The design process began back in Rome, where Chris first suggested the idea of a new crewmember around the time of Ardo and Katrien's wedding. Around that time we visited the Villa Farnesi in which the walls are decorated with frescoes by Raphael. One of these is the Triumph of Galatea, a beautiful Mediterranean sea nymph. Hence Poppy's middle name.

Following some extensive research our whole Grand Plan changed and we bought Barrique. We began heading back towards England, having decided that if we were successful in manufacturing a cabin boy or girl then I would prefer English speaking antenatal care.

The research and trial period came to an end in St Tropez (sometime after a walk on the Poppy strewn hillside overlooking the bay) and for a while, unbeknown to me the development stage had begun. Just as we began our meander through the wine regions of France I realised that not only was alcohol off limits but the scrumptious unpasturised bries and country pates were also to be removed from my menu! A Clearblue pregnancy test confirmed the presence of a little being inside me.

Ravenous hunger pains would grip me each morning as we chugged our way up through the canals but fortunately I did not suffer with morning sickness. Dried Ryvita type biscuits were regularly nibbled and by the time we reached Paris I could barely pass a patisserie without asking to stop to buy something to eat. Chris' parents visited us there but until I had seen a midwife in the UK I didn't want to let on. I was also getting quite rotten indigestion, a discomfort that continued almost throughout the pregnancy. The only time I came near to be being sick was on the train on the way back from Disneyland Paris because I was very tired and hungry. I think the people on the train thought I was drunk (I should wish) or travel sick!

With Barrique safely back in Southampton Chris and I visited my doctor who basically gave me a pat on the back and told me to see the midwife! So, finally, on 29th August, almost 15 weeks pregnant I heard the heartbeat of our baby. Aaaahhhhh! It was very exciting and also made me feel like something was really happening - it wasn't just a figment of my imagination. Chris was itching to tell people so we thought our parents had better be informed. A couple of nervous phone calls later and the news was told. Now, people who know us well will understand Chris' mum's reaction - she was not sure whether to believe him or not. I made a second call that evening to confirm the news. For so long we had said we were not having children that I think a fair few people were surprised, though excited for us too, once they knew it was planned!

Since we were planning to go to London for the winter the midwife suggested organising the ultrasound scan once we reached St Katharine's. We arrived there on October 1st, found a GP the next day and he sent an urgent letter to Guy's Hospital to organise the anomaly scan because by then I was almost 20 weeks into the pregnancy - half way! When we had heard nothing ten days later we went to Guys to chase it up, only to find that the Maternity department had merged with St Thomas' and moved to a brand new unit there. We trundled off, copy of the doctors letter in hand. It was a Friday afternoon and the people at the reception of the very plush, newly painted wing were tired and looked keen to get home. It did not deter them from sorting out an appointment however, far from it. They seemed horrified that I was over 21 weeks pregnant and that I had had no scan at all. They slotted me into an "emergency appointment" space the following Tuesday.

Seeing "Wriggler" for the very first time was both nerve wracking and exciting. What if there was something wrong? Everything was normal though and my overwhelming feeling was that of amazement at the technology being able to show us that the four chambers of the heart are working and though the baby was only 396 grams all its bits and pieces were there. We did not want to know the sex before the birth, we felt the surprise was all part of the experience! Chris had a much better view of the screen than I did and saw much more, including a little arm and hand waving to him!