« April 2005 | Main | June 2005 »
Bye-bye Buffer Bears
Posted by Webby at May 31, 2005 09:27 PM | Comments (0)Evelyn said goodbye to all her friends at her nursery today as it was her last day at Buffer Bears. Evelyn has obviously been very happy while she has been there, but the time seems right, now, for Nana Jean to take over the responsibility of caring for Evie while mum and dad are at work.
Jilly, Evelyn and I would like to give a very big thank you to Carol, Carol, Claire and Tasha for all the help and support they've given Evelyn while she's attended the nursery.
Filey with the Drurysharks
Posted by Webby at May 29, 2005 10:09 PM | Comments (0)
The population of Gingatopia made their way to Leavening today, and then on to Filey for the afternoon with the Drurysharks, where everyone enjoyed a little seaside fun.
Not that sort of action is to be encouraged in the young, but Imogen spent a great deal of time eating sand which, while quite disturbing, was equally fascinating! Then... would you credit it, Evelyn began displaying equally peculiar culinary tendancies... strange children.
It's at this point that I must apologise, once again, for my photographic oversights. Once again, I have managed to fail to record the presence of several of the Druryshark/Gingatopia contingent...namely, Liddle Charlie Druryshark and Kieran Prince Binky. Sorry boys, I don't know what's happened to the photo's I took of you. They were good 'uns, an' all!
Au revoir Gregoire
Posted by Webby at May 25, 2005 09:58 PM | Comments (1)
Jim and Jo [a pair of Wassocks], and I said a fond farewell last night to the visiting French fellow, Gregoire [aka Francois Froggoire]. Jim and Jo have taken Greg under their wings and taken him to see several bands over the last couple of months. As Greg is leaving Blighty tomorrow, to return to France, I thought it was about time I joined the three of them on a trip to Leeds.
The Duke Spirit were very good, it must be said, but my favourites were definitely the support band, the Archie Bronson Outfit.
As well as the couple of beers we had before the gig, we had a couple more in the Scarborough Hotel afterwards. A couple, that is, of pints of strong scrumpy cider. Like me, Greg said that the scrumpy was great, but didn't taste very strong. Unlike me, Greg was thoroughly ill during the night...d'Oh!
It was really quite sad, having to say goodbye to Greg, but we hope to be able to visit him in France later next year, and he is always welcome to come and stay with us if ever he wants.
Au revoir, Gregoire, et Occupez-vous! [very clumsy, I know!]
Liddle Beaudee...
Posted by Webby at May 19, 2005 06:00 PM | Comments (1)While giving her her bath last night, Evie kissed Jilly and I in turn and then, stretching her arms to hold both my shoulders, leaned in to me to hug me. A little later she leaned on my arms, resting her little head on them four or five times, trying, Jilly and I thought, to cuddle me. Typically, I was filling up immediately.
...and then, this morning as I left for work, Evie followed me to the door [walking in an increasingly less Frankenstein's monster fashion!], with her arms out stretched, calling "Da-da-da-da" and crying her little heart out! Jilly explained that Evelyn has begun behaving like this every time she leaves her at the nursery; it must be heart-breaking for the pair of them. As I closed the door on her and Jilly, I could hear Evie's crying grow louder which, obviously, broke my heart!
Several [more] Small Steps...
Posted by Webby at May 16, 2005 09:44 PM | Comments (0)Earlier in the day, Jilly had phoned me and told me that Evelyn had been walking crazy throughout the day, but nothing could have prepared me for my arrival home...
When I got home, I could hear Jilly and Kieran asking Evelyn, "Who issit, who issit?", obviously trying to excite her as her daddy had come home. As I opened the living room door, Evelyn was stood in front of the fire place and immediately began walking towards me. I was amazed as Evie walked eleven steps [believe me, I counted them!] to me before falling to the floor...er...exhausted!
Obviously, I blubbed like a baby as I picked her up and gave her a massive cuddle...er...being careful not to squash her!
Sh*t
Posted by Webby at May 16, 2005 08:54 PM | Comments (0)Jilly took Evelyn for their weekly visit to the swimming baths today, where they both enjoyed themselves as thoroughly as ever. After their swim, Jilly stopped for a cup of tea in the cafe, while Evelyn fed herself dried apricots. According to Jilly, Evelyn dropped one of her precious apricots to the ground and immediately shouted, "SH!T!...SH!T!"...er...or something that sounded very much like it*!
Perhaps it's time that we stopped swearing!
*Of course, in actual fact, Evie does ask "Zit?", or "Where is it?", when she is looking for things or wants something. I think, perhaps, that's what she was saying as the apricot dropped from her hand!
'The Deep' and Hornsea
Posted by Webby at May 15, 2005 10:09 PM | Comments (0)
Originally planned as a Gingatopian expedition to Bridlington, todays excursion found us at 'The Deep' in Hull. Jilly and I had planned to drive over to 'The Deep' after our visit to the 'The Aquarium of the Lakes', in Newby Bridge, Cumbria, earlier this year, but had, until now, not found the time. As we approached Hull on the M62 we decided to go today, instead of driving on to Brid.
The exhibition is excellent. Evelyn, especially, seemed to enjoy all the brightly coloured fish in the huge display tanks. Initially, as I stood her down on the floor near one of the big circluar tanks, she seemed to try and back away from the tank, with some effort, into my legs, but soon relaxed and loved looking into the tank.
After eating lunch in the restaurant on site, we drove up to Hornsea so that Jilly and Evelyn could dip their toes in the sea. I went with them, to the shore-line, to discover that the sea is still VERY cold, and perhaps that is what Evelyn was objecting to in some of the photographs!
Evie's First Birthday Bash...er...#5
Posted by Webby at May 14, 2005 09:59 PM | Comments (0)
Evelyn's Grandma Jean and Grandpa Ben visited today - after returning from their holiday in Gran Canaria - in order to join us to celebrate [for the fifth time] Evelyn's first birthday. Grandma and Grandpa - who were both very brown - were in excellent spirits, and were happy to join us in our sunny backgarden as we fed Evelyn her lunch.
Grandma and Grandpa presented Evelyn with the excellent gift of a blue sandpit 'clam' and sand. After an initial period of hesitation, Evelyn loved it. The new sand pit gave Evelyn...er...and Grandma Jean and I...opportunity to try out all Evelyn's new sand-pit toys, given to her by the Fisher Clan!
Step aside Imelda Marcos
Posted by Webby at May 14, 2005 12:05 PM | Comments (0)
As Evelyn is beginning to walk more regularly now, Jilly and I have bought her first pair of shoes today. It came as little surprise to me to have to pay more for the shoes than either Jilly or I have paid for any of our last shoes but, as Evie's feet are so beaudeeful and liddle and precious, we had her feet properly fitted and bought only the most beautiful, the softest shoes [as any and all responsible parents do, I know!]. Of course, I'm a little anxious that this may develop into a bit of a habit for Evelyn, wanting only the best and most expensive footwear. Look at how liddle they arrrrreeeee!
The woman that measured Evie's feet and fitted her shoes, at Shaw and Hallas, was very friendly, and obviously knew her onions. Her advice regarding re-measuring Evie's feet, though? That we return in six-to-eight weeks to have them measured again! Aaaaarggghhhhh! The size of Evelyn's first shoes? Baby size, 2H! She's got liddle fat feet, alright!
Nursery Birthday Party
Posted by Webby at May 14, 2005 12:04 PM | Comments (0)
Before going into town to buy Evelyn's new shoes, Jilly, Kieran and I took Evelyn to visit the nursery, this morning, as they celebrated their one-year-old birthday. The staff were all running stalls [at which Kieran won, amongst other things, a lovely bottle of white wine, thank-you very much!]. Evelyn did seem a little confused by all the commotion, but was obviously please to see many of the staff, especially Carol.
A Day at the Races
Posted by Webby at May 13, 2005 10:02 PM | Comments (1)
As if she doesn't get out enough [harrrummppphh!], Jilly had a day at the races today with Julie, Bav and Bav's friend, Jane.
Apparently, Jilly's luck was in as she managed to win back the not inconsiderable entrance fee by using a fantastic and original backing technique... amongst others, she backed horses whose names had a 'double entendre', however tenuous ...highly amusing!
Evie's First Birthday Bash...er...#4
Posted by Webby at May 8, 2005 07:43 PM | Comments (0)
Very much a low key affair, we were visited by James and Jenna [as all three of the children slept] and then by Roger, Helen, Laura and Harry today.
No BBQ this time, but plenty more party food and another birthday cake that, incidentally, Harry took such a liking to that he started to take it home with him...liddle monkey! Doesn't he get enough cake at home, or wot? ;-)
Evie's First Birthday Bash...er...#3
Posted by Webby at May 7, 2005 08:43 PM | Comments (1)
Evelyn had a lovely day today as her third birthday bash saw the largest immigration of visitors into Gingatopia.
Deb and Kev travelled over from Macclesfield through a torrential downpour, though we didn't see any rain as we enjoyed the days BBQ, arriving a little after noon. Jim, Helen and Dominic; and Andrew, Justine and Eloise all arrived soon after, and the children joined Evelyn in playing with her new garden toys, while the adults tucked into lovely BBQd goodies. Chris and Bernie called in for a little while but soon left as Bernie wasn't feeling very well.
I'm sure that, if she could, Evelyn would thank everyone for all their lovely gifts. As she is still being quite relaxed in her approach to developing speech, I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone on her behalf. We all had a lovely day.
