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)

Poohsticks Bridge

"...the game called Poohsticks, which Pooh invented, and which he and his friends used to play on the edge of the Forest."

And we found the bridge, on the edge of Ashdown Forest and we played Poohsticks - Elly won!

Steve tried to find his stick, but we think it either sank or got caught somewhere.


Steve and Elly on the bridge...nice day.

Hever Castle

Out of a random desire to go places and see stuff, we hired a car and headed off to Hever Castle.

This was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn - known for her poor choice in husbands - King Henry VIII.

But it also has a fantastic garden surrounding it; three types of mazes, rose and other flower beds, and a huge Italian garden. Perfect for picnics and getting away from the hustle of London life.

Elly on the other hand was learning new skills...

Kew Gardens again

We took Elly to Kew Gardens for our wedding anniversary. Where we had a lovely picnic.

Below is some of the disguised wildlife in one of the glasshouses - the Temperate House - can you spot them?

Here's some more wildlife hiding....still managed to catch them on camera!

Elly's 6 month birthday

On Saturday 14 March Elly turned 6 months old and we had a little family celebration!

Opening her presents was lots of fun, though playing with the wrapping was probably the highlight for Elly.  But neither were as much fun as eating her cake!

Red Nose Day

Wearing Stella McCartney t-shirt for Red Nose Day. It sounds more posh than it is. :)

Sitting up

Tummy time

Cheeky girl

Coffee time

Elly looking happy and alert despite almost no sleep for a couple of
nights at a local coffee shop.

Trying out the new sun hat

...is that pink I see before me.

Another gorgeous outfit Nanny knitted for me

I have joined Google Latitude

Google have released an upgrade to their maps software that can show the location of your friends. It's called Latitude

Now you and Google can spy on me...

Happy Valentines and Happy 5th month

Loving the new high chair

Little hoodie

Still working on the 'tude.

Hanging out with Leandro

Checking out Wimbledon Common in the snow

...still no Wombles.

Dressing warmly for the big snow

The big snow

Snow Day

We're having a snow day. Steve can't get into work and neither can
most of London.

Our front yard is more than a foot deep - it was hell pushing the pram
through to go to the pool. But the pool was warm and fun and Steve got
to share Elly's swimming lessons...photos and video coming soon.

And it's still snowing; normally the snow disappears pretty quickly,
but not today...nor tomorrow at the rate it's falling - what fun.

Celebrating Steve's birthday and Chinese New Year

Our little teddy bear

Loving her toys

Elly is starting to laugh and play more as she gets older and this is the look we are seeing more often these days. How lucky are we!

Snow cute!

Snow gone!

Snow!

Splashing

Following Australian tradition, we're keen to teach Elly to swim. Maybe not an Olympic swimmer just yet, but she'll have to learn to out-swim all those killer Australian aquatic animals - with all the teeth, tentacles and spines. And that's just in the backyard pool.

So we went to the local pool for the first time today. It was a nice quiet day, and was a great chance to introduce her to the new sights and smells without too much chaos.

Things we learnt today:
- Elly is just fine in the water. There was wiggling and kicking and a determined look on her face.
- Her parents are also fine in the water, though ultra paranoid.
- The pram is too wide and doesn't fit in the change rooms.
- Then the pram then has to be parked in another part of the gym completely.
- It is a two person operation to juggle everything.

An interesting side-effect is that Elly now splashes a lot more in her bath, coating the floor. It is like she has discovered her swimming legs and wants to use them in small confined spaces.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Bridie, Steve, Elly and... Santa.

We introduced Elly to Santa today. She was clearly aware that she was in the company of someone who would be bringing her presents, and was on her best behaviour. After all, it is important to give a good first impression.

Santa Skate 2008

Once a year the London skate community have their special Santa Skate. Hundreds of skaters donate some money to the skate, get a Santa outfit and go on a tour of the major sites of London. But this year was different - I went along too!

The weather threatened icy rain, the roads threatened slippery surfaces, and Santa threatened never to visit me again. Still I braved the elements and put on my big one-size-fits-all Santa suit, complete with white fluffy beard. Fully dressed I felt as warm as Santa, especially after he drinks the sherry.


It was a great skate - mainly for attracting onlookers and bemused motorists. Good clean fun was had by all. Though it is a pity I'm going to be getting coal this year in my stocking.

Shakin' a Tailfeather - part 2

Well, since Elly was all dressed up and it was the first Friday of the month, we actually watched the Blues Brothers movie. There should be no surprise that we have it on DVD.

Elly watched on bemused as her parents got up and danced the Tailfeather together, it has been a while but the moves are still there.

Shakin' a Tailfeather

It's the first Friday of the month and Elly is ready to shake her tailfeather.