At the top

...and coming down again, having bumped into my cycling friends and Boris the Dalmation at the top, I pause for a cereal bar and admire the view, noticing that it feels remarkably balmy.

Peace

After a thoroughly miserable night where the B&B turned off all heating and hot water to 'save money' I have now found peace.

It was like being in Fawlty Towers. No heating, no hot water, blocked sink, no bread (which took them 20 mins to fetch at breakfast). And this for a luxury place, apparently. There was more, but I won't go into it. Last night was spent in woollies and a hat and, upon complaining, we were told we should leave, but didn't have to pay. The owner then complained to our friends about people who complain, can't be doing with them apparently...

Anyway, having vented and now sitting in the sunshine, i've found peace. I'm happy. I'll post animal pics later.

Waddesdon Manor

Sadly we decided to visit the house four days before it actually opens after winter, but we were happy to go anyway. The grounds were open, including an amazing snow-covered outdoor kids playground that was completely devoid of kids, so we played it in it instead, much to our delight and joy. We also found the aviary with all kinds of tropical and brightly coloured chattering birds. We wandered down countless little snowy paths, through branches heavy with still falling snow.

Finally, we arrived at the shop near the Plant House, where I bought myself a pretty scarf and some spicy mango salad dressing/marinade. In the Plant House itself there was a lovely little cafe where we ate lunch and drank tea, and little robins hopped around us as we relaxed under the heated lamps, watching the snow falling softly outside. It was purely and simply delightful and lifted my spirits hugely. A perfectly lovely day.

I'm definitely returning when it's warmer, for a walk around the inside and a picnic on the grass outside.

Waddesdon Manor

Snowy gnarly trees

Invisible in the photo, but horizontal blowing snow

More horizontal blowing snow

Daffodils!

Bird bush!!

Aviary

Communications in all its forms

This is too cute and I had to share! I'd love to know what they're saying. I'm amazed at the amount of hand gesturing that goes on too - astonishing how much they learn so early.

Check out this link: baby twins nattering.

Pants Hats V2

If not all the links worked, sorry about that - they're now fixed on the actual blog page, which you can find here: Pants Hats.

Pants Hats

Pants Hats is a kids book and now also a music video, about wearing pants on your head. It was created by a lovely woman called Emi Howe, who is a friend of a good friend of mine.

She created Pants Hats to support KidsCan, a cancer charity that supports children with cancer and their families. She started this project partly in memory of her father, who died from a rare form of lung cancer, but, in a sad twist of fate, she has also been battling cancer herself recently and knows, now, what it's like to contemplate being forced to leave your children behind.

Please watch the video, buy the Kindle book or just share the links with others, to help her raise awareness of KidsCan.

Pants Hats video
Emi's story

The book is currently only available on Kindle, here.

Thank you!

Child

Aforementioned child is now harassing another child for her apple and rice cakes. The other child keeps complaining to her mother, but the mother just says "She's only trying to play with you." How much she's missing of the whole interaction!

The mother of the hungry/greedy child seems normal and friendly, with another baby in a sling, and I can't help wondering what all the food seeking is about...

Hungry or greedy?

I'm sitting in a cafe in Highgate and a child wandered up to me, face covered in chocolate.

She loitered by my table a while, so I eventually turned and smiled at her. She asked me, in a very quiet voice, if she could have more crisps. Startled, and mildly amused, I told her that she needed to ask her mummy and if her mummy said yes, she could one.

"Please..." she repeated.

I repeated my suggestion and, with a longing backward glance, she trotted off.

She returned after a lengthy conversation, with a small smile on her face, and asked again if she could have more crisps.

I asked what her mummy had said.

"No," she replied.

With a mixture of regret and relief, I said I couldn't go against her mummy's wishes and if she'd said no, then I couldn't give her any crisps.

I feel a bit bad, but she'd obviously already eaten ice cream and crisps and if that had been my child, I'd have said no too. I also feel a bit uncomfortable about her asking me in the first place, yet I can't, for the life of me, work out why. Maybe it's something to do with boundaries or expectations...

Creative challenge item 3

The latest of my creations is this nice pair of button earrings. I really ought to start making things for myself!

To be posted tomorrow to their new owner!

Peace

I'm in the middle of a long walk in what will hopefully soon be my local forest, while the man rides his bike. The air is sharp, but beginning to soften from the sunshine that's starting to push through the pale grey clouds, and the only sounds I hear are birds, tweeting, singing and chirping their little hearts out. I'm feeling peaceful and happy.

Beautiful child

This little boy is not only an absolute genius, but he's also adorable. I'm sure I've seen this before, but I was so enchanted by him, that I thought I'd share with you all. Enjoy!



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