Moo & Jason's boys

Michelle sent us this picture, taken today, of Rhys and Matthew. It will be a second Christmas for Rhys, and first of course for Matt. Boy, will we miss them this year!


This photo of Rose was from last night, as we spent a few hours walking around the town centre of Worthing, doing some late night shopping. It was not as busy as we had expected, and we were able to finish most of our Christmas purchases reasonably early.

Gentically predisposed to Grandpa's habits

Those who know me well, know that a life-long habit of mine has been to play with my ears. Don't know why, I just do. Drives Rose crazy! I have tried to give up, taken long ear-lobe fasts that last at least two hours, tried a 12 steps programme ... but it doesn't take long before I twiddle my lobes and look a mere fraction of my actual IQ.

So, imagine my delight, nay, my profound happiness, when I discovered that my grandson, Rhys, all by himself, and seperated by hundreds of kilometers from my influence, plays with his ears in almost an identical way. The proof is in the picture, taken earlier this week, early one morning, when Rhys paid us a visit in the guest room at the farm. Rose has learned that some things are just genetic.

Growing Family

We are still in KwaZulu Natal, on the farm, near Albert Falls Dam. Michelle and little Matthew came home yesterday, and here is the first shot of the newly enlarged family. The sleepless nights have begun, Rhys is sometimes very loving, other times quite jealous at no longer being the center of attention. He will survive.

This week we will see other friends and family in the Durban and Kloof area ... it is less than three weeks now before Mark returns to the UK to start at Feba. Our rental agreement has been approved, our bank account not quite open yet, and hopefully we will get back to Joburg to find my visa has been granted and stamped into my passport. Being with Jason and Michelle and the boys is a real joy.

Grandson #2 makes his entrance

Rose and I are very proud, pleased, and thankful to God, for the safe arrival of gorgeous Matthew Callum Vaughan-Davies. He is a brother for Rhys. Mommy, Michelle, is recovering well in the Midlands Medical Centre in Pietermaritzburg. Daddy, Jason, is over the realisation that he nopw has two boys to raise, and is as proud as can be. Rhys has seen his kid brother yesterday, but remains a little bemused by the whole thing. Michelle says he is quite different in appearance and character, after one day of having him. He was born yesterday, 7 September 2006, weighed 3.4 kilos, and measured 54 cm in length. He has lots of dark brown hair, and very large lungs judging from the sound he made when he popped out of Moo's tum during a caesarian section. We are looking after Rhys, which is a real joy.

My contribution to the gene pool

Picture by MDT

A first picture of three generations of our family together and introducing first time baby, Rhys; first time mommy, Michelle; and, first time granny, Rose. Picture taken shortly after Moo and Rhys arrived home from the hospital. He was 4 days old and more interested in sleeping than any of us! We had a lovely week down on the farm about 35 kms from Pietermaritzburg, mostly there with our new grandson of course, but we found time to catch up with old friends of the Zimbabwean diaspora too! More about that in another blog posting to come.

William Rhys Vaughan-Davies

Picture by Toni Fisher

Rhys entered the world on 19 May 2005, in Pietermaritzburg*, South Africa.

This picture was at a whole 7 hours old! What is he thinking? Born by ceasarian section, with his cord wrapped around his neck twice for good measure, he apparantly wasted no time at all in loudly proclaiming his presence. Michelle is doing well, and Jason is very proud. So are we!

What else happened on 19 May?

TE Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia, died of his injuries on 19 May 1935 six days after a motor cycle accident in Dorset. He was living under an assumed name and was a retired Royal Air Force mechanic! The Spanish Armada set sail on this day in 1588, not that any of us really remember! They wanted to gain control of the English channel and plonk the Brits, but bad weather delayed them and gave the English chance to organise and use their longer range guns to decimate the Spanish fleet. Oscar Wilde was released from prison on 19 May, 1897 after having a gay old time, and in 1967 the Soviet Union (remember them?) ratified an international treaty banning nuclear weapons from space.

And if you want any more, go here to the excellent pages of The History Channel.

* (one of these fine days we will wake up and find the name changed to Msunduzi I expect)