LozTom Blog tag:,2008:/1 2008-04-30T10:08:57Z Life and times of the Thomas family in Swansea Movable Type 3.31 Medical Funny Today tag:www.LozTom.Com,2008://1.18 2008-04-30T10:04:01Z 2008-04-30T10:08:57Z Well, beein in Wellington for a couple of months now and we decided to go for permenant residency as we love it here so much. so... round the roundabouts of medicals and forms..all going well...except...153 over 110...hmmm..the old blood pressure... Well, beein in Wellington for a couple of months now and we decided to go for permenant residency as we love it here so much. so... round the roundabouts of medicals and forms..all going well...except...153 over 110...hmmm..the old blood pressure a bit high .. I blame the wife and two kids :-) Well, doc being such a nice lady told me to come back later in the week and we'd try again, good stuff I thought. So.. No Wine, no fags, running around the field, drinking loads of water .... one week later, I get off the train from work (a little stressed, worrying about the whole medical thing), and sit down in the waiting room ready for doc. The wife and two kids walk in just as doc calls me in, cool will only be a second I thouht and I'll be back home..... not so Blood pressure reads exactly the same) ...bugger !! Doc (being ever such a nice lady), says take a lie down, relax, chill out for 10 mins and she'll take a couple of readings ... so I'm lying there, my head pounding, trying to think of something soothing, and not about the hole in my sock which has appeared and is making me feel intesly self concious, and then of course because I've drunk so much water, I'm tryin to hold back a torrent ...doh !!! She takes another reading after a couple of mins .. not good After another 5 mins the kids start playing up ...and I can hear their little footsteps exploring the depths of the off limits area of the doctors surgery in which I am lying down.....ok...keep calm...They'll go away...think of something soothing...a pastel flower blowing in the breeze on a nice summers day...doc takes another reading ... and walks out again ... things are not looking good.... About 10 mins later, have managed to calm myslef down and the throbbing veigns seem to be quieter, I'm more relaxed...a bit more hopefull...then..... HOW LONG YOU GOING TO BE, I LEFT THE POTATOES ON !THE HOUSE IS PROBABLY ON FIRE ALREADY!! HURRY UP!!!... The wife's standing in the door, giving me a stern look as if to say why are you taking so long to have low blood pressure..it's all your fault..and the house is probably on fire !!! !!!!!!!!!!! D.O.H !!!!!!!!! Then the doc walks in Blood pressure 135 over 90 ... Phew !!! Winter Approaches tag:www.LozTom.Com,2008://1.17 2008-04-27T21:15:52Z 2008-04-27T21:38:45Z Well, winter is approaching fast here and whilst not as bad as the UK, we've had a few of those grimy days which are cold. Still had a wonderful weekend (ANZAC), where we went wine tasting and had a party... Well, winter is approaching fast here and whilst not as bad as the UK, we've had a few of those grimy days which are cold. Still had a wonderful weekend (ANZAC), where we went wine tasting and had a party in the evening out on the veranda. Was a great day but both Stasia and myself paid dealy with a hangover on the following days. Jared and Roan are doing well, although Jared is now running scared of Roan as he has now learned the power of the tool...to be more precise he's picking up stuff and hitting jared with it because he knows it hurts more ! Seems the more we tell the boys not to fight the more fighting they do ! Work trundles on and as we settle in we learn more of the dramas which effect our friends lives. I am just glad that we're happy and not effected by any of this. The main drama in our life at the moment is the ...well, there isn't one...we're quite happy ! Update from the other side !! tag:www.LozTom.Com,2008://1.16 2008-04-17T11:54:37Z 2008-04-17T12:11:23Z We're all really enjoying ourselves here in New Zealand. Stasia is making loads of friends as are the boys. Roan has started toddler Gym and is putting all the other kids to shame. Jared is in Kindy and is really... Thomas Family Tree as a result of all the fact finding I had to do for the first application and you can see it here (any updates from family please eMail me). As you can see from the photo below, Jared and Roan are getting on better than ever. Here in Aotea Lagoon they went on a not so minature train and just love playing here as it also has a brill playground and ducks and gardens ..well it's got all a kid could need !!). Jared & Roan on the Train in Aotea Lagoon ]]> Moved to New Zealand tag:www.LozTom.Com,2008://1.15 2008-02-17T07:15:26Z 2008-02-17T07:29:28Z Well, been accepted for a role in Telecom New Zealand and we've managed to get here, find a car and will move into rented accomodation at the start of March. I's been a great couple of weeks and we both... BritishExpats Start the new Job tomorrow and am looking forwards to getting into some routine. Have applied for Permenant residency via the New Zealand Web site (blimey, want to know how often you blow your nose!!). This should take a few months to get sorted but when this is complete we'll start looking for a house to buy. Hopefully will be close to a beach and facilities etc and not a long commute ...tall order but hey, land of opportunity. Strange thing, listening to the radio, if you were to take away the accent the topics they cover seem to be exactly the same as the UK. There seems to be a concern over the number of people leaving for Australia, the number of people not being able to afford their own house and the rate of tax and the economy !! Still there is a real difference in the perceivable culture. Whilst the queen still appears on the currency, and there are the manditory McDonalds, the traditional culture is palpable. The people are all really friendly and there seems to be a far more trusting and positive feel to the people. One of the buig things to get used to is the geography and the buildings. I liken it to when I went to live in Leeds (UK). Initially I thought it was grim (it was the middle of winter when i arrived). but when you get used to the architecture and the landscape, you start to overcome you pre-conceived ideas and begin to appreciate the place. We've only been here a couple of weeks but I'm confident that we have made the right decision and that we'll stay here. The kids are having a great time. There is loads to do here and unlike the UK, the playgrounds do not get burnt down