Brighton Breezy

We visited Brighton for Auntie Kate's significant birthday. It was a blur of social activity, hopping from AirBNB to luncherie to restaurant to bar and back again, but we hardcore cyclists managed a wee jaunt along the seafront on the town's shared bikes.

Gay Paree

A family jaunt to the city of light, in honour of Grandma Pat's significant birthday. What a marvellous city. We stayed in an AirBNB apartment on the Avenue de la Grande Armée, strolled along the Seine and around Pere Lachaise, climbed the Tour Eiffel and the Arc de Triomphe, hiked up to Sacre Coeur, rented Vélib bikes, visited the Lodges' old haunts, and even managed a trip to Disneyland.

Messing About In Boats

On our last day in Anglesey, Holly and I pottered around on the boat pond. We rowed around the island a couple of times, and then stood up on the seats (there's probably a nautical name for them but I don't know it) and rocked the boat until we thought it might tip over.

It didn't.

For lunch, we went to local culinary hotspot The Marram Grass Café, and very nice it was too. We took a team photo or two in the adjoining caravan park, and headed our separate ways, a fitting conclusion to a lovely week.

So Much To Answer For

DSC_0030 a photo by Fraser Millar on Flickr.

This weekend we drove south to visit Auntie Kate. I took the Friday off and we picked Holly up straight from school. Manchester felt like a different country with blue sky, sunshine and daffodils in bloom. We had a lovely time walking Matty the Dog in Alexandra Park, which was a nice introduction for the kids, who were a little nervous of him to begin with. At bedtime Auntie Kate read Not Now Bernard, which was very gracious of her considering the kids were in her bed, and she and Mick were displaced to the van outside. After an early start and pain au chocolat (which is Mancunian for breakfast) we headed to Chorlton Water Park for a nice lakeside walk (or ride for Louis, inevitably) and then to the Horse & Jockey on Chorlton Green for hot chocolate and cakes. After lunch, we visited Sophie, Carmen and wee brother Johnny. Once again the sun came out and the kids had a great time pottering in the garden. That's when Auntie Kate sprang her early birthday surprise on Helen, a trip to Cloud 23 for cocktails (complete with taxi service by Mick) on the 23rd floor of the Beetham Tower. There was a bit of a wait to get in, but the view across the city (and the cocktails) were spectacular. A great idea and a superb start to the birthday celebrations. Alas this morning, the Edinburgh weather had caught up with us, so we had a quick rainy trip to the park followed by a hot chocolate in - shudder - Mcdonald's. Another lovely lunch, and we had a good quick trip home. Louis slept on the way, and was refreshed enough to go for a few circuits of "excellent mountain biking" in D Mains Park. A nice way to round off a splendid weekend.

A Visit From Auntie Kate

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

Summer came to Edinburgh, and with it Kate. We took the bikes (and trailer) down to Lauriston Castle, where the trees in the large paddock offered a little shade from the - I kid you not - scorching sun. Holly made a new pal, and we even swapped phone numbers! Later that afternoon, Helen took Kate to the station and Holly and Louis had rather a fine time playing with the hose in the garden.

Easter in Essex - Part Six

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

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.

Easter in Essex - Part Five

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

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.

Cold in Coldingham

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

Kate and Mick had taken a cottage for Christmas near Coldingham, so we popped down to visit them, take in a bit of lunch, and explore the environs. Pictured are Louis and Helen at Coldingham Bay, but we also visited St Abbs. It was getting dark so we didn't make it out to the Head, but we did have a nice stroll round the picturesque harbour. Louis is sporting the rather splendid hat Kate & Mick gave him for Christmas.

Sunny Saturday

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

Auntie Kate was stranded in Edinburgh this morning after her cylinder head gasket blew in Perth yesterday. To cheer her up before her train back to Manchester, we took her to Renroc, then to the playground nearby where I span rather too quickly on the roundabout and had to lie down for a bit. Ah, the ravages of age. Later on, we jollied up a trip to Craigleith to shop for a fridge/freezer by taking the bikes and visiting another wee playground where Holly was very courageous in her exploits. At a bit of a loose end before tea-time, we decided a pub with a beer garden would be a jolly diversion, so headed off to The Courtyard. Plenty of scope for Holly and Louis to potter about while Helen and I enjoyed a jar or two. A splendid day.

Manchester

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

"Manchester, so much to answer for" sang Morrissey, but we didn't run into the miserable old warbler when we visited Kate in his town this weekend. We did meet Carmen though, and Holly had a tremendous time with her at her house, in the park, and in Aunty Kate's Toddler Cookery School. Us grownups had a lovely time too, but were glad to get our feet up on Sunday night after such a busy little weekend...

Andalucia

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

Just back from a week in Mijas, a wee mountain town overlooking the Costa del Sol in southern Spain. Main reason was to celebrate Grandma Pat's birthday, but Grandad John and I also had birthdays while we were there. Lots of pool time, some beach visits, and some nice lunches and barbecues in the evenings. Weather was mostly great, it was all very relaxing and nice to get a bit of sunshine before winter hits in Scotland.

Three Is A Magic Number

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

I can't quite believe it. Can Holly really be three years old already? We had a wee party for her on Sunday, with grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins all in attendance, along with Pete, Anna, Leo and Nate. We managed to get outside between showers, where Holly managed test-runs of her sandpit and collossal collection of dolly accoutrements. Click the pic - and sit down - for plenty of pics of the day.

Back Home & Dried Out

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

After Skye's party, we headed home and Louis enjoyed a bit of dandling with Pat and Kate. He's a very relaxed, easy going wee guy - which is just as well, because on Saturday evening Helen and I left him and Holly and went out to the movies to see The Flying Scotsman. I won tickets for it in a competition. It's an incredible story, but alas merely an average movie...

Helen's first week

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar.

A few pictures of Helen's week now that I'm back at work. A visit from auntie Kate (I was still around then), a visit from Rowena, pottering around on the baby gym and an Olivia Newton John moment...

Chocolate Ice Cream

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar.

Saturday morning, and it's become a bit of a routine to pop into the ice cream shop near Tesco. Holly has a Luca's chocolate ice cream, mummy has a capuccino and daddy has hot chocolate. Special guest for the day Kate has a double espresso and an egg roll. Lovely. Then - with a certain inevitability - off to the "funny little park" and the big swing to try to make it all come back up again.

Painting with Kate

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar.

So Kate's visting, and mummy's gone out with her workmates - that's her off on maternity leave now. Time to get out the paints Niall and Laura gave Holly for Christmas and make a proper mess! The two pots you see started as yellow and blue. Painting turned into mixing, and mixing turned into chaos. It was hilarious. Then we got cleaned up and had a little bit of quiet time with Aunty Kate before bathtime.

Holly Month Eleven

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

A visit from Auntie Kate and Daisy the dog, and checking out the rabbits in the back garden. A trip to Cropredy for Leo's christening in a lovely pink dress from grandma. Below that, playing in the back garden on Holly's first dad-only weekend - plus a wee jaunt to Mull for Sarah and Duncan's wedding, wearing a lovely shiny dress from Auntie Kate.

Holly Weeks Four - Five

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Originally uploaded by Fraser Millar

And so time passes. Our litle girl gets cuter (and chubbier) every day! A visit to the beach at the height of the Scottish summer, and visits from Auntie Kate and Paula & Dave.