Summer holiday chums

Happy daddy's and their daughters

After a restful Friday night chilling out at home, our old friends Jake and Helen arrived with their little girl Isla on Saturday morning. Isla is two and a half months older than Eve. To be expected, at first they were a bit shy with each other, but it didn't take long for them to form a great friendship.

Playing with each others prams and babies - sharing sometimes works!

Within about 10 minutes or so they were both pushing their babies around the kitchen in their toy prams. It was great for Sam and I to see Eve having fun with a girl friend of the same age; this was really a first for her. Eve's best friends at nursery are both boys, as they are the closest in age to her in her class. 

The weather was warm so we wandered down the hill, through the cemetery woodland and over to Boca Bar for lunch. Eve slept whilst Isla ate lunch, but when she woke up they both had a wonderful time exploring the large restaurant space together.

 Playing at Boca Bar

From Boca Bar we headed over to Arnos Vale park. The rain held off pretty much which was lucky and we stayed there for a good long while, watching Isla and Eve enjoy the swings, slide, zip line and trampoline.

We walked a circular route through the woods, along the plateau and across the cemetery towards home. It was amusing watching Eve and Isla wandering off on adventures together. They both called each other by name, which was very sweet.

Happy hugs with Daddy

As soon as we walked in the door at home, the girls grabbed their prams and were off racing around, laughing and shrieking with delight, as only little girls can.

The girls enjoying jelly and strawberries at dinner time

This was our first sleep over with another child at our house and it went really well. It took Isla a bit more time to go to sleep, which of course was to be expected in a strange place. Whilst the girls slept we ate dinner, drank some drinks and had some laughs. Somehow I almost lost my voice and spent that evening and the next day whispering, which was all that I could muster. I think it's related to glandular fever that I've been suffering with this year, which seems to keep recurring. 

Both Isla and Eve slept all night, waking up just after 6am. I think they were both happy to see each other for breakfast. After the evening bath which they shared, they were both sad at having to leave each other.

Eve and Isla watching Mr. Tumble together on Sunday morning

Jake, Sam and I took the girls to the little park near our house on Sunday morning. It was already really warm at 9.30am. Being in the park on a sunny Sunday morning is so calming.

Jake and Isla

The Whitfords left at 10.30am to head back to Plymouth. Poor Eve was absolutely distraught when they drove away. We stood outside with her, waving and watching them go, and she just howled with sadness. It took us a good ten minutes to explain to her that we'd see Isla again. I think she will miss her new best friend.

The rather wonderful thing is that Eve and Isla can be summer holiday buddies. We usually see Jake and Helen once a year when the weather is good and we can be outside doing stuff. My Godmother, Vicki and her girls; Zoe, Lauren and Camilla all used to come down from London when we were small. They stayed in Fowey each summer. I have very happy memories of playing on the rocks at Ready Money Cove with them. I hope that Eve and Isla will enjoy such a friendship as we progress through the years.

Mr. Tumble

Eve's vocabulary is really coming on. By the time a week has gone she seems to have picked up a few extra words. She loves Mr. Tumble on CBeebies, and enjoys touching her nose, ears, eyes etc when told to do so, and loves to copy the sign language; especially the sign for 'thank you.'

Whilst Daddy slept on Sunday afternoon Eve and I went back to the old skool and watched 'Shall We Dance' (1937 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers). I thought she would like to see the dancing and singing, and who would be better to see than Fred n Ginger?! As soon as she saw the ballerina's at the beginning of the film she got excited and said 'tip toes!'

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in Shall We Dance, 1937

'Seeding Fear' by Neil Young

Longtime activist and music legend Neil Young debuts his latest mini-documentary, Seeding Fear.

Having recently released his album, The Monsanto Years, Neil Young is using his celebrity status to raise awareness about the biotech corporation Monsanto and its corruption.

Everyone should takes ten minutes of their time to watch this short documentary. It is the story of a farmer named Michael White, who with his father Wayne, took on the corporation in court. He is one of only four people in the world who can legally speak about their experience.

I've been reading about the horrendous things that Monsanto are doing across the world for many years now. This documentary made me cry with sadness and anger. Monsanto are destroying peoples lives on a global scale through genetically modified seeds, pesticides and agrochemicals; causing birth defects and miscarriages, high rates of cancer, along with a variety of illