Just to let you know I’m hoping to grab a bit of video of the kittens later this week. Its a DV camcorder, so after connecting it to PC via a FireWire lead, and dumping it in a video app, Pinnacle Studio, Nero, or maybe even Windows Movie Maker, if I get desperate enough, then trying to find the best format/codec to use to show it on the web – need to be careful of monthly transfer limits with my hosting company….
Sep 11 2006
Not Much Text, Just Photos This Time
As promised, here are the new photos of the kittens…
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Sep 09 2006
Saturday, And All Is Well
The weekend has arrived, and so has Aunty Sveta. We’ve not seen her in a few months, so it is good to meet again. She is coming over to ours tomorrow, for her first viewing of our furnished flat.
We also took a peek at Dasha and the kittens, and weighed them. Photos to follow…
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Sep 06 2006
More Dasha And Kittens Photos
I’ve managed to cut down the amount of photos I wanted to post, from around 40, to the following 7.Once more, click on the images to see a slightly larger version.
They’re currently adding about 10% of their weight per day, and although still blind and pretty docile, starting to form their own individual characters.
Going back tomorrow to say good bye to Ira’s mum, who is away on a trip to Russia, and see the kittens again.
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Sep 01 2006
Dasha Is A Mum Again
Dasha is Ira’s cat, who lives at the in-laws. She has been pregnant for what seems like forever, and Wednesday night she finally gave birth…
4 Cute Kittens, see below for some photos – click for larger versions.
The lighting varies, as I originally turned the flash off, not wanting to annoy/worry Dasha, but forgot on one shot. They would have looked even murkier without a little Photoshop-ing
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Aug 28 2006
OK, Back To The Planned Blog
It is Sunday, and we’ve just waved Natalya & Oleg (a different Oleg to the one previously mentioned on this site) off. They visited for a long weekend, to do some business and to say hello to some of Astana’s inhabitants. They stayed with us, and when not working, we went out for a few drinks.
We haven’t seen her for a few years, and it was good to catch up. It was also good to meet her friends. We played billiards, which I’ve not done for 5 years. If you’ve never seen it in person, imagine a snooker table with smaller pockets and the cushions have a square angle at the pocket, not bevelled.
Now imagine the balls being almost too big to fit in the pockets, and you start to see the way the game differs from pool and snooker. Luckily we played American Billiards, not the Russian version, which means you can use any of the balls still in play as a cue ball, and any ball can be pocketed, as long as it makes contact with at least one other ball. After a few vodkas, I managed to down a few of the balls.
Losha, Igor and his wife came round in the evening, which was cool, as we haven’t seen them in a few weeks. Lorsha is interested in PCs, and his English is really quite good.
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Aug 18 2006
A Little Later Than Intended
OK, as promised, here is some more info, from Mum & John’s perspective.
This is basically a cut’n’paste job from an e-mail they sent to family and friends (with permission I hasten to add ;>)
“”For those of you ancient enough to Radio 4 be familiar with Alistair Cooke’s “Letter from America” this is likely to seem a pale comparison. Certainly less erudite and not as well crafted – but hopefully it will inform and maybe even amuse, though the political comment will be markedly absent!
This is Carol’s second visit to this amazing country and my first. As we flew in at night the lack of any settlements for hundreds of miles prior to landing in Astana was perplexing. It was hard to comprehend such vast tracts of land without population. Then Astana appears on the Kazakh Steppes resembling a modern Emirate city. Disney could not have bettered it! When Carol was here last she arrived through the back door, via the old capital of Almaty, then a twenty three hour train journey across a hot and dusty terrain. She made the trip for her son (Chris) & daughter in law’s (Irina) marriage. Jokingly she had said as she left to Irina’s father that he was to have a new airport built on her return. He did – and a pretty impressive airport to boot! It is so refreshing to see architecture which is not afraid to be adventurous, particularly in the teeth of such extreme weather conditions. Thankfully on this trip it has been kind to Carol & me, between 21°C & 30°C. The temperature can famously vary between -30°C in the winter to +40°C during the short summer months.
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Aug 17 2006
Mum And John Westward Bound
Mum & John left early this morning, heading to Heathrow, via Istanbul.
It was brilliant to see them again, and a little sad when they left, but Ira & me hope to visit the UK around Christmas time.
I’ll post more on their visit in a while, but just wanted to take this opportunity to thank them for coming, and our Kazakh friends & family for making them feel so welcome.
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Aug 10 2006
5 Years Today !
This time 5 years ago, I was about to get married here in Astana, Kazakhstan.
In a few respects, so much has changed in my life since then, but most of the time it truly does not seem such a long time ago I was putting on that suit, willing myself not to sweat too much in the blistering heat, and exchanging vows with my beloved, Irina (Ira).
It has been really good to have Mum&John around for this celebration, and to be making friends out here. I’m hoping Dad and Jan will be able to make it out some time next year. It is also a sad time, as Grandma passed away last week. I don’t really know how to convey the emotions this obviously invokes, except to say she will be missed by many, many people.
Whilst I don’t know what exists beyond our understanding of the physical world, nor what happens to our essence when we pass on, I hope that the joy she gave to others in her long life will mean something positive for her in whatever journey she is now on. Good bye grandma. We all love you…
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Aug 08 2006
Mum Has Arrived
It is now Tuesday, and Mum & John got here early Sunday morning.
Great to see them again, and I’m hoping they’ll both enjoy their stay here, and also get a feel for this country and its people.
We’ve been to the in-laws a few times, had a walk through the local park and the river, and had a quick wander round Ramstore (??????? in Russian).
Going to get going for now, just wanted to get out a quick post on the happy news.
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