Getting Mobile

This morning while I snoozed, Mummy and I-B made some sticky sweet mice. I-B was responsible for something known as "QUALITY CONTROL"! Once I woke up we headed off to the garden centre to buy some potting compost, netting and an off piste seedling that Mummy couldn't resist.

Once home I-B played in the garden while Mummy got lunch ready - some of the neighbouring children were playing on next door's trampoline so I-B had lots of fun chatting with them and once she had finished her lunch she went next door to join them.

It was then naptime for me so Mummy got I-B to come back round - at which point she was invited to play on the other next door's trampoline (where there was a grown up outdoors). This enabled Mummy to get on with some planting - sugar snap peas, morning glory and clematis round the arch. She thinned out the Nicotiana (which Daddy had planted with a shaky hand) and the Japanese Lanterns. By this time I was awake but I was happy to sit on the picnic blanket while she planted the Camomile, the Delphinium and the Cucumber (replacing the Sugar Snap pea plant which had been decimated by our one-footed friends. This has been planted in the pot by the arch in the [vain] hope that it revives...

Next it was scooter time but I-B was too tired to make it to the swings so we came home for a rest while Mummy got dinner ready.

While Mummy tidied up I worked out a way of moving forwards instead of backwards. There was an inflatable ball in front of me but a little out of my reach. While putting as much weight as possible on my hands I "revved up" and dragged my legs forwards. I had made it closer to the ball. The ball rolled away a little. I made it closer to the ball. The ball rolled away a lot. I-B rolled the ball back to me. This is a very exciting breakthrough for me and I look forward to putting these newfound skills into practice tomorrow.

After bathtime it was time for a well-earned rest.

Ah new Shoes

Today was a soft play and farm day. On arrival I managed to recognise all the letters in the word "welcome" (completely unprompted). I spent an hour in and out of the soft play - sometimes lurking and sometimes going in there. People had to climb over me to go down the big red slide but at least I wasn't trying to climb up it today! Our friends arrived at about 11.30 so we went outside and played on the vehicles. We stopped for a lunch of jacket potato with cheese and beans - which Mummy finished off. P-L had a very orange mush which Mummy finished off. Wearing.

After this we went to see the farm animals - I liked the goats best and wanted to take them home with me.

We then ambled over to the outdoor climbing area which I enjoyed tremendously - once I had my ice lolly.

After this we went into town where Mummy got carried away buying half price -age in the health food shop. We then picked up some bits for cake and sweety making but we didn't have time for that today because I wanted to have my feet measured. It was good that I did as my feet had grown. I came away with a lovely pair of shoes. They're the best shoes ever and I even kept them on while Mummy got me ready for bed!

We saw Aunty Clare and I showed her my playdough and rainbow painting.

OH I do like to be beside the seaside

Except the tide was out so the sea-side was a long way away today.

This morning we drove to the swimming pool to meet Grandma and Grandad and 4 of my cousins - Megs, Sam, Eth and Henners. We had lots of fun - me in my bond villain seat and I-B in her floaty ring. I-B clearly enjoyed the floaty ring as she was pushing off from the side while wearing it and lifting her feet off the bottom and floating and kicking! After lunch in the park we drove to the beach.

For me, the beach involved sitting on the picnic rug and nibbling the picnic rug label. Once I'd tired of that I discovered that grabbing sand was good fun. The other grandchildren took it in turns to be buried in the sand - including I-B! I-B was a little less convinced by the feel of damp squidgy sand as she walked to fill the bucket with water!

The rain clouds were looking darker and darker so we decided to head back to Grandma and Grandad's for dinner (Spag Bol for everyone else; chicken and veg rissoto mush for me).

Following this it was time to drive home...

Dante's missing layer

Today we have mostly been at the layer which Dante missed - soft play on a rainy half-term wednesday. This wouldn't be so bad if there was a cafe area for the mummies etc but a bench along one side trying to prevent the babies being squooshed by 6 year old boys who are incapable of looking where they are going.

Actually it wasn't that bad - it was nice to see Jacqui and the girls (and the new nanny who is going to put out feelers for me - probably approaching friends of hers who are also want to move away from a nursery working environment).

A more relaxing afternoon making chocolate fruit (we'll make some more for you next week) and biscuits - we'll make some more for you as we will take them with us tomorrow.

Evening was rounded off with some toe-nail painting (or was it just toe painting - you be the judge: ).

I have just put I-B back into her bed having found her asleep on the landing! Photo to be posted in the usual place

Tuesday

Today Mummy was mostly attending a "stakeholder engagement" meeting about the future of local maternity and childrens' services.

I had much more fun at home with P-L and Thamu. We played with Duplo and arts and crafts stuff. When Mummy got home I greeted her with a glittery smile! We then went off to the Playbarn for an hour. At first I didn't want to go into the soft play but Mummy suggested I went in and she would time how long it took me to get from one end to the end with the big red slide. I don't think I made it to the slide, I was too busy making friends on my way!

