Like a Child in a Sweetshop

Talk about making a show of yourself. Hubby and I were in Waitrose and I nearly wet myself when I spotted this next to the till.

As the young girl who was serving us passed it over I heard myself saying 'Gimme, gimme, gimme' out loud - eek, thought it was just in my head. She gave me an odd look and said 'Ah, is it baby's first Christmas?', to which I replied 'Oh, I'm not worried about him, this is the first Christmas catalogue I've seen and I'm really excited. Can't wait to get my pen out and start circling things'. And then, as an after thought, 'Oh, yes, it is his first Christmas.'

And then, through the post came this little treat for the eyes (but not for the bank balance.)

The Opposite of Crafty

That's what I am. I spend a not inconsiderable amount of time reading the blogs of uber-crafty types; people who seem to be able to whizz up quilts, stuffed toys, entire three piece suites, mobile homes and the like in between their daily blog posts. How I admire them and covet their craftiness. However, I am the opposite of these talented bloggers.

I bought these counted cross-stitch kits at the end of June. Both are samplers for DC's nursery - one has the alphabet and the other has name/date of birth/weight. Or at least that's what they will be at some point in the future should I ever get my finger out and get out with it.


Then on our visit to Burford a few weeks back I bought this Christmas kit thinking to myself how very organised I was to be buying something festive with so much time in which to get it finished. Hmm, not quite so much time now. Tick tock, tick tock, I can almost hear those jingle bells a-jangling.


To be fair to myself, I'm not a totally hopeless case as I am part (perhaps even half) way through knitting this cushion cover. Think I bought it about three months ago. Should be ready for next winter.

Where's my sushi?

Hello, me again. Mummy is too poorly to write anything; heard her say something about having swine flu, although I thought that had gone out of fashion now. Typical of her to be behind the times. Daddy thinks Mummy is just laying it on a bit thick, or something like that. Anyway, despite being poorly, Mummy was able to drag herself out with Daddy and take me to Yo Sushi.


Tell you something though, they were very slow at getting Mummy's favourite Pumpkin Korroke on the conveyor belt.


I nearly had to get on board and go through to the kitchen and give the chef a piece of my mind. But Daddy stopped me. Spoilsport.


By the way, are you impressed at me doing standing-ups? Mummy says I'm a big grown-up boy now, although my legs don't want to do standing up all the time and they fold in half and I have to sit down again.

Arfur Birthday

Psssst, want to know a secret?

Apparently today was my 'arfur' birthday; or that's what mummy and daddy have been saying all day. I think they mean 'half', but they're trying to be funny, what with my name being Arthur, you see.

So, mummy and daddy very kindly took me on an outing to The Royal Berkshire Show. When we got there it was a bit chilly, so mummy made me put this hat on. It's the only one she could find, and it was a bit tight but it did the job til the sun came out; luckily that wasn't very long cos I think it might have cut off my blood supply otherwise, and I think the other babies might have been laughing at me.


We saw lots of funny animals at the show.




As well as some funny smelling ones too.


Daddy got very excited when he saw these vegetables. Isn't he weird?



I think this balloon was waaaaaay more interesting than a couple of giant leeks.


When we got home, mummy and daddy gave me a cake with a candle in it. Don't know why they bought me a cake when I can't even eat it. Very odd. Still when they waved it in front of me I wasn't going to be rude, so I said 'Give me the plate, then.'

'Look in to my eyes, in to my eyes, not around the eyes; give me the plate.'

'Yes, the plate, the plate. You know I can't eat cake, so GIVE.ME.THE.PLATE.'

'That's better.'

Abandoned

This weekend I have been abandoned by the two boys. They have gone oop north so hubby can go on (parts of ) a stag weekend and DC can visit Grandma and Grandad. So here I am all lonely and alone. The very first time I have been without my two most favourite boys at the same time :(

Still, no need to feel too sorry for me as I have been filling my time working. Hmm, perhaps a little bit of sympathy wouldn't go amiss. Luckily only another two hours and I'm all done for this week. And it hasn't all been work today as I was able to escape the confines of my desk this afternoon for a trip to the Post Office to send some eBay parcels (ok, not massively exciting, but it got me out), the library (ah, I love libraries - even worked in one for a while - but this time I had to pay a fine for my overdue books so the love wasn't there quite so much), Waitrose to find something for a singleton's dinner-for-one (syrup sponge pudding for dessert? don't mind if I do) and, finally, Costa for a skinny decaf cappucino and a chocolate tiffin. Have you tried Costa's chocolate tiffin? Oh my goodness, it is fab. Best sampled on a daily basis if at all possible.