Annus Mirabilis
Posted by Webby at May 4, 2005 09:37 PM | Comments (2)What a truly remarkable, an absolutely marvellous, year this last twelve months has been. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but I will never sufficiently understand why I resisted Jillian, and her desire to have a baby, for so long. As I've grown older, time certainly seems to have flown by with ever increasing speed, but this must be, unquestionably, the quickest, the most rewarding and joyous year of my life; and I know that Jilly and Kieran would agree with me.
In her short little existence so far, Evelyn [a.k.a. Liddle Princess Speck, Princess Starfish, Princess Peachy Head, Liddle Monkey, Monkey Legs, Liddle Trumpet Trousers, Captain Baldhead*, [inevitably, perhaps] Buggerlugs [though, I prefer Luggybugs!], Liddle Poppy Cat and, perhaps cleverest of all - and this is what having a big brother should be about - Missy Pot Belliot*] has managed to cram so much in; and she's still surprising Jilly, Kieran and I.
At one-year-old, Evelyn has:
- six beautiful teeth,
- an ever expanding vocabulary - Evelyn is definitely making requests for things now by pointing at them and demanding, "Dat!". Obviously, she's trying to say 'that'; an abbreviation of, "Want that one", perhaps?
- a small group of...er...small buddies,
- developed an obvious love of swimming,
- learned that farting IS funny, and
- developed a reputation as an irresistable old-lady magnet.
While Evelyn is still not walking as naturally as some of her older buddies, Evelyn is capable of:
- standing, unsupported, or leaning nonchalantly against furnture...er...or other people,
- climbing the stairs alone [and has climbed up the full flight of stairs, on to the first floor], and
- helping herself to food from the fridge [that's my girl!].
*These are each names thought up by Kieran, Evelyn's favourite older brother!
The Events of Evelyn Annis Webster's FIRST Birthday
Posted by Webby at May 4, 2005 05:46 PM | Comments (0)In celebration of Evelyn's birthday today, we had - originally - planned a trip to the east coast, but we decided that, during the working week, the motorway trip may be a little long, and that the time spent on the motorway would be time that we couldn't spend cuddling our birthday beaudee!
Consequently, we spent the first part of the day shopping for more ball-pool balls for Evie's pool, and 'dinky' miniature garden furnture for Evie and her liddle buddies. Then, we went to the Richard Dunn Sports Centre to take Evie swimming. Evie seemed to really enjoy the swimming, even the underwater stuff, and and it was a real treat for me, as Jilly usually takes Evie swimming when I am at work. From there we drove up to Ilkley where we walked by the riverside, before returning to Huddersfield via Baildon and Webster's Fish & Chip restaurant...HUZZAH! Evie tucked into her food, eating almost all the bread and butter provided with our meals, but seemed especially to enjoy the fish.
Preparing for Evie's Big Day
Posted by Webby at May 3, 2005 10:27 PM | Comments (0)As Evelyn had gone to bed, absolutely shattered after her day at nursery, Jilly, Kieran and I took the opportunity to prepare one of Evie's presents for her big day tomorrow.
I'm not entirely sure who is going to get most use and pleasure out of this beaudee.
Evie's First Birthday Bash...er...#2
Posted by Webby at May 2, 2005 07:00 PM | Comments (0)
Hurricane Fisher [minus Joshua] - Jim, Sam, Lily and Jude - descended upon Gingatopia today, closely followed by Kate, John, Hebe and Gregoire.
As the weather was unseasonably pleasant [it is May, isn't it?] we went outside for for a celebratory first birthday BBQ, and much fun was had indeed.
Again, I am forced to apologise for the lack of photographs of some of the guests...I don't know what I was thinking about.
And...
Before our guests arrived, Evelyn [under the close supervision of her big brother, Kieran] successfully climbed the whole flight of stairs on to the first floor! The liddle beaudee!
Furthermore, while preparing food for today's celebrations, Jilly looked down to discover that Evelyn had opened the door to the fridge, had helped herself to a tiny handful of cherry tomatoes, and was cramming them into her mouth in a cookie monster stylee [Er...obvious exaggeration on my part, for comic effect!].
Eloise Grace Bradbury's Baptism
Posted by Webby at May 1, 2005 09:11 PM | Comments (0)
We joined Evie's beaudeeful ginger friend [and friend of Gingatopia], Eloise Grace Bradbury for her baptism this morning, and a lovely affair it was too.
After the service, the congregation retired to the Harris residence as Jim and Helen [very generously] offered to host Andrew and Justines' celebratory garden party in their vast, and beautiful, garden estate; something for which Andrew and Justine would like, once again, to thank Jim and Helen for. For much of the afternoon, party-goers basked in glorious sunshine and, between us, Jim and I recorded the event to the Flickr site, above.