I ate very well - polishing off lots of the chicken we brought home from the Christening and nearly two bananas! P-L and I were very good at bedtime. I wanted a Bright Bear the Pirate story but instead Mummy and started to make a list of things to go in his treasure chest: cotton wool and some glitter.

Now. How do I add a title?

Well today we have mostly been saying our farewells to Daddy as he flies off to Mexico on business. Come back soon Daddy...

We then went to see Nanny J and Grandad D and all the family. I had a nice sleep in the Bmer only to wake up in a busy house surrounded by chaos and mayhem. It's only a month since I last saw everyone but a month is 1/7th of my life so it's a long time to me and it took me a while to remember who was who...

The usual spread was laid out by Nanny J - mexican chicken (ooh the irony) or meatballs for main course. Mummy had the Mexican Chicken and I-B had the Meatballs. This was followed by the usual 24 desserts - all homemade (bar one) and all delicious. I nibbled a couple of strawbs and I-B tucked into the fruity pie concoction. Mummy had fruity pie AND chocolate cake - well it was right next to her. My Jar of pasta mush went down very nicely. Mummy was surprised as I voluntary opened my mouth for this - she didn't have to prise it open! Thamu had Mexican Chicken and something called Almond Ambrosia.

I-B spent the afternoon playing with the cousins and watching a bit of Pirates of the Carribean while playing with a pink power ranger - known to her as "your highness". Hiddy was absent for the afternoon. I mostly spent the afternoon rolling around the floor while Mummy and Thamu made sure all the small toys and bits of plastic were safely out of my way.

After a brief drive home I am now tucked up in bed and asleep (as is I-B) - my last act of the day was to dictate this (aaaah burble aaaaaaaaaaah eeeeeeeeeeeeeh) for Mummy to type.

Night Night Daddy. We love you lots x

I said I'd be back. Didn't I? anyway, after a brief flirtation with myopera and a less brief dalliance with facebook, I'm here. via the wii - two years since my last post and a new piece of technogeekery has found it's way into our lives. that and the bluetooth watch... watch this space...

SPONSOR US!

Isha's going to do a sponsored toddle to raise money for Barnardo's. If you would like to sponsor her please go to the following page:

www.justgiving.com/ishaboo

Go on. You know you want to.

Spazzy Mogs (Pt II)

This time it's Ringo. We have security cat flaps - after being woken up at 3am by 2 cats fighting (neither of which were mine) I decided it was time for paw-print recognition security. The mogs weren't happy with this idea so we compromised with magnetic collars.

Tipper's experience has been fine - apart from the time he got tangled up in his collar, poor little chap.

Ringo? How many collars has he lost? I lose count. I'm now looking into sourcing a bulk supply of magnets and collars. Where are they? Is he selling them on the black market? Maybe they're piling up at the bottom of the garden.

Still, at least neither of them have got stuck to the radiators or fridge.

My Excuse this time?

No excuse. Return to UK, Chrimbo, Birthday, Return to work, work-related arrangements, watching the Darkness in concert last night, setting up new PC. Any and all of the above....

Anyway, watch this space. I may post something other than a post about the fact I haven't posted anything (other than posts about not posting) for a while. Guess I'd better start posting post-haste.

My guide to Karaoke

Last night was the fourth time in my life I have indulged in Karaoke. I'm not the world's best singer, but I'm not the worst. I tend to save my bouts of singing for the car and for playtime with Isha. As my time in Philadelphia draws to a close, a few of us decided to use that as an excuse for an evening out. It was fun. My guide to Karaoke success follows.

Tip 1 Know whether you're a singer or a trier

Karaoke singers fall into two groups - those with fantastic singing voices, those who are prepared to try their best regardless. Make sure you know which category you come under and select your song accordingly.

Tip 2 Know your crowd

I chose to sing that Britpop classic, "Parklife" by Blur. It was a hit in 1994 and I have fond memories of my first term at University walking across our college quad (not as grand as quads in other colleges but a quad nonetheless) bellowing "Parklife" in a Mockney accent that Dick Van Dyke would have coveted. Alas, I'm not sure that anyone in the audience had heard of Blur let alone this timeless singalong classic.

Tip 3 Know your precarious balance between Squiffy and Slurry

Some people are natural born extroverts and will get up and sing/ dance/ perform at their first opportunities. Some people need a little squiffinss first. However, if you're too squiffy it's not going to be easy to navigate your way from your seat to the stage, let alone read the lyrics and ennunciate them the way your chosen songwriter intended. At the point when Karaoke has descended into all round singalong, the balance does not matter. At any other time of the evening, this balance is crucial.

