Friends in the Cotswolds

We went to visit Pat and Sarah at the weekend. Unfortunately Sarah was ill in bed with the flu so it was left to Pat to keep us all entertained [he did a grand job :-) ]. We had lunch at the Priory Inn in Tetbury on Saturday. This place specialises in homemade pizzas baked in wood-fired ovens so it only seemed right to order a child's one for Olivia. It was only supposed to be 1/2 size but it clearly was a good deal bigger and succeeded in raising a laugh at a neighbouring table. Olivia in particular was quite shocked:

but she soon tucked in and managed to eat a surprising amount:

Saturday evening we went to Westonbirt Arboretum to see their Enchanted Christmas event. I tried to take some photos but as it was dark and I didn't have a tripod none of the pictures came out well, as you can see:

Olivia had a great time playing with her old friend Emma and getting the Dads to do piggy-backs:

Anyone for tennis?

Off to the Dentist's

Last Tuesday, Olivia and I went to see the dentist. This was the first time for her and so naturally she was somewhat apprehensive when we went in, spending most of my consultation standing by our coats and looking nervous. Mr Borratt then encouraged her to sit on my lap while he finished poking about in my mouth so that she could see what was happening. Once he'd finished she declared that it was "All gone!", shouted out "Cleaner!" and mimicked a polishing action. She also let Mr Borratt have a very quick look at her teeth and was rewarded with a sticker for her efforts.

Christmas Party

Yesterday, Olivia, my Mum and I went to Longdon-On-Tern Village Christmas party. Olivia seemed to enjoy herself quite a bit. We played Pass-the-Parcel; ate party food and Olivia got to meet Father Christmas and have a present.

She then made short work of a chocolate tea-cake!

First Nativity

Tiddleywinks Praise Toddler Group held their nativity play on Wednesday and Olivia was picked to be an angel. I think it must have been the blue eyes, blond hair and her general photogenic qualities which got her the part - I certainly never landed such a plum role in nativity productions! She looked lovely in the fairy outfit that Angie provided, however, she was a bit under-the-weather and wasn't in the least bit cooperative. When it was her turn to go up and join the set she refused and I ended up having to take her myself....By the end of it though she was a lot happier and enjoyed decorating a gingerbread man and we even managed to track down the real photo of her on the tree so that we could take it home.

Cheese Scones

Today Olivia and I had a go at some baking and set-to to make some cheese scones. Some of the mix ended up in the floor and in her mouth but plenty was left to make 10 scones. When they were done I gave her one of them but she seemed more interested in the idea of cooking them for a second time on the hob!

Bradley Nurseries Again

The display of Christmas decorations at Bradley Nurseries are well known locally and it's always worth a journey just to go and look at them. Chris and Tim took Olivia to see them last year; this year I went with Chris and Olivia after church.
Olivia was quite taken with the whole thing and squealed very excitedly every few minutes, pointing at displays and shouting "Uck Uck!" ("Look Look!").
She was especially taken with a pile of white teddy bears which she kissed very liberally
and a set of rubber inter-locking play-mats:

Christmas Tree Festival

Lilleshall Church had their Christmas Tree Festival last weekend where various church and village groups get to decorate a tree for display in the church. Olivia goes up there every second Wednesday to the Tiddleywinks Praise Toddler Group and as they had a tree as well with all the childrens faces on baubles. I thought it would make a nice trip out to see if we could spot her photograph. The trees looked fabulous and Olivia enjoyed the cakes which were on sale!


To be honest I struggled to spot her photograph and ended up taking a picture of the wrong child! Hmm...some mother I am?!

A Busy Day

We've just had a very busy Saturday. First of all we met up with Lisa (from church) and her two children Isabelle and Dylan at Jungleland. Olivia LOVED going on the train and the big slides...


After Jungleland we headed over to Bomere Heath to see my old school friend Rachel who just recently has had a little boy. Baby Oscar is doing really well and, I have to say, Rachel looked fabulous and is loving being a Mum. Well done Rachel and her partner Steve.


