A Mini-Me is on the way!
A baby - who will hopefully have my musicality and sense of humour, and it's dad's way with languages and words... (the horror would be my height and his nose!)

I am 11 weeks pregnant so far; I've had moments of morning (all day) sickness, some days of feeling like my body is re-wiring itself, a constant need for munchies (!), have started preferring tea rather than coffee (very wierd) and have gone off alcohol (tragic - even my beloved Port no longer appeals, and the smell of red wine makes me take a step back, not convenient when taking a Communion service I can tell you!). But really, I've been fine. Feel healthy, if a little tired, and perhaps not all my clothes fit as well as they did 2 months ago (!) but I feel good with this.

The baby was hoped for rather than a total suprise but, even with the certainty of being 11 weeks pregnant, I was still amazed when I saw the image on the scan. I really am pregnant, that really is a baby, and it really is happening to us, not just other people any more! Blimey!

So now the wonderful world of preparing for Maternity Leave begins - work: how does the Church of England handle this? As I live where I work from, how will I ensure privacy - and avoiding sidling my way back into work when I should be 'resting'?? Who's going to take my 18 weddings this year?

And never mind all that - others will cope fine without me. (sob - am I really dispensible?!) Will I be any good at this 'being a mum' thing? Will we make good parents? Will we bond with the baby, love him/her at first sight? If s/he is ill or has long term health needs, will we cope well? Will the baby be cute, or so ugly the midwife won't know which end to put the nappy.....?!

So if you have any tips for a short, mildy disabled, self-doubting but strangely calm, vicar mum-to-be, do get in touch!

More as and when...

urban v rural...?

what is it about people?

I've been living in cities and towns for much of my life and had got used to how people behave - on public transport, in shops and crowd behaviour.

For nearly 3 years now I've been living in a village - and have got used to this way of being with other people.

So it was a shock to spend 2 days on central London over New Year - sitting in the entrance hall to the British Museum, I looked at more people in 2 minutes than I see in 1 week! Not just the numbers of people amazed me - the behaviour. Nobody sees anybody else. Shop assistants look through you, crowds walk into you and then look at you as though it's your fault, everyone is preoccupied with who-knows-what, and nobody has time to engage.

It feels as though life in rural parts is about engaging and relating. Life in the city is about surviving...

Or am I going soft?