Tip 4 Know the audience's precarious balance between Sq and Sl

A stone cold sober audience is a hard crowd to please. If you're too good, they'll hate you for singing so well, if you're bad they'll hate you for wasting their time. If they don't know the song, they'll hate you but they won't know why. If they know the song, they'll hate you because they wanted to sing it.

However, if the balance is tipped too far the other way, they'll be too drunk to listen.

You want them drunk enough to applaud anything and appreciate you whether you're a tryer or a singer.

Tip 5 Try it in a bar in a city in a country that you about to leave

It worked for me

First Words?

Isha has always been something of a burbler (like her parents, Suze and the blither badger.). As a very little baby she would frequently lie in her crib and burble to Whoozit- usually a surprised sort of burble.

Now she can burble in full sentences. Sometimes her burbles almost sound like real sentences. To her soppy parents anyway.

One morning she was happily sitting with us on our bed when she came out with something that sounded like "Real, Wow, Man" - I think she's been watching too much Easy Rider.

The other evening, we were walking along the street when someone in front of us said to their friend: "how you doing?" Isha promptly replied: "how you doing?" It honestly sounded like this!

The other night she woke up and was burbling away to herself. I was semi-awake but trying to keep this from Isha as she seemed happy enough and I wanted her to go back to sleep rather than have an added reason for staying awake. The next thing I hear is Isha, with a questioning tone in her voice saying: "Mama?" as she kneels up in her crib. Even at 2.30am I had to respond.

Message for Chelsea Boy:

Please can you direct all Spurs-related abuse to badgerblither. At least I assume it was you who posted the anonymous comment :)

It's a TORTOISE not a TURTLE



We went to Philly Zoo today - a good zoo, well run and laid out and the right level of focus on conservation.

One of my favourite exhibits are the tortoises. They are unusual-looking creatures and for a moment I wondered where Berilia, Tubul, Great T'Phon, and Jerakeen were. I then realised that I wouldn't find them since Discworld is carried by a turtle and not a tortoise. However, other people seemed to be confused and insisted on calling them "Toidells".

TURTLES and TORTOISES are different. OK so they're both members of the same family and I accept that the word turtle is sometimes used to describe various members of that family but why can't people read the sign and call them by their correct name? I mean, no one was admiring the Zebras and saying "look at the horsies" and yet they're both members of the same family. Maybe they were calling them horsies.

Need I say any more?

Why isn't it a pair of Diapers?

While getting ready to take my daughter for a paddle in the pool, it crossed my mind that while we wear a pair of pants, babies wear a nappy (or a diaper). Why isn't it a pair of diapers or a pair of nappies? Come to think of it, why do we wear pants rather than a pant. Why is it pantaloons and not pantaloon?

MOGBLOG PT I

Our Mogs are Spazzy. Yesterday I heard an almighty thud. What was it?

Tipper running into the patio doors! He'd seen a moth in the utility room and, not realising that there were panes of glass between him and the moth, made a running leap at it! No harm done, not even to his pride.

So I was saying

So I was saying that we were leaving Philly

Well we’re not now. Not for the time being anyway. We’re staying on for a while. We’ll definitely be here for September and possibly October.

So watch this space for more Philly/ US-related blither.

In the words of Bob Dylan

Goodbye’s too good a word…

So today is our penultimate day in Philadelphia. We’ve spent four months here and we have enjoyed ourselves immensely. Last year I came here for long weekends spent sightseeing, visiting bars, spending a fortune in record stores, spending one crazy weekend watching The Darkness at TLA one night followed by a drive to New York to see Dream Theater the following night. It's all been v different living here with a small baby but we've met lots of people, I hope some of you stay in touch.

Unfortunately it’s time to return home to dear-old blighted Blighty. Time to start thinking about going back to work, sorting out the overgrown jungle behind our house, “childproofing” our house and our cats. Before I know it, it will be time to think about where to celebrate Christmas and how to celebrate our daughter’s first birthday. Still we've got a couple of concerts to look forward to - Bob Dylan and The Bravery, just need a willing granny to babysit.

…so I’ll just say fare-thee-well

S'art Innit

We recently went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Quite an impressive array of works including Picasso's "Musicians" (opposite), Van Gogh's Sunflowers, a smattering of Monet and a selection of Modern Art. Modern Art does not always impress me. The Lichentstein and Warhol works were interesting. There was something by a chap called Twombly (which I thought was the name of one of the Wombles) which looked like a small child had scribbled on some canvas and someone with a knowledge of Greek mythology had scrawled some words pertaining to various myths over the top.

A piece which we particularly liked, besides the Picasso shown to the right, was a sculpture - the name of the artist and the name of the work escape me. If I remember I'll edit this post. I liked the work so much I walked into it.

Next time I go to a musuem, remind me to make a note of the names of my favourite pieces. It's not very informative for me to say: "the painting by someone or other was good".