We have received condolence messages from all around the world. It means so much to Adrian and I that so many people have reached out to us to let us know that Russell is in their thoughts. Many people have asked us if there is anything that they can help us with in this difficult time. If you share Russell’s values, you may wish to take a bike ride in the early morning air, play with a child, thank a medical worker for their efforts, support the Greens or the WWF, or tell your family that you wish to become an organ donor. The Adelaide Sunday Mail has just published a touching tribute to Russell.

I have also been touched by the kindness and thoughtfulness of my fellow Belgian residents. All pregnant women may ride first class on the trains with a second class ticket. On a bus, tram or metro, I have rarely had to wait more than a few moments before someone offers me their seat, even when it is half-empty. If I am in a queue at a sandwich store, people will often insist that I go before them. I have had a gang of youths chase after me, each holding a handful of mushrooms from a box that had fallen out of my basket. Last weekend, I noticed the security guard at my local supermarket watching me very closely, so I made sure I was holding onto my receipt as I left the store. However it turned out he just wanted to help me with my shopping and return my trolley for me.

I feel very lucky that this pregnancy has gone so smoothly so far, and I feel surrounded by a great support network from both those near and far.

The two German Humboldt penguins Z-Punkt “Z-spot” and Viel-Punkt “Many-spots” have faced many obstacles throughout their five-year relationship. However their commitment has remained strong, and the time has come when they can celebrate their parenthood.

In 2005, the Bremerhaven Zoo noticed their relationship and introduced four sexy female Swedish Humboldt penguins in an attempt to “cure” their homosexuality. However, they and the other four gay penguins in the twenty-strong community were not swayed by the newcomers and remained committed. They even substituted rocks for eggs as they huddled together in their cave-nests.

During Easter, zookeepers noticed that an egg had been rejected by its parents and pushed out of the nest. Observing Z-Punkt and Viel-Punkt’s apparent desire, they placed the egg outside their nest. The couple immediately noticed, brought it back to their cave, and began to share the duties of hatching. A few days ago the baby hatched, and both fathers have since been happily and diligently handling the everyday duties of raising an endangered Humboldt penguin. The name of the offspring has yet to be announced. I suggest Süß-Punkt (“cute-dot”).

From newsbizzare.

What I would like most from our new home is a sense of community – a feeling of togetherness and joint celebration. Although I have only lived in Fremont for just over a year, it is a neighbourhood of great joy and quirkiness.

Today we gathered at Solstice Square (near the Adobe headquarters) celebrated a new sculpture – titled “Late for the Interurban”, to complement the existing sculpture “Waiting for the Interurban”. Even the governor of Washington attended the unveiling, however that was not for whom the crowd had gathered. Look very closely at this photo for a clue:

They were waiting for Julius Pierpont Patches and Gertrude, who is to Seattlites what Mr Squiggle is to Australians. The Emmy award winning show entertained both children and adults on Seattle television for thirteen years, from 1958 to 1981. After the show finished, the actors Chris Wedes and Bob Newman dedicated their time to visiting hospitals and raising funds for medical research. And, now both in their eighties, they donned their costumes one last time to witness their likenesses forever commemorated in bronze by sculptor Kevin Pettelle.

Chris Wedes’s sixteen year old grand-daughter spoke at the unveiling, and talked about how she has met hundreds of Patches Pals over the years, who told her how JP Patches was a bright spot in their lives, even when their lives as children were perhaps filled with abuse, ostracisim, or depression. A representative from Seattle Children’s Hospital thanked them for entertaining her children, and giving her a few extra much needed hours every afternoon. There will be a donation box at the base of the statue to raise further funds for the Seattle Children’s Hospital, so the legacy of JP Patches will forever continue.

The crowd was full of tears, smiles, and cheers. I love living in a neighbourhood where people come together to celebrate the power of a smile.

Lydia arrived in Seattle in late January, moving in with Adrian to their apartment in Fremont, overlooking Lake Union and downtown. While we spend most of our time thinking about and conducing our research on T cells at the University of Washington, we still make time to explore our new home.

We have gone on bird-watching trips to learn from the Audubon society, and joined the Woodlands Park Zoo only a few blocks away. We feed the squirrels at the park and befriend the neighbourhood cats as we walk home with our groceries.

We have explored the University of Washington. In April we decided to canoe around Lake Washington. Adrian told Lydia she didn’t really have to wear her life-jacket. She did anyway, and then they capsized in its icy-cold waters. Luckily we were rescued by a woman from the Waterfront Activities Center before hyperthermia set it. Lydia doesn’t like small boats.

In May, Lydia hosted a Pottery Painting Party at University Village for her birthday. She painted a small plant pot blue, with red bugs and butterflies. Adrian painted a yellow bowl with black branches. We finished off the day with purple cupcakes and coffee.

In June, Lydia’s lab spent a day hiking up to Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Serene, still filled with snow in the middle of summer. We rested and refuelled on Lunch Rock with some greedy chipmunks before the long walk down.

The Summer Solstice was marked by a huge parade through Fremont, filled with body-painted cyclists, Ents, bands, giant puppets, and all sorts of characters. It seemed like the whole of Seattle had turned out to celebrate the freedom to be peculiar.

In September, Lydia’s mum and her mum’s partner came to visit Seattle. We took them to Tacoma to see the Bridge of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum. We saw live glassworks, and marveled at the nonchalance of artists twirling red-hot glass as if it were honey. We showed them downtown Seattle – Elliot Bay, the Seattle Art Museum, and all the Pigs on Parade painted to raise money for Pike Place Markets. We spent a day in Fremont climbing the Troll and eating Cold Stone icecream. We even discovered a Little Norway in Poulsbo, past Bainbridge Island.

In October Adrian and Lydia celebrated their first Halloween with their dapper friends Shyla and Luke. We are a demon, a priest, a pirate, and a ladybird.