spent a few days enjoying the snowboarding and skiing in ideal sunny conditions and nights in the comfortable chalet playing games and chatting. One differnce that is always evident between Australia and Europe is the undeniable history present here. Like the 13th century house we stayed in for a night with original paintings on the wall or for example in Padova as we walked round one day Francesco pointed to an old observatory and casually told how Galileo was based there doing his thing. I was impressed cause I know Galileo is some famous dead guy you can read about in books, although other than looking at stars I don't know what he did.

From Italy onto England. Beth brought me down to Exeter where she is at Uni and gave me a welcome fit for a king. She wined me and dined me, Moroccan restaurant, home made shepherds pie and buckets of love. Met her housemates and even did a little karaoke on their home system. We went from here to Teignmouth, packed up Nannys flat with Dave (Beths bro ---------------> and Beths mum and then up to Sheffield. Well we went head first into wedding stuff. Marriage preparation course looking at reception places going to a wedding fair (woohoo). The last couple of weeks I have been trying to set up my stuff bank account, work, phone etc. Well I have been working doing Casual teaching which has been pretty good and a real blessing to have gotten into it so quickly. Living with the in-laws who have been so hospitable has been good. I generally am doing well and am keen to get into doing some sort of activity and some sort of routine.

Missing everyone at home and the sun (which I did see yesterday). Anyway love to you all.

Getting Married

2007-03-04T16:04:00.000Z

I am happy to announce that Beth and I are getting married on Monday the 30th of July 2007.

I am going to use this blog site to keep you informed and updated on what's going on.

So this here is a 'save the date' reminder. We have booked the church but nuthin else at this stage. Once a reception place, times and all those good things are confirmed we will let you know. So every couple weeks check this out and see if anything else has been updated.

Ciao