a couple of months after they've been built. they are also a far better quality than those found in the UK. Well, I'll keep on updating the gallery with photos as and when I can and will report on how the work is (cannot be worse than the UK!!). There is a real skills shortage over here so I suppose if I hate the job I can always find another role quickly. There seems to be very few locals in the IT industry...they're probably in the UK or OZ earning the money ! ]]> New Zealand tag:www.LozTom.Com,2007://1.14 2007-11-18T12:15:58Z 2007-11-18T12:34:06Z Well, we now have acceptance for Victoria sponsorship, whilst at the same time it looks like I have an offer for New Zealand ! Should be getting a contract through soon and if acceptable we're looking at possibly February 2008... Well, we now have acceptance for Victoria sponsorship, whilst at the same time it looks like I have an offer for New Zealand ! Should be getting a contract through soon and if acceptable we're looking at possibly February 2008 !! Not long at all. Stasia has been doing her internet investigations about Wellington, looking into the lifestyle on the EX Pat Web sites and looking at the housing market. Have booked the Medicals which are not in-expensive (£90 each for XRays and 650 for the Medical tests etc.). The diabetes may add to this (will have to see). Am really looking forwards to this now, however the move will be a nightmare.We have to pack up all the gear in the house and either throw it out or take it with us .... not to mention all the financial stuff !! Will all be worth while in the end I'm sure :-) Back from Bulgaria tag:www.LozTom.Com,2007://1.12 2007-09-23T22:38:35Z 2007-09-23T22:47:48Z Had a great time in Bulgaria. Went to the Royal Park hotel in Elinite. The kids did not want to come home and we had a great time !... Had a great time in Bulgaria. Went to the Royal Park hotel in Elinite. The kids did not want to come home and we had a great time ! gallery, we took over two hundred ! Jared and Roan loved throwing the pebbles off the pier into the sea and Jared so loved the kids clubs he could not wait to see the back of us :-) As usual, both the boys made an impression with the staff and guests and by the time we left they were all sad to see them go (hey, we're the parents... we do exist !! we're going as well ... ho well ... I suppose they are more cure than a 17 stone balding welsh man !!). Work has been very hectic and unfortunatley I got lumbered with another project managers work when I got back as he went on holiday. Talk about walking back into a sh@t storm :-( No more information from our application to Victoria (oz), still it will only be a couple of weeks and I can't wait for them to get back to us. Both Jared and Roan are going to bed earlier these days because they need to get up in the morning. Thank heavens for small merceys !! ]]> September !! ... already ! tag:www.LozTom.Com,2007://1.11 2007-09-05T09:09:09Z 2007-09-05T09:09:09Z It's September already and I've been busy with the old photos. Spurned on by a recent interest in family history I've been scanning like mad and have now updated the web album with all the old and more recent pictures... It's September already and I've been busy with the old photos. Spurned on by a recent interest in family history I've been scanning like mad and have now updated the web album with all the old and more recent pictures I could get my hands on. In more disturbing news the old doc has said that I've high blood pressure and colesterol, so I've joined the gym again and I'm off down there as many times as my muscles will let me ...ok, at the mo I'm in pain but I'm sure it will get easier ! :-) The OZ migration process is trundling along, with the first part of the application to the ACS completed successfully, I've now applied to Victoria for State Sponsorship and hope to hear back from them in a few weeks. Then comes the expensive part and Oh boy does it get expensive from there !! Next week we're off to Bulgaria for a well earned break for a week...a par 2 of the honeymoon with the boys. As I've not been away for some time I'm really looking forwards to this. Brian has his yaught at last and after some maintenance (filling the holes in the tin can), he's looking forwards to re-launch this weeken. Lookout for the flairs !!! The boys are well, however Roans tantrums at three AM probably spurned on by teething are not going down well and sleep is in short supply at the moment. Both now can get a significant amount of air between them and the trampoleen which is amazing considering Roan is only 18 months old ! Jared is Snoring well and oh boy does he need his tonsills removed...he's on the list and with any luck he'll eat and sleep better once he's had the op. Other than that he's fine and lovely. Stasia pulled another "stasia" at the cracker sevens and had a wicked time. This author is proud and happy to have such a lovely family which loves eachother so much !! The Wedding tag:www.LozTom.Com,2007://1.10 2007-08-17T22:04:56Z 2007-08-17T22:32:28Z ok, so I've been very slack and have not updated this blog for absolutly ages !! So here goes... I have created a gallery as it makes no sens putting all the pictures in here. Just go to http://www.loztom.com/gallery to... http://www.loztom.com/gallery to see all our photos. Since Christmas quite a few things have happened, notably my marriage to Stasia. A great day was had by all at the King Arthur Hotel on the Gower and the day was a big hit with the kids and adults alike. If anyone wants a child friendly wedding I suggest you talk to Stasia. She did a brilliant job putting party packs together, ballons, bouncy castles etc... and the wedding atmosphere was both relaxed and enjoyable. Stasia managed to organise the wedding so well and she just proved to me once again how lucky I am to have her as a wife. The boys ... well... what can I say ... they look like angels, and perhaps I should stop there..:-) They're fine with Jared talking more and more and Roan learning fast of Jared and fast forwarding into his terrible twos already .. my oh my how time flys !! Anyway...going to start to put some pictures on the site now and will endeavour to add more to this later. ]]> Christmas 2006 tag:www.MumblesJetSkiClub.co.uk,2006:/loztom//1.9 2006-12-29T15:53:58Z 2007-08-09T14:14:48Z We've all had a great Christmas this year. The kids are well and we've all been spoilt rotton (thanks to everyone). Stasia cooked a great Christmas meal and we all drank too much :-)...





















