Some of the weekend was spent foraging: I collected sloes, wild plums and crab apples from the surrounding hedge rows.
I also enjoyed a round of croquet and a spot of hammock relaxing. I have included a link to the rules of Oxford croquet and point out rule no 4 to the aunties and uncles. http://www.oxfordcroquet.com/coach/synopsis/index.asp

The aunt 'n uncle gang went for a cycle ride to Orford.

Uncle Jack got stung on his head by one of the infamous bees. In case you don't know, Grandpa keeps bees at the end of the garden. This held up the match for 10 minutes or so but Uncle Jack was not going to be stopped by a little old bee.

little pumpkin

Grandpa bought this pumpkin especially for me. The plan was for Mummy and Daddy to take it home but it wouldnt fit in the car. It took 2 people and a wheelbarrow to get it back to the cottage so after all that effort the least I could do was pose for a photo.

shrooming in Captains Wood

The next morning Mummy, Maggie and I went looking for wild mushrooms. It was lovely weather, warm and sunny. Peter, with his brown felt hat and stout stick looked a likely mushroom expert which he said he was, and he set off at a pace that was tricky for me (a 2yr old in purple butterfly wellies) to keep up with. I spent most of the hour and half walk being carried by Mummy and I decided to let 'Baggy' carry me a few times too. Mummy wished she had a backpack to carry me. Baggy wished she had brought a mushroom guidebook.

After much funghi later, we all knew which were poisonous (an excellent specimen of a death cap was discovered but one keen picker), but were sketchy on 'good' ones. Mummy decided to stick to waitrose own brand. Mummy and Baggy agreed the group was too large and too weird to carry on so we headed back spotting a group of 50 deer along the way. I relaxed fully and fell asleep on Mummy's shoulder (what a treat) and she was quite crippled by the time we reached the cottage.

See this site for the wild mushroom picker code of conduct http://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/files/Pickers_code.pdf

Orford Ness

I went with Mummy and Daddy to visit Grandpa in Suffolk. We drove up the M11 in pouring rain and it took all afternoon. I cried when the rain drops came down on the windows in menacing way, I guess because the noise was incredibly loud.

We arrived at the Ness around 5pm by which time the sun was out. We looked at the spot where Grandpa operated the Orford Ness ferry in the summer. I jumped in some puddles. Then I tightrope walked around the edge of the pier and examined the murky cold-looking water below. Mummy was worried I'd topple in but Daddy said I wasnt stupid - which I am not. Daddy gathered pebbles for me to throw in the water to make big splashes. We got quite cold with the east wind and headed on to Sudbourne for a roast chicken dinner.

a reminder of me when I was new and it was taken on 29 september 2004:

more birthday pictures

Me and Grandma

Me and Daddy

The next day

I had a moutain of presents to open and made a good start bright and early (6.45). One of the best things was some farm yard wrapping paper and I named all the animals before ripping the paper off.
After that I jumped on the bed and on mummy.

Later that day Daddy's family came to celebrate and we went to the pub. Everyone bought me a present. Grandma had got me a till which beeps and has real money and a credit card. I've decided I love roast beef and yorkshire pudding, this is my special 'happy' yorkshire pud and gravy face. I enjoyed it so much that Uncle Hamish gave me some of his - him giving tasty food away from his plate is almost unknown. (Infact Daddy & Mummy say they have NEVER seen it happen before in the 8 years they have known him. I think this is because I am very cute and get away with stuff.)

This is my mummy and I am giving her a really big hug. My tummy is full and I am being loving.

I am 2

I turned two over the weekend and my parents threw me a party and indulged me pretty much the entire weekend. You should see the mountain of toys - its great! Mummy was rather frazzled after 16 of my friends had eaten, drunk and played to their fill.

All the balloons were popped within 30 mins of the start and alot of bread was chewed. It was emotional at one point with all my friends around singing and celebrating with me so I decided to have a little cry.

The Hannafords in Surb

I spent another warm september afternoon playing in the garden of the Hannafords. They were very nice to me, Marguerite gave me a stripey lolly and Gabe pushed me around the garden in his car. It look quite a long time to get there but it was worth especially when Rolo and friends appeared (the guinea pigs).
After we left Surbiton we went to the Thames Festival. This is me and Daddyjumping in front of St Pauls and then looking supercool on the wobbly bridge with London bridge in the background. I loved pushing my little buggy over the wobbly bridge and trying to knock tourists' ankles. At the festival I watched swing dancing, bubbles, and a small dog.

hampstead in september

The past weekend was beautiful with warm sunshine and dry summer smells everywhere. After going to Mimi's party I went for a run on Hampstead Heath with my pink buggy. By the way I got Mimi this really cool baby mermaid set with combs and flowers and everything. It was specially for big girls cause Mimi turned 4.

