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It's the way she tells 'em!
Posted by Webby at July 31, 2006 09:07 PM | Comments (0)On the way home from swimming, this morning, Evelyn was playing with one of Dom's toys in Henney's car. Apparently this toy makes a particular sound when it's wheels are turned...a sound not unlike a fart. When Jilly asked Evelyn what she was doing, Evelyn replied,
"I'm doin' fart".
In understandable disbelief, Jilly asked Evelyn to repeat herself.
"I'm fartin'!", she said.
In her efforts to control her laughter, Henney almost crashed the car [allegedly].
Phrase of the Day Moment :: Another 'heartbreaker'
Posted by Webby at July 31, 2006 08:03 AM | Comments (0)
Recently, Evelyn has begun using a phrase that I find particularly upsetting.
Most often at bed time, when Evelyn is tired and grumpy, and Jilly and I are trying to get her ready for bed, Evelyn has started to demand, "Stop tissing [kissing] me!". Evelyn's demand is usually made as a result of my trying to appease her while she complains about being dressed by her mummy. Liddle ingrate. Beaudeeful liddle gorgeous princess (etc., etc., etc...)
ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING
Posted by Webby at July 26, 2006 10:28 PM | Comments (0)Soon after we put Evelyn to bed this evening, I heard her calling for her mummy to, "Tum upstairs, Mummy".
As is the norm, recently, I was expecting just another of Evelyn's little time wasting exercises. When I went into her room, though, Evelyn told me that her toe was hurting, pointing to the outside of the sole of her right foot. On closer inspection, I saw what I thought was a little spot on her foot. I told Jilly about the spot, and she then went to see for herself. It wasn't a spot at all, it was a splinter.
As all parents do [certainly, my mum did!] Jilly and I set about trying to remove the spinter using sterile tweezers, and anti-septic cream. Evelyn wriggled and kicked, and screamed and cried, and turned every way imaginable as I held her on her changing table while Jilly tried to remove the splinter. Eventually, Jilly began holding Evelyn as I tried to squeeze the splinter out. Evelyn began screaming and wriggling again, trying to break away from her mum, and through her tears, pleaded, "Stop hurting me, Daddy"! It broke my heart.
Fortunately, our liddle beaudee is fast asleep in her bed now but, unfortunately, Jilly thinks that I failed to get the splinter out. Jilly has 'soaked' the splinter site in Germolene and covered it in a plaster, and we're both hoping that it will work its way out during the night. Neither of us went to have to subject Evelyn to that particular trauma again...
31 July 2006 :: 08:10
I didn't publish this entry until today as the whole episode upset me so much. As Jilly is constantly, and sensitively, reminding me, I'm a, "big soft shite"!
Phrase of the Day :: Another Classic
Posted by Webby at July 25, 2006 09:29 PM | Comments (0)As I was bathing Evelyn, this evening, she started complaining that the soapy lather she was playing with was washing off her arms. I tried to explain that it would wash off, if she continued splashing around in the bath, but she wouldn't have it.
"You're a little moaning Minnie, Evelyn!", I told her.
"No", she said, "I'm a little Buddha!" [I know she's small and (increasingly less) bald, but she's not fat [except for her little elastic band wrists and ankles].
When Jilly joined us in the bathroom, I told her what Evelyn had said. Immediately, Evelyn repeated her phrase, adding, "...Nana said!".
Of course, when I remembered that, earlier this evening, I'd told Evelyn that she was a 'little bugger', everything became clear.
Little Buddha...buddy flies...I'm lovin' it!
Lovers' tiff
Posted by Webby at July 18, 2006 08:09 AM | Comments (1)Unfortunately, as I sit here writing this, I can't quite remember the circumstances that Jilly told me this happened under but, before their weekly swim together, yesterday, Evelyn and Dominic apparently had a disagreement in the Henney's car.
Evelyn was obviously upset by something Dominic had done, because she was shouting at him. Jilly asked her what the problem was, and why she was shouting. Evelyn replied, as she does alot recently, "Cos!". Eventually, Jilly managed to prise an answer from Evelyn...
"Cos he's RUBBISH!", she shouted. [Oh dear. It'll never last, will it?]
Things began to calm down a little when Helen asked Evelyn if she'd like to walk the rest of the way home. A little harsh, I thought, considering the fact that Dominic was obviously the main aggressor and my liddle princess, the innocent victim...same old story...blah blah blah...
Phrase Of The Day
Posted by Webby at July 15, 2006 09:49 PM | Comments (0)As Evelyn's vocabulary seems, all of a sudden, to be developing at an astonishing rate, I thought it might be nice to introduce a series of 'Phrase Of The Day' to my Gingatopian chronicles. In truth, it was a particular phrase that Evelyn used today [and subsequent variations on the theme!] that has prompted this decision.
Together with the current heatwave, Gingatopia is currently suffering [like every household, I'm sure!] a plague of bluebottles. Believe me, Evelyn had something to say about that!
As we all got up this morning, the first thing Evelyn said, on entering the living room and seeing approximately half a dozen flies buzzing around the room, was, "Aaarrgghh! Buddy flies, again, in my house!"
I can't begin to imagine where Evelyn has heard that sort of expression, though I know that Jilly has been especially irritated by the flies over the last few days.
And, the variations on the theme? At different times of the day, Evelyn has been heard to exclaim...
"Buddy flies, in my car!", and
"Buddy flies, in my garden!"
I'm sure I should be taking Evelyn's language more seriously, but it's just so delightful, hearing Evelyn compose sentences at all.
More time wasting deception...
Posted by Webby at July 11, 2006 09:50 PM | Comments (0)Into the second or third week of potty training [proper!], Jilly and I have bought Evelyn a seat for the toilet. Who could have guessed how she was going to enjoy sitting on it?
According to Jilly, Evelyn has spent all day asking to use the toilet [though not very productively!] and then, tonight [as I used the toilet, and Evelyn was in bed], I heard Evelyn call out, "Need toilet, need toilet!". Obviously, Jilly and I are trying to encourage Evelyn to tell us whenever she wants to go to the toilet, so I immediately undressed Evelyn and sat her on the toilet. As Evelyn should have been asleep by now [it was 21:30!], Jilly came upstairs to investigate what was going on; at the same time, Kieran had just come in from outside and stuck his head around the bathroom door to see what was happening. Before we knew what was going on, the whole of Gingatopia was sat or stood around, expectantly, waiting for Evelyn to perform.
We think Evelyn just likes the attention, because it soon became apparent that Evelyn didn't need to use the toilet, and that she was just pulling Daddy's leg in order to delay her going to sleep.
Why I oughtta!
Two Year Check-up
Posted by Webby at July 11, 2006 08:57 PM | Comments (0)Jilly took Evelyn to the GPs for her two year health check today.
When Sandie Bunyard, the Health Visitor, gave Evelyn little bricks to play with, Evelyn immediately began building with them, and then proceeded to sort them into colours, identifying each colour when asked by the health visitor, who was obviously impressed.
Evelyn's speech also impressed Sandie. When Evelyn was asked if she'd like to jump up onto the weighing scales, Evelyn considered the question, "Errrmmmm...", and then answered, "No!". Sandie recognised that Evelyn, very clearly, is both understanding questions asked of her, and giving great consideration to her answers.
Sandie said that Evelyn's intellectual development was that of some four-year-olds, and that we should be very proud; which we are.
Evelyn was measured at 91cm tall, that's 2 feet 11½ inches [in the 90th percentile], and weighs 12.70kg, which is a negligible amount under 2 stone [in the 65th percentile].
MIDLAKE :: The Roscoe, Leeds
Posted by Webby at July 5, 2006 11:59 PM | Comments (0)So, very generously, Jim offered to drive Andrew and I into Leeds tonight to see a couple of bands. I'll let the preview from The Roscoe Review [vol. 6, issue 07, July 2006 ( ;-)})] describe the sets.
"MIDLAKE - a 5-piece from Denton, Texas, who've just been supporting the very wonderful Flaming Lips, and who have a major fan in My Name Is Earl’s Jason Lee, MIDLAKE are the vehicle for the songs of Tim Smith, who also plays piano, keyboards, guitars and flute. Eric Pulido plays guitars and keyboards, along with Eric Nichelson; Paul Alexander's on bass, double bass, guitar, keyboards & bassoon, and McKenzie Smith plays drums and percussion. Their first album, ‘Bamnan and Silvercork’ was quite surreal, drawing comparisons with Olivia Tremor Control and Syd Barrett-era Floyd.
The latest The Trials Of Van Occupanther, also on Bella Union, harks back to a more pastoral existence, where villages weren’t full of chemicals. This time the influences sound like Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and America, even with a dash of Hall & Oates. Supporting, Irish singer/guitarist FIONN REGAN, whose The End Of History album showcases a supreme lyricist, telling cinematic tales, making you think of early Dylan or even Willy Mason on some tracks.
Opening, THE NEW DELAMORES, who are also pretty capable with a tune, and have a distinct 60s harmony feel. This should be worth checking out."
So impressed were we, with the music, that Jim and I bought a CD each!
Like peas in a pod...
Posted by Webby at July 2, 2006 07:52 PM | Comments (0)
In preparation for the arrival of the newest addition to the Wassocks household, Jim and Henney have been decorating Dominic's new bedroom in anticipation of his moving to accommodate Wassock jnr. #2. Consequently, Dominic spent the best part of the weekend with us.
In the brilliant sunshine, Evelyn and Dom spent most of the day in the sand pit/paddling pool. A minor initial inconvenience was the fact that Jim and Henney hadn't packed Dom with any swimmers and, aware of the obvious dangers of exposing Dominic's delicate young skin to the glare of the sun, Jilly and I were forced to compromise, and put him in one of Evelyn's sunsuits. Interestingly, Dom didn't seem to mind the colour...
