In the play pool

It's 30 degrees outside and Elly loves her play pool.

Waiting for the train with Daddy

Playing in the park

Happy Father's Day

Father's day in the UK is in June - that means Steve will be celebrating the Aussie Father's Day while we're in Oz.

There are Wombles on Wimbledon Common

After seven years of searching we finally found a Womble on Wimbledon Common.

Uncle Bulgaria (pictured with Elly and Steve) came out of his hole for the annual Wimbledon Village summer fair this year. Naturally we had to stop and grab a photo.

...having a ball

Having fun at Gymboree

Glastonbury

It was May Bank Holiday weekend and we packed up the family (our first trip) and headed off to the West Country to check out the home of everything new age, the heart of mystical Britain and where unicorns abound - Glastonbury.

In the middle of town there is an oasis of green hidden behind medieval gates - Glastonbury Abbey; now only ruins, the grounds were alive with tourists from all over the world wandering through amazing structures that merely hint at the grandeur that used to create awe and inspire people throughout hundreds of years.


Also on the grounds, though destroyed/mislaid during the dissolution of the Abbey, the reputed graves of King Arthur and Queen Gwenhwyfar.


Also in Glastonbury, on the way to the Tor is Chalice Well - a small garden paradise that surrounds an ancient well - we drank deep of the cool waters (it was a warm day) and bathed our feet in the healing pool.

And finally the Tor - we staggered up to the bottom of the Tor - there was no pram access, so we had to take turns climbing it. It's a long way up.

But we made it...

...and what a view!

On Glastonbury Tor...

...in a field of buttercups.
And wearing a cape...

Elly's new travel cot/tent???

We bought a new travel cot for Elly that looks a little like a tent - very cool and very comfortable! Though not sound-proof.

Pub meal

Elly enjoyed a lovely pub meal at The Star Inn (near Newbury) on the way to Somerset.

...the best baby in the world

Probably?

Someone is sitting up

...and she has her first tooth!

Bacon Vodka

In these days of swine-flu frenzy, it probably inappropriate to post links to various Bacon Vodka web pages.


This appears to be a legitimate product: Bakon Vodka

But these are home made versions: here, here and here

Is it wrong?
Does joining two good things make a super good thing?
(Actually we already have an answer to that: No, as proven by the creation of the Nachos Margarita on a ski holiday. And the immediate creation of a cardinal rule - No Margarita should contain cheese)

Picnic

"Wait a minute - these aren't chips!"

Playing with Dad

The chances of Elly throwing up in this position are much higher than toast landing butter-side down. The nice fluffy rug will not be the only victim...

Happy Easter

Someone likes spaghetti

They're my feet!

Ye Old Operating Theatre

Down a little lane behind London Bridge train station is a little known attraction; an old operating theatre from the early 19th century - build into a church roof.

These were the days before anaesthetic or even the concept of antiseptic. This is the sort of surgery you only took if you were going to die anyway. As a result the doctors needed to be skilled in the speed of their surgery - to get it over with as quick as possible.

That box on the floor is full of sawdust to soak up blood. The floor is actually a false floor, stuffed with more sawdust to prevent the blood seeping into the church below.  Would certainly liven up holy communion...

I'm sure it wasn't a pleasant place at the time, but it laid the groundwork for medicine today.  So I guess we have to be thankful.  (Bridie was especially thankful after looking through the metal instruments used for assisting childbirth)