Ticket to ride

A few weeks ago we went to visit my Aunt and Uncle in Bakewell, we had a great day, as ever more food than you could shake a big stick at. The river at the back of the house was very full and fast flowing so we weren't able to paddle and I and Brian failed miserably at the Krypton factor test of trying to re fold on of these childrens pop up tents that is made from some memory metal that springs out of a matchbox [well ok I exaggerate...] Why is is these things never pack down as small as when you first buy them. You purchas what appears to be a space saver but after one use it's just never packs down again...

Anyway, the highlight for Elspeth was the scooter ride, and not just any old scooter, an ELECTRIC ONE...

Summer madness, art in the Garden

It's started - the summer madness... I got the washing off the line, took the basket into the house and came out to find Elspeth pegging the tulips...?

Elspeth was playing

In the kitchen today with the letters of her name and she spelled the word "help"... I wonder if there's something subconscious we cannot fathom out....

Against the old firm

No, not a Glasweigan encounter, today was the first [no doubt of many] trials against the old firm for one of the files I had taken over. It was with a great deal of hesitancy that I had handled these files, I had emailed the Law Society Ethics helpline to clarify the point [believe it or not lawyers di have ethics!] turned out that as long as I had not personally dealt with the matter it was fine for me to handle...

Anyway I had read the papers and briefed counsel, even spoken to the ex-colleague who I would be up against only to have the claim taken from my grasp by my boss as she didn't think it was fair... and to check out the barrister we'd instructed. It was his first job for us, so I suppose part curiousity on the management's part.. oh yes the result, the judge kicked out the Claimant's claim, so we won. Wonder if I'm black balled there now!

Congratulations - New Parents

There's clearly something in the water... New parents in the park today, very proud showing off their offspring - congratulations to the Black Swans

It's a mad house....

One visitor leaves and another or that's the way it seems... a procession of family, as if one interloper to the daily routine isn't enough [me]...

Jemima has only been here 4 days but the sleep pattern is as if she's been on a long haul flight, she tends to lie blissfully asleep -waking only to snack from the hostess until about 4pm when she perks up and just will not rest, last night was better than the night before, I think I got 4 hours sleep...

Elspeth has coped admirably with the new arrival and the guests, she really has enjoyed her sister, especially the funny noises she makes - although there was an episode in the bath last night that is best left, although I must say that if the reaction of Elspeth to the incident can be a guage for the future I'll put her down for the high jump and the sprints as she jumped high and moved very fast. Perhaps a joint bath was a bit optimistic so soon.

The joint bath idea was purely to get them both into bed in good order so that we could have an early night... I'm sure we'll crack it soon...

We are now four

In the middle of the night Sarah woke with stomach ache... it'll pass.. I'm just going to walk around... minutes later "Mark can you get dressed and take me to the Hospital?" Barely 20 minutes on the Maternity suite and three became four. Jemima Grace weighing in at a healthy 7lb 14oz 13 days earlier than [meticulously*] planned and at a semi dignified 1.40 a.m.... just so long as she doesn't become accustomed to such times of the night as she enters the mid and latter teens it'll be fine!!

*by Sarah