After seeing baby Oscar, we then headed over to my parents' to have tea and to see Bex and her family who were all visiting. Our new nephew George now weighs a whole stone, even though he's only 6 weeks old! Everyone seems well although Bex and Ivor seem pretty exhausted. Having 2 seems like a lot of hard work. I think it's the chocolate biscuits that are keeping them going!

Brum Brum!

Yesterday I bought a very small 3-drawer storage set for the bathroom to store all our surplus smellies and wash-bags. It fits very nicely under the sink. Olivia was very helpful in assisting me with its assembly and then promptly decided that it simply must be a car that I'd bought for her to play with:

Budding Chef

Last Saturday I let Olivia help me make a squash chowder as I've found that if I let her sit on the worktop when I'm trying to get on with something it stops her moaning! She found that she wasn't too bad at stirring...
or even helping herself!!!
Perhaps Mummy's cooking isn't so bad after all? Not as good as Daddy's though...obviously!

Lunch Out

Always eager for a feast, Olivia and I had lunch at Frankie and Benny's last Saturday to celebrate the fact that, for once, Clarks said that Olivia didn't need new shoes! She's been a 5 F since mid-August.

In the Sand

Have finally mastered the art of transferring photos from my phone to my pc. I am certainly not a digital native!

Remembered I took a pic of Olivia at Folly Farm digging in the sand which I thought I would share with you.

Off to Wales

Olivia and I went to South Wales at the weekend to visit Miles, a long-standing friend of mine from University (you may remember he visited us back in January?). The satnav and I got confused in Leominster (diversions were in place) which lead to us driving down bumpy farm tracks trying to reach a main road - very stressful at 9 o'clock at night, in the dark and you don't know where you're going (though at least I did have a road atlas with me)! Apart from that we had a great time. Miles took us to Folly Farm where Olivia got to know the goats and had a go on various fairground rides which she really enjoyed.





I would have taken loads of photos and more video clips but my card filled up and I was stuck.

On Sunday Miles and I drove in convoy up to Hay on Wye to look at the book shops and have lunch out before we parted company and Olivia and I came home.

It's a Boy!

My sister finally gave birth to a beautiful baby boy:

George William Thomas Davey
Born: 13th October 2008 10.50
Weight: 10Lbs1
born by caesarean

Well done Becks!

We went down to see them a couple of weekends ago along with a blanket with his name appliqued on to it that I'd constructed (I was so pleased with the result I photographed it!). George was gorgeous and I was so pleased to meet him. It was also a lovely opportunity for the cousins to get together.

Graduation Day

Well, well, well. I finally graduated on September 5th and got to wear the floppy hat! Richard and my Mum came to see it all happen; unfortunately my Dad wasn't able to come. It was a well-run ceremony and then we went to a vegetarian cafe for a fabulous lunch afterwards - even Richard enjoyed it.

Holiday in Cornwall

We managed to have a family holiday at the end of August and rented a cottage in Cornwall via Cornish Cottages.

We had a great time on the beach on the bank holiday Sunday. Olivia enjoyed playing in the sand (though the sea was not a hit!) while Richard enjoyed the chance of a rest.


During the week we visited a seal sanctuary:

Had lunch out in Penzance at the Gourmet Burger:

Enjoyed playing in a nearby Penzance park...




...and visited Paradise Park to see the exotic animals. We couldn't get Olivia to stroke a real penguin or even show much interest in it; a nearby plastic one was far more her thing!

We also drove down to Lands End

and then had lunch out at Gunnards Head at a pub recommended by Sawday's. Olivia sampled the delights of chicken liver pate...

..and enjoyed having a laugh with Richard:

On the way back home at the end of the week we called in to see Richard's Grandma who really enjoyed meeting her great-granddaughter:


Then we drove on to the Cotswolds to see our friends Pat and Sarah and Olivia and Emma enjoyed doing Elton John impressions: