Alex and I are expecting a second baby! Read full article
4 commentsArchive — Alex Oliver
Half a year on parental leave with a broken ankle
Becoming a parent is a huge privilege. But it’s no secret that it’s also hard work. You don’t plan to break your ankle during the first year of your child’s life. Read full article
1 commentTwo months of parenthood
Isobel is our first baby, so it’s difficult to compare having a baby during coronavirus to other times. But it does seem like a strange time to have a baby. There are many disadvantages to the current situation. But there are also some interesting advantages, particularly for me as a father. Read full article
3 commentsIsobel Skye Oliver Stephen
Two weeks ago our daughter Isobel was born. Read full article
10 commentsPhoto — 2020-11-16
Month 9
Photo — 2020-11-07
Carrying out a pen audit
Sushi School
One year ago today, Alex and I went with our friends Lucy and Richard to a sushi-making class at Yo. Trigger warning: This blog post describes events preceding the coronavirus outbreak. Read full article
CommentPhoto — 2020-09-13
Alex and I are expecting a baby!
Arriving December 2020.
Jupiter Artland 2020
Jupiter Artland has reopened to local members, so last weekend we visited with our friends Louise, Jamie and Elena. Read full article
CommentLockdown projects — Month 1
Each weekend during lockdown, we’re trying to make at least one new thing. These are the little projects giving us a reason to get up at the weekends. Read full article
1 commentOur honeymoon in Mauritius (part 2)
After spending a few days in Réunion, the second part of our honeymoon saw us staying in Mauritius. Read full article
CommentPhoto — 2020-02-16
Our first wedding anniversary.
Our honeymoon in Mauritius and Réunion (part 1)
In September, Alex and I had our “big” honeymoon, in Mauritius and Réunion. It was a holiday that perfectly balanced adventure and chill. Read full article
1 commentPhoto — 2020-01-15
Had a lovely evening celebrating six years together with Alex, at Timberyard.
Photo — 2019-10-16
Having fun with big black spaghetti
Alex and I had a great time riding a chopper over Edinburgh
We had another incredibly kind wedding present from some of our friends — a helicopter tour of Edinburgh! Read full article
CommentNote — 2019-09-14
I will be away for the next couple of weeks, as Alex and I are going on our honeymoon. I’ve scheduled a number of posts to publish while I’m away, so things aren’t going to go completely quiet. But if I seem inattentive, it’s because I am having prime holiday time.
Bruges and Flanders — our final few days in Belgium
Having spent a couple of days in Brussels, our time in Belgium was fast coming to an end. So on our road trip, we began to make our way back towards the west. We had two days to visit two areas. Read full article
CommentAfter the Belgian Grand Prix — Days out in Spa and Brussels
After our weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix last year, Alex and I stayed on for a few more days to explore other parts of Belgium. Read full article
1 commentSkye high
Straight after our wedding in February, Alex and I spent a week on the Isle of Skye for our mini moneymoon. Read full article
1 commentWedding health and safety nightmares
On our wedding day I discovered that getting married is actually quite a dangerous business. Here are a selection of the health and safety nightmares we encountered that day. Read full article
CommentMemories of our wedding day
When people ask me how our wedding was, I say two things. It was a very stressful day. But it was also the happiest I’ve ever been. Read full article
4 commentsBrewing Alex & Duncan Black IPA — our wedding beer
We went to Stewart Brewing’s Craft Beer Kitchen to brew our own beer for our wedding. Read full article
CommentMaking our wedding rings
In September, Alex and I made each other's wedding rings with Scarlett Erskine. Read full article
CommentBarcelona
This time last year, Alex and I went on holiday with our friends Louise and Jamie to Barcelona. Read full article
CommentAlex and I are now married!
Last Saturday, 16 February 2019, Alex and I got married. Read full article
3 commentsGetting married
Alex and I are getting married this weekend, so the blog is going on the back burner for now. I'll be back later in February. Read full article
2 commentsStag weekend
A couple of weekends ago I had my stag weekend in Aviemore. Read full article
CommentNew year in Marstrand, Sweden
Alex and I took a short break over new year to Marstrand in Sweden. Read full article
CommentPhoto — 2019-01-16
Merry Christmas — reflecting on 2018 and looking forward to 2019
Thinking about it, 2018 hasn't been a particularly notable year. Then again, in 2017 I got a new job, and I got engaged. So that was always going to be a tough act to follow. Read full article
CommentPhoto — 2018-12-10
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Our first grand prix experience — Trip to Belgium part 1 — Arrival and Friday practice
Even though both Gordon and I have been avid Formula 1 fans since we were kids, we have never made it to a grand prix. That changed when we went with Alex on a road trip to see the Belgian Grand Prix. Read full article
3 commentsPhoto — 2018-11-09
It’s a dream come true — I’ve finally won HQ Trivia.
…But it was a true team effort thanks to the help of Rebecca, Alex, Louise and Jamie. The drinks are on me… Which leaves me about a tenner out of pocket.
Photo — 2018-11-08
A weekend at Inver, a Fyne restaurant with rooms
A couple of months ago Alex and I went with our friends Louise and Jamie for a weekend at Inver, a restaurant with rooms on Loch Fyne, on the west coast of Scotland. Read full article
CommentPhoto — 2018-09-08
Alex took me to Training for Warriors, the high-intensity interval training programme she attends three times a week. Usually it is a women-only session. But today, regulars were invited to bring their male partners with them.
Alex was keen for me to see what she gets up to at Training for Warriors. I was a little reticent about going, because this isn’t really my sort of thing. I prefer moderate runs or long bike rides by myself.
True enough, I struggled at elements of today’s session. I have never been good at push-ups and the like — and moreover, I have never felt the need to get good at them.
Training for Warriors is also big on community spirit, with participants encouraging each other on. As an introvert, I actually find that sort of thing distracting, and more than once I flopped to the floor when someone spoke to me mid-push-up. I’ll stick to the solo bike rides!
Speaking of which, I’m doing Pedal for Scotland tomorrow. So I was also concerned about making myself sore or tired out ahead of 45 miles of riding tomorrow.
But although today was tough for me, I also found it enjoyable. I’m glad to have gone today, and really pleased that Alex is so enthusiastic about it.
Photo — 2018-02-16
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Alex and I are now engaged!
On Saturday 4 November, we had been together for 2 million minutes. So I whisked Alex off for a mystery trip to the north east of Scotland. Read full article
11 comments