A sprinkling of photos from the last week or two; face painting first at the Edinburgh Science Festival and then at the Redbraes Big Bike Fun Day. Sharing an internet moment; and wrapped up like post-bath sausages. Balancing on a skinny crossing outside the parliament; and checking out birthday presents.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter in Essex - Dénouement
Although Louis climbed into bed with Helen first thing in the morning, we were keen to get the kids up and about and tired so that they'd sleep during our epic drive home on Monday evening. We headed off to Rickling Green, where Helen grew up, and had a good nose at the old Lodge house. Then we took a walk through the wood around the back of the village, which was only a few weeks short of being a riot of bluebells. Deer scat was prodded, cabers were tossed, and sticks were bashed off trees to the great satisfaction of all concerned. After lunch, it was time for a trip to the Audley End Miniature Railway, where they run Easter specials, and fill the woods - somewhat incongruously but entertainingly - with cuddly toys of all shapes and sizes. Louis wasn't all that keen to begin with, and even Holly seemed a bit startled as we passed through the tunnels.
We were a weary but happy band of Millars that evening as we piled into the ol' family vehicle after tea. The kids were great again on the way home, amused themselves happily until bedtime at a motorway service station, then slept most of the rest of the way home. A can of Red Bull helped keep my eyes on the winding A1 in the dark, and we were all home and in bed by midnight. Marvellous. Now back to reality.
We were a weary but happy band of Millars that evening as we piled into the ol' family vehicle after tea. The kids were great again on the way home, amused themselves happily until bedtime at a motorway service station, then slept most of the rest of the way home. A can of Red Bull helped keep my eyes on the winding A1 in the dark, and we were all home and in bed by midnight. Marvellous. Now back to reality.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter in Essex - Easter Sunday
In Englandshire, there seems to be a strange Easter custom of hiding eggs around the house and encouraging children to look for them on the premise that the "easter bunny" has hidden them. It's like a foreign country down there.
Meanwhile, I was out running, lost in the misty farmland somewhere 'twixt Saffron Walden and Debden. Holly, Helen and Kate were boiling and decorating eggs. Later on we found a grassy slope overlooking Littlebury and chucked our eggs down it in the conventional way, strewing the place with inedible albumen and creating a corner of a foreign field that will be forever Scotland. At least until the egg gets eaten.
It was such a pleasant spot, we hung around and explored. We picked flowers, saw deer and pheasant, and rummaged in a stream before heading down to a nice wee playground in Littlebury.
Here then, are a couple of quick video clips of Holly and Louis see-sawing to an a capella soundtrack from Grandma Pat:
Meanwhile, I was out running, lost in the misty farmland somewhere 'twixt Saffron Walden and Debden. Holly, Helen and Kate were boiling and decorating eggs. Later on we found a grassy slope overlooking Littlebury and chucked our eggs down it in the conventional way, strewing the place with inedible albumen and creating a corner of a foreign field that will be forever Scotland. At least until the egg gets eaten.
It was such a pleasant spot, we hung around and explored. We picked flowers, saw deer and pheasant, and rummaged in a stream before heading down to a nice wee playground in Littlebury.
Here then, are a couple of quick video clips of Holly and Louis see-sawing to an a capella soundtrack from Grandma Pat:
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Easter in Essex - Part Six
Colouring-in with auntie Kate on Saturday morning, then off to an open day at the farm at - bizarrely - Saffron Walden County High School. Later on, we popped along to watch Grandad John play rugby, and Louis loved chasing the wobbly ball around the pitch afterwards. Then we had a wee drinky in the clubhouse.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Easter in Essex - Part Five
Friday brought a visit from Rob, Louisa and baby Sam. Rob is Pat's nephew and Helen's cousin so 10-week-old Sam is Holly and Louis' second cousin. Louis, the baby of our family, seemed all grown-up by comparison, especially with his wee shirt on. He and Holly were both great with wee Sam, and everyone did a suitable amount of cooing and doting. Later on, we headed over to the park where Holly made a new friend. She's incredibly good at going up to kids and asking if they want to play with her. Later on, as if all that wasn't enough, Kate and Mick arrived and yet more birthday gifts were exchanged, including a rather splendid purple beret for Kate.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Easter in Essex - Part Four
Wednesday, and Louis had a marvellous time with Dino Hunt, one of his birthday presents. It's a noisy game that mostly seems to involve hitting and yelling. Naturally, he loved it. Meanwhile, Pat and Holly were officially "inaugurating" the new downstairs toilet. God bless all who sail in her. Helen and I, meanwhile, were in Cambridge doing a bit of birthday shopping, having a splendid quick dinner at Wagamama, and taking in The Damned United - very good - at the Arts Picturehouse. Thursday was a pottering day, I can't really remember as there are hardly any photos, but we did have a rather nice time in the maze at Bridge End Garden in Saffron Walden.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Easter in Essex - Part Three
Ah, London. "By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show" said Samuel Johnson. We didn't see quite that much, but we hopped on a train that went excitingly underground, then emerged to cross the Thames to the London Eye. Pat and John took Holly and Louis on the Eye while Helen and I met up with Dave, Brock and Scarlett, and Catherine and Isabel. Holly met Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and then we all had lunch at Giraffe on the South Bank before heading off to the cavernous post-industrial cathedral of Tate Modern. We finished off the visit with drinks and ice cream, and Holly demonstrated the iPint application on Helen's iPhone.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Easter in Essex - Part Two
You wait ages for a birthday, and then two come along at once. Monday was Louis' 2nd and Helen's - erm - 21st. We had an early morning pressie-opening session, then Holly's pal Honey and a wee lad called Jed came around for a mini-party. Holly hung up some washing while Louis pottered on the wee electric motorbike. Meantime, Helen got an extra birthday present from work in the shape of her new iPhone. Very nice. It was all a bit much for young Master Louis, who ended the day in a massive hug with mummy.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Easter in Essex - Part One
We're just back from 10 days of fun and relaxation in Essex with Grandma Pat & Grandad John. We managed to take over 400 pictures but you'll be glad to hear they won't all be posted here. We start here with day one, which was a day of pottering to settle in after our six-hour drive the night before. Holly and Louis were both great en route, sitting patiently after we picked them up from nursery and dropping quietly off to sleep after we changed them into their jammies in a motorway service station. In among the improbable Halloween-themed jollies, Holly cast this spell on Pat & John's new kitchen:
On Saturday and Sunday, Helen and I skived off into London to meet Paula, Catherine, Matt and Isabel, Kirsty, Peter and Bea, and Ange, Brock and Scarlett. It felt slightly odd to be out and about without the kids, but they had a whale of a time with Grandma Pat and Grandad John instead.
On Saturday and Sunday, Helen and I skived off into London to meet Paula, Catherine, Matt and Isabel, Kirsty, Peter and Bea, and Ange, Brock and Scarlett. It felt slightly odd to be out and about without the kids, but they had a whale of a time with Grandma Pat and Grandad John instead.
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