Two Dogs

Two Dogs
Originally uploaded by Stuart Blair

Got some of Lachlan's paintings home from the nursery. Is it just me that can see two dogs humping here?

Struan Blair Arrives Early!

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Originally uploaded by Stuart Blair

Pamela and I are delighted to announce the birth of our second child, Struan. Weighing in at 8lbs, 2oz and 21 inches tall. He came just over a week earlier than we were expecting and consequently, we haven't yet settled on a middle name yet. He's lovely.

See the flickr site for more photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartblair/sets/72157615217163611/

It was a bit of a surprise for us how quick it all happened. At 10:00am Pamela wasn't even feeling any contractions. By 12:45pm we had another son.

He came so quickly that they didn't get the time to administer any form of pain relief. To celebrate both the birth of our second child and the end of her gestational diabetes, I brought her in a huge bit of chocolate cake. Mother and baby are both doing well and will hopefully be home tomorrow.

Toes up the nose

Lachlan has just invented a new game which involves him taking his socks off, sitting in my lap, swiveling round and jamming one of his toes up my nostril, while gleefully singing "Toes up the Nose!"

Not that I want to go all Victorian Dad all of a sudden, but it does make you wonder what happened to respect for ones parents.

My Buttons

You know how after a while you just get used to seeing homeless people in San Francisco? It just gets to the point where it no longer shocks. Coming out of the Bart this morning I saw a Mum and her toddler with a note saying "Please help - stranded and homeless". Beside them were a couple of bags with all their worldly belongings in it. I could see a tonka truck poking out the top and the wee boy was playing with his crayons.

This pressed my buttons in a big way. I had $10 in my wallet so I went over and gave it to the Mum. I consoled myself thinking that considering the volume of passing pedestrians and how shocking her predicament was she'd probably have $300 by lunchtime.

It's funny how identifying with someone entirely changes your viewpoint and response. It's like when they show pictures of toddlers crying on telly. You feel ill if you don't do something about it.

Delighted to announce.....

announcement
Originally uploaded by Stuart Blair

Pamela and I are delighted to announce we're expecting a wee brother/sister for Lachlan in late March 2009. Here we go again!

Deja Vu

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Originally uploaded by Stuart Blair

Same bench in Sausalito 3 years on from when we last visited and wouldn't you know it, there's the same guy we posted a blog entry about. Again, spreading the love with his dog - 'Caji Dog' dressed up and singing for the bemused passing masses.

We stopped and chatted and wouldn't you know it, but he's got a web page: http://www.gratefuldogproductions.com/

Surfing at Bolinas, CA

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Originally uploaded by Stuart Blair

Oh come all and bask in my gnarly wave-catching abilities. Or maybe not. Pictured here is my most successful attempt when I managed to get up on my knees before being thrown off the board. Maybe I'll stick to sailing. I was also told by my colleagues (after I'd been surfing) that the sharks spawn just up the coast from here. Oops.

Painting Eggs

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Originally uploaded by Stuart Blair

Since this was to be the first Easter Sunday that Lachlan would be able to roll an egg down a hill, we boiled some up and stopped by a shop for some markers to paint the eggs on our way up to Golden Gate Park. Lachlan was sleeping in his car seat, so we decided to have a go at painting ours while had a nap.

Pamela was in the front passenger seat while Heather was in the back with Lachlan. Neither could see what the other was painting on their egg, but once they were put together. See the middle two eggs. Pamela's is on the left and Heather's is on the right... Super creepy isn't it. Even the choices of colours is the same. I'll bet they have their own language that they only use in each others' presence.

I also liked Lachlan's impressionist egg.

I ♥ San Francisco

Sorry for being so quiet. We've had quite a rollercoaster ride in the past couple of weeks. We've signed the lease on a house in Walnut Creek which looks like something from the set of Desparate Housewives, we've done battle with the department of Social Security to get numbers, we've got US bank accounts, credit cards and cell phones. I've also started work and it looks like I'm going to have a really good time here.

So, in words and pictures, here's why living and working in San Francisco and the East Bay rocks:

The people are genuinely interesting and are genuinely interested in what you have to say.

The culture is one in which personalities don't compete, but ideas do.

There's no gung-ho work til you drop attitudes or cowboy coding, rather it's about working smarter and recognising that you're doing yourself and your team a disservice by burning the candle at both ends.

What the locals consider to be a 'Storm' would be interpreted as a bit of a wet day in Scotland.

I've yet to see graffiti, a dog turd, phlegm or broken glass on any pavement. You can actually just look straight ahead and enjoy the view.

It's a myth that you can't get decent cheese or alcohol free beer here.

The food is plentiful, cheap and very good.

Petrol is laughably cheap compared to the UK, but despite this, there's still a great deal of interest in recycling and the use of hybrids.

The sailing waters in San Francisco bay look amazing.

This is winter -


More pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartblair/

So long and thanks for all the fish

After 5 years at JPMorgan, it's time to move on.

I've accepted a position at another financial institution in San Francisco. I'm really looking forward to the new job and our family's new life in California.

My decision to leave Morgan's is tinged with sadness, as I'm leaving behind an XP team of talented developers that I really respect, each of whom crossed from colleague to friend a long time ago. I'll miss you guys. Stay in touch.

It seems that every time something 'big' happens that I'm not used to, I become a prolific blogger. Given what's due to come up in the next couple of months I'm expecting to make quite a few posts. My new firm has laid on a fairly comprehensive relocation package, so an awful lot of the hassle has already been dealt with by someone else. Even so, I expect there's going to be some blog-inspiring stuff.

We finally got married!

Pamela and I finally tied the knot.



More pictures are on our Flickr account - http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartblair/

Wee Me

Lachlan at Jacqueline and Simon's Wedding

First tooth and storytime

More Lachlan Pics

It's been a while. He's getting bigger and cuter....