At the Parthenon

After climbing the steps and carrying Elly all the way, we managed to talk some lovely Japanese tourists into taking a photo for us. Unfortunately Elly wasn't so keen on the photo...

Overall we were very impressed with the Parthenon and the new museum. Ironically the museum is finished and the Parthenon is still being rebuilt, but there you go. Bridie was so impressed that she has changed her stance on the Parthenon Marbles - they should go back home.

We're now planning a trip to the British Museum. Steve will need to keep an eye on Bridie just in case she starts dragging large and heavy bags out of the museum.

Of course the fun part was climbing down again, while Elly slept on daddy's shoulder.

On the plane to Athens

How gorgeous!

Chicken Girl

Here is a cute photo taken at Elly's nursery.
You can see a mixture of impatience for being forced to wear a hat, while enjoying posing for the camera.

Elly drawing

Elly the musician

Elly learns that Xylophones are for music and crayons are for pictures

Outside Elly's window

Fun in the snow

Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year.

Love from us.

xxx

Waiting in the queue for Santa

Sunset at the Tate Modern

Elly cruising to the fridge

Look who's close to walking by herself!

Look what Mummy made

Not me....the hat! Mummy did a crochet course recently and has been having some fun with what she can now do!

Look what I made

Elly celebrated her birthday with her UK friends today (somewhat
belated) and I made her a Dolly Varden (or for some, a Barbie) cake.

She had a lovely day and more photos will follow.

Having a swinging good time!

Cheeky!

Hospital incident #3

This is now my third rollerblading incident.

The first two were in Australia a long long time ago (ie. before getting married). The first was a literal head-on collision with a fellow skater, breaking my cheek bone, and the second was a manhole cover that caused an abrupt stop and a ripped-up elbow. And each time we skated off to Melbourne's finest trauma hospital, the Alfred Hospital for a patchup. We were hard-core back then.

But now I'm older, though apparently not wiser. Should I still be doing this?

Friday night and I was out skating with the London Friday Night Skate team. Perhaps 10 meters short of the final junction I took the right side of the road to get to the front of the stationary traffic. Not sure how, but I ended up on the median strip where little round stones are embedded in the concrete. I landed on my right arm and one of the stones opened up a fairly big hole, perhaps the size of a 50 pence (or 50 cent) piece. Couldn't really see the wound that well due to the angle, but I could see underlying muscle... and blood, though not that much (dripping rather than spurting)

Hmmm... time for hospital and stitches again. Damn.

Our first aid team decided that I wasn't worth cleaning up, and did a fantastic job of wrapping me up instead. They (rightly) refused to let me skate to St Thomas' hospital, and got me into a reluctant taxi instead - for some reason he didn't want blood everywhere. Neither did I - I also preferred it to stay inside me.

Seven hours of NHS sponsored waiting later and I emerged - 9 stitches and an armful of bandage. Whilst on the 5:30am train home, I realised the really painful part was still yet to come - explaining it to Elly that daddy can't lift her or bathe her. And explaining to mummy just how dangerous skating can be...

Having lunch at the Teddy Bear's picnic

In the play pool

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

Waiting for the train with Daddy