And this evening I have been mostly

and

My Favourite Author...

... sat in this chair a few minutes after I took the photo. Obviously, I was too embarrassed to take a photo once she was actually sitting down - it's a bit rude, isn't it, to take someone's picture without asking? And there was no way I was going to put my hand up and ask permission. No sirreee. Much too much of a wallflower for that kind of behaviour.

Anyway, M.C. Beaton was appearing at the Reading (as in the town, not the activity) Festival of Crime Writing which took place last weekend and I was lucky enough to have a ticket. Not only that, hubby was around so he looked after DC while I snuck off for a very relaxing hour and a bit in the middle of the day to hear about the life and times of the author of the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series. Very interesting it was too. Especially the bit about the quiche. And I was somehow rather (sadly) pleased when she was asked which authors she enjoys and top of her list was Simon Brett. Pleased because I'd just started reading one of his books. Tra la la. How sad am I? Don't answer that.

This is a wind-up, right?

Surely to goodness, this has to be someone playing a little prank. Taken from The Times of Tuesday 1st September:

PONG. On 27th August to Kate Pong, Newport, Shropshire beautiful quintuplets, Beyonce, Tyra, Bobbi, Barack and Earl.

Beyonce Pong
Tyra Pong
Bobbi Pong
Barack Pong
Earl Pong

I am almost speechless. Fair enough, there's not a lot you can do with a surname like that but, please, Beyonce?

Celebrity Name of the Day

Nicole Richie, daughter of 'What do you call a man with a biscuit on his shoulder?' Lionel Rich Tea, has just given birth to a baby boy to be known by the interesting moniker:

Sparrow James Midnight Madden.

She already has a daughter called Harlow Winter Kate Madden. I have to admit I quite like the name Harlow, or that's to say I did like the name when, to me, it conjured up thoughts of screen sirens (a la Jean Harlow), but then I was telling hubby about these names and he said 'Is she named after the place [ie Harlow, Essex]?' and suddenly the romance was gone.

So, that's Harlow and Sparrow. What next? Jethro(w)? Harpo(w)? Bingo(w)?

Meet Our New Low-Tech Breadcrumb Making Machine

DC is weaning. Our should that be 'we are weaning DC'? Whichever it's meant to be, we've been trying for about three weeks now to get DC interested in food. Clearly, he has a savoury tooth (takes after his father there, who's never happier than when he has a lump of Wenslydale in one paw and a packet of salt and vinegar crisps in the other), as apples, pears and kiwi fruit have all been firmly rejected and banana is just about tolerated. Potatoes, carrots and the like, on the other hand, seem to be - occasionally - going down a treat. Although baby rice remains the firm favourite. Then, as an experiment on Saturday when hubby had returned from the Farmers' Market with a tasy-looking loaf, we gave DC a hunk of bread to chew on. With the result that we now have an in-house breadcrumb making machine.

Fear not, this food doesn't go to waste and, indeed, a new term has been coined in the Wilkinson home - 'pre-loved food'. The chickens think food that has been well-gummed by DC is most enjoyable.

'Alf' Wiedersehen, Pet

Remember a couple of months back when Audrey, Gail and Sarah-luv came to live at the bottom of the garden? Well, it turns out that Audrey was in fact a cockerel (henceforth Alf), masquerading as a lady hen. We spent a few weeks watching dear Audrey grow a very impressive comb and magnificent tail feathers, but when s/he starting on the old cock-a-doodle-dooing at 6 in the morning, something had to be done.

And so today, Alf has been returned whence he came, leaving Gail, Sarah-luv, our neighbours and ourselves in perfect peace.

No animals were harmed in the making of this post.

Today's name

"Gerada On 28th July 2009, to Katie and Charlie, a son, Willoughby Eric, a brother for Freddy and Berty"

Katie
Charlie
Willoughby
Freddy
Berty

all living happily in Chelsea (or somewhere else ending in 'eee')

Flower Power

Our latest round of decorating involved having the chimney breast in the living room wallpapered (along with the chimney breast in our bedroom being re-wallpapered - this time the right way up.)


Before the papering began:




After the papering but before the titivating:




Finally, complete with dust-collectors:

Not sure about the huge mirror as it covers up too much of the lovely wallpaper, so may need a rethink; also, the lightshade no longer works and, finally, I need to paint the 'home' sign - a nice shade of green, methinks.


The wallpaper, if you are interested, is Cath Kidston Antique Rose.