Anyway, I made it to the top of Parliament Hill and you can see me and Daddy with the London skyline behind us - it was the clearest I'd ever seen it (with maybe the exeption of Christmas Day 2005) in the background you can make out the gerkin and the barbican towers.




I then stood and watched the kite flyers and pranced around to avoid having my photo taken. Don't you think I have the most wonderful eyelashes you ever saw?

edinburgh festival

Hi, I went to the literary and tv festival in Edinburgh a few weeks ago. And then spent 24 hours in Glasgow partying. In Edinburgh I had a great time, played on a trampoline, then on the swings and slide, then on the climbing frame - all of which were in the garden of my friends' house. I loved running all over their house too; thanks Florence, Rosie and Isabella! We went to see the Gruffalo play together which I enjoyed a lot, especially the Sharing a Shell story and the Gruffalo in the woods. I got a bit confident and went right to the front, but then a really scary dinosaur appeared and I ran fast into mummy's arms. I was a bit of scaredi cat.
Glasgow was fun as I met some very big dogs (wheaten terriers) and stayed in a boutique hotel. I liked jumping on the bed at One Devonshire Grds very much indeed.

mummy's birthday

This is one of the pink fairy cakes that she made for her party. I helped eat them and I opened her presents.

Me & Charlie

This is me and Charlie playing, first on my red bike and then dancing

having fun in the central park playground @ 96th

Daddy and Jameson went for a run around Central Park and mummy and me played on the climbing frame in the park with some new yorker toddlers. I loved going down the slide (and got really hot as it was 94 degrees anyway, and I loved turning a big wheel to make an awful screeching sound.

it wouldnt be a holiday

without a picture of me eating spagetti bolognese

this venue was on main street in Canandaigua, Eddie's Bar & Grill

Loon Lake

We finished off the holiday with Becca & Mike's wedding at Becca's Aunt's house on Loon Lake. Here I am looking gorgeous with my eye on Mummy's margarita cocktail and here is Mummy and Daddy looking tanned and relaxed.

more photos of the lake
holiday

On Lake Canandaigua

After NYC we flew north west to the fingerlakes and had a very sweet apartment overlooking the biggest lake. Nearby there was a small sandy beach where I liked to play every morning. I was still getting up really early which was great because we were on the beach by 8.30am. Mummy and Daddy looked a bit weary but nevermind!

Niagara Falls

We went to Canada for the day to the Falls and I went on the journey behind the falls and I went on the Maid of the Mist. I didnt think much of the last one as it was a bit scary with all the water roaring and pounding around. I pretended to be asleep on Mummy's shoulder.

The Big Apple

Hi, I've been away on holiday for a bit, visiting the USA with my parents. We stayed on the Upper East Side with our friend Jameson, and I loved New York. I had a great time in the playground in Central Park. Here we are in the Chelsea Market in the meat packing district.

tigers in maida vale

Mummy, Daddy and I had Sunday lunch with my friend Tamara and her parents at Cafe Med in Loundoun Road. We had a lovely table outside and enjoyed our fish fingers and then some colouring. After lunch we ran around the tables and roared like tigers. We probably disturbed other diners but it was very quiet and refined and needed some lively activity.

gardening

On Saturday morning I put on my purple wellies and got into gardening. I helped gather up fallen apples and leaf cuttings from the wisteria.

Trip to Hever Castle in Kent

Yes that is me standing on top of that really high rock - on top of the world nearly


I was very keen on the water maze in the gardens of the castle and I was lucky enough to have a lick of Mummy's ice cream as it was such a hot day.

c'mon england

This is me supporting England when they played portugal in my special england shirt and waving the st george flag. Too bad my support wasnt enough.

the barbi at mine

A few glasses of wine were consumed that day with varying consequences. Auntie Danuta holding baby Jack with his Dad (smiling) in the background.



we had a bbq at my house with all my cousins and aunts and uncles.....it went on for pretty much the whole day and late into the night. I ate about 15 strawberries and 5 sausages.

meet Jack Klein

A few weeks ago I met my cousin Jack as he came down to London for the Klein gathering. I was a bit unsure when Mummy held him, but she only did that once, so it was ok. I liked sitting in his bouncy chair alot.