]]> December 2006 tag:www.MumblesJetSkiClub.co.uk,2006:/loztom//1.8 2006-12-29T15:53:13Z 2006-12-29T15:53:50Z December 2006 Roan has been walking for over a month now, chuffed as anything with himself ! Jared is his usual self and has now linked Christmas with the receiving of presents ... my bank balance will never be... December 2006 Roan has been walking for over a month now, chuffed as anything with himself ! Jared is his usual self and has now linked Christmas with the receiving of presents ... my bank balance will never be the same again ! Have created a new Web site www.LozTom.com to advertise Web development and IT Consultancy in South Wales to make a bit more cash on the side. Work is as usual a combination of panic and stress. Am now officially old as my 37th birthday has just passed and I'm well on my way to the big 40 (goodness it's a little frightening !). Stasia is beautiful as always and is looking forwards to going to work next year for one day a week ! We're both looking forwards to the big wedding day and I'll be so happy to be part of Mr and Mrs. Presents For The Children tag:www.MumblesJetSkiClub.co.uk,2006:/loztom//1.7 2006-11-09T08:46:52Z 2006-11-09T09:02:11Z Hi, The boys having almost everything they could possibly want have asked me if you could help them prepare for University to enable them to take it in turns to eventually become priminister. To that end, if you would like... BOUNTY CHILD TRUST FUND, and as I like to call it ..."sponsor a sprog". Details you will require are below. These are child trust funds setup for the boys and will hopefully help towards whatever they want to do when they're 18 (so long as it's university :-) ... sorry stasia.. yes they might want to go round the world !!).
Jared Thomas
C000957561
06/02/2004		 Small%20Jared.JPG
Roan Thomas C004181141J 24/02/2006Small%20Roan.JPG
Please give generously as these kids are going to have to support the old fogies when they're older :-) Love Stasia, Laurence, Jared, Roan and of course paddy !]]> August Sept - Autumn Begins ! tag:www.MumblesJetSkiClub.co.uk,2006:/loztom//1.6 2006-09-30T14:49:10Z 2006-09-30T15:18:16Z Wedding feaver has set in and today we went out and splashed out on the rings ! Makes it all a little bit more real :-) Roan has recently had his checkup and is doing fantastically. He is doing some... 060929_1.JPG 060929_1.JPG 060929_1.JPG Roan has recently had his checkup and is doing fantastically. He is doing some of the things you would only expect a one year old to be doing. He is sitting up on his own and has started to pull himself up an stand holding onto the cofee table/setee. 060929_1.JPG 060929_1.JPG Jared is also more comfortable with Roan and the boys have even started playing together ! I think Jared is in trouble as Roan LOVES to beat him up! 060929_1.JPG 060929_1.JPG 060929_1.JPG Both childred are still swamp monsters and can generate enough mess to sink the titanic ...every five minutes. However, mum and dad are so very proud of the ickle men and even Paddy has shown his protective side. Neither Paddy or Jared will go in the house until we have fetched Roan out of the car ! ]]> Killay Summer Party tag:www.MumblesJetSkiClub.co.uk,2006:/loztom//1.5 2006-08-28T12:54:00Z 2006-08-28T22:22:45Z We had loads of fun at the killay party. Jared especially enjoyed the limelight when he managed to get on stage and sing to the crowd in his own inimitable way ! Jared Gets up and sings !! I might...







Jared Gets up and sings !! I might point out once again, Jared is the only child to require all the crowds attention !!



]]> Admiral Summer Party 2006 tag:www.MumblesJetSkiClub.co.uk,2006:/loztom//1.4 2006-08-23T00:01:26Z 2006-08-23T00:02:25Z Had a lovely day out thanks to Admiral Insurance. Jared ran around like a fool posessed ... ok, so he was normal :-) Ok, so can you see the look of an animal in Stasia at this point ?... Had a lovely day out thanks to Admiral Insurance. Jared ran around like a fool posessed ... ok, so he was normal :-) Ok, so can you see the look of an animal in Stasia at this point ? and perhaps a smidgen of fear in Jareds eyes ? ... all those sleepless nights ! Ok, so the first hit to the head hurt ... now I have protection, watch out !!! Three nutters in a tea cup ! Who'd of thought it possible !

So just to confirm... you didn't see what I just did you ?
Good, coz that child was crying when I got here !

]]> Moved Blog tag:www.MumblesJetSkiClub.co.uk,2006:/loztom//1.3 2006-08-22T23:20:19Z 2006-08-22T23:20:44Z Great Pics In Great Weather ! Thursday, July 20, 2006 Summers Heating Up and The Kids Are Out ! Getting used to the Diabetes now, forgot to take it in the afternoon the other day :-( ... but then... Great Pics In Great Weather ! Thursday, July 20, 2006 Summers Heating Up and The Kids Are Out ! Getting used to the Diabetes now, forgot to take it in the afternoon the other day :-( ... but then had nightmares about it so I don't think I'll forget in a rush again !!! Went for the marriage licence today ... looking forward to next year !!!

 

Remember Mummy ... I'm the boss!!!

Monday, July 03, 2006 Although the month did not start off well with the Diabetes etc, it has been overall very nice with a couple of weeks off with the family with brilliant weather. Pity no one to go out with on the boat, but have had loads of nice walks and Jared has loved black pill lido ! Stasia and I were a bit gutted at having to miss the Red Hot Chili peppers in Reading, but we'll catch them next time !
Jared discovers water ... now we cannot get him out !! He's also a litttle protective of his bath time as when Roan joins him for the first time Jared tries to pull his face off !
Newquay .. west Wales, Jared the ladies man !
Stasia looking sexy Boogie till you drop... move over Travolta


Cath and Elizabeth pop in ! Friday, June 09, 2006 - Folley Farm
Found out this week I am a Type 1 Diabetic which explaines the weight loss...and there's me thinking it's coz I drink a lot of water ! Go figure .... Anyway, what keeps me happy are these pics, my family life and the love that binds us all !

Got to go pig stick myself now.. and then not eat any chocolate ... for the rest of my life ! DOH !
At least beer is still on the menu ... controlled and moderated of course :-)   Sunday, April 30, 2006   Saturday, April 22, 2006 - Nearly May 2006, Spring Is Here !   Easter Time   LINKS   ]]>