Things are only now starting to get back to normal. With so much time taken up with frantic activity, it's little wonder that frivolous musings get the back burner treatment. With visiting Australians, birthday parties, painting and filling of walls behind us, the carnival season has once again descended. Citing Neil Armstrong (who few seem to have heard of over here), TheO took advantage of his space suit and the party atmosphere (gravity free) to overdose on sugar and the carnival spirit. Louyn gurgled encouragement and demanded a bottle.

A typically damp time of the year, winter has so far turned out like a British summer. Sunshine and a bit of periodic rain. I think for a moment of the freezing temperatures across Europe, the thick snowfall over the UK and that maybe, with all the tribulation, it's worth it. I quickly rethink as the LPG runs out and the chap at the fruit and veg stall charges me double!

The boys continue to delight. TheO now demands a career as an astronaut, a claim which coincides with his recent understanding of space, the final frontier... He does however thoroughly fail to understand that the 'null-void' is not real and he can't send daddy there!

Louyn has started to find his voice, and now cackles with the best of them. Lost somewhere between sane, polite dialogue and grunting, he exercises his chords to the limit. Eating well and resembling the Michelin man, the good lady is concerned less he ends up a 'tubby'



Lou baby, I think we're lost...!

Just a little hectic. I just want to know how normal people manage! It would seem to TheO and his younger sibling that their 'log' has been neglected somewhat. Attempting to detail the day to day adventures of these two major clients, is proving very demanding indeed. On top of this, they expect me to work full days, nights and weekends, even public holidays! It's proving very hard to get a day off. The pressure could turn a lesser man to drink, er, or to eat a lot...



TheO finds a Dragon! Thats a Cameleon to you and me...

Christmas went very well. The first born managed to intimidate us enough to get more or less exactly what he wanted. The recent addition was too small to demand anything other than a fresh nappy and a bottle of milk, which I really did appreciate. The good lady however did insist on a some battery operated toys that for the life of me, can not be switched off. The toy industry has turned to 'sensors' and only a motionless dark cupboard soothes the tinnitus. (I mean for the toys!)



Santa Boys on location!

New year and all the celebration that staying in with two sick children can muster, led us all to the forth annual birthday of TheO. Having planned it all year in his head, the little lad celebrated at the 'Orange Tree Hall' in the locality of the new house, with 20 - 30 of his superhero friends. Having elected to 'do this thing' ourselves, a fair job was completed with multi - media, a Flash Cake that caused me kittens, and a pile of birthday presents that required a truck for delivery. Now, about moving house....



The Flash on his birthday!!, with very slight adjustment...

It's been a busy time. The first born has been beset with seasonal disorders that have reached well into the surrounding family members. The medical profession are of limited assistance, paid off for offering advice that my grandmother could better. Take these expensive and unnecessary life changing drugs and come back and see me in a week for some more! Happy Christmas!

TheO seems to have been prescribed four cans of Red Bull and bounces round the residence in an appropriate manner. His Anatomy and knowledge of germs and diseases has grown. He now knows that a tummy ache complaint might land him a days TV, but parking his breakfast on the backseat of the car will give him at least a week off! The two boys remain the best of pals, sharing their mutual doses of Gastroenteritis and colds. It's just a question of 'one down, one to go' The latest twist to this winning formula is now the grown ups get it, and harder!

With the Yule season approaching, preparations have been made to avoid the 'but that's three times the price it is in Argos' scenario. The English Grandparent ventured over with a suitcase and decorations, saving the price of the air ticket in first class. The good lady flies to London at the weekend to invest further in the toy industry, and quite possibly a distillery too. I'm told my time will come!



Naughty & Nice

Prompting personal recollections of cold crisp air, fungi and over dressing, it's Halloween. I have decided that it's perhaps not a good idea to tell the first born that this is the night of spooks, witches, vampires etc. He has already been up during the night complaining of a clown in his dreams. Scary those clowns! I blame irresponsible booking at children's parties and The Simpson's!




Pumpkin Boy!

The second heir continues to expand in every direction, approaching the 5 month mark. It's a golden moment when he drops off & sleeps at 7.30pm but the glitter starts to lose a bit of sparkle at 3am, 4.30am and then again at 6am. Picking him up, he just grins and of course, the fact that it's the middle of the night is instantly forgotten. I have noted it down in a book however!

Both boys get on brilliantly and TheO succeeds at making Louyn chuckle. The youngest almost hugging his elder sibling, it's one of those moments! TheO still into GoGo's with an enviable collection that will regularly disperse itself around the residence. The cleaner takes pleasure in finding and arranging the haul of those 'found' many are not so lucky and become a confused child's memory, all except the clown one!




@ the playground, something to smile about eh!

The inevitable & final stages of the good weather cling on, despite the night time rain and occasional thunderstorm. The season of waking up at four in the morning to bring in the washing has started. Rather than clear skies, we have a partly cloudy one with a more bearable temperature. The influx of UK tourists confirm the greener grass, getting their tattoos sunburnt and missing the cooler weather back home!

Insisting on making the most of the diminishing season and warm waters, the good lady has insisted on visiting deserted beaches to catch the last throes of warm(ish) water and the space to swing a cat. The water is beautifully clean and clear with no trace of a factor 400 slick!



Louyn 'bears' the mild temperature out of the H20, different story in it...

The little (big) lad has started back at school. He was a little unsure where he was to start with, but has settled in with a new group of friends to traumatise! Oh, and his teachers are really, really fantastic!! The good lady appreciates the time released from visiting playgrounds and has now applied herself to her work, earning!! TheO still into GoGo's and now demanding 'treats'! Even in the middle of the night, he'll wake & say 'Daddy, go and buy me a Gormiti' Ok, I just nip off to the shops after I've brought the washing in then. mmmm!



Another year, another uniform picture!

Last week the sun was shining and the world was good. With the arrival of visitors, it seemed only appropriate that the wet and windy weather should arrive to contradict the claims of fine sunshine and a dip in the sea!

The latest addition seems to be proving be a contender for the Guinness Book of Records by growing at a phenomenal rate. He fits suits built for a baby twice his age and smiles about it continually, which is fantastic. The good lady is convinced that he must be 'on' something or working out at the gym!



World record for grining

TheO has a new best friend. It lasted about a couple of hours before Reecey took flight, the evening one back to Libya. Alas only on holiday with his parents, the brief alliance gave TheO a brief, but thorough introduction to Go Go Crazy Bones, small pieces of collectable plastic that hurts a lot underfoot! The first born has now nurtured a collection of his own which accompany him everywhere, including bed.



A favourite!

Hopefully the good weather will return, with only memories of green leafy walks and gardens in bloom to remind us of the good times. TheO's viewing remains Network based, but now with the ability to recall past films, only talking of their content rather than any title. 'I want to see the one with the lady and the buttons who find the other lady and a cat' That will be Coraline then! Louyn too good for words. Sleeping, drinking and growing, fast!



On your marks, get set....go, go...