LozTom Blog http://www.LozTom.Com/ Life and times of the Thomas family in Swansea en Copyright 2008 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:04:01 +0100 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Medical Funny Today 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 !!! http://www.LozTom.Com/2008/04/#000018 http://www.LozTom.Com/2008/04/#000018 Special Times Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:04:01 +0100 Winter Approaches 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 ! http://www.LozTom.Com/2008/04/#000017 http://www.LozTom.Com/2008/04/#000017 New Zealand Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:15:52 +0100 Update from the other side !! 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 ]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2008/04/#000016 http://www.LozTom.Com/2008/04/#000016 New Zealand Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:54:37 +0100 Moved to New Zealand 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 ! ]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2008/02/#000015 http://www.LozTom.Com/2008/02/#000015 New Zealand Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:15:26 +0100 New Zealand 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 :-) http://www.LozTom.Com/2007/11/#000014 http://www.LozTom.Com/2007/11/#000014 Family Sun, 18 Nov 2007 13:15:58 +0100 Back from Bulgaria 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 ! http://www.LozTom.Com/2007/09/#000012 http://www.LozTom.Com/2007/09/#000012 Family Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:38:35 +0100 September !! ... already ! 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. http://www.LozTom.Com/2007/09/#000011 http://www.LozTom.Com/2007/09/#000011 Family Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:09:09 +0100 The Wedding 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. ]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2007/08/#000010 http://www.LozTom.Com/2007/08/#000010 Special Times Fri, 17 Aug 2007 23:04:56 +0100 Christmas 2006





















]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/12/#000009 http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/12/#000009 Special Times Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:53:58 +0100 December 2006 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. http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/12/#000008 http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/12/#000008 Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:53:13 +0100 Presents For The Children 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 !]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/11/#000007 http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/11/#000007 Family Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:46:52 +0100 August Sept - Autumn Begins ! 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 ! ]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/09/#000006 http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/09/#000006 Family Sat, 30 Sep 2006 15:49:10 +0100 Killay Summer Party







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



]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/08/#000005 http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/08/#000005 Special Times Mon, 28 Aug 2006 13:54:00 +0100 Admiral Summer Party 2006 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 !

]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/08/#000004 http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/08/#000004 Family Wed, 23 Aug 2006 01:01:26 +0100 Moved Blog 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   ]]> http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/08/#000003 http://www.LozTom.Com/2006/08/#000003 Wed, 23 Aug 2006 00:20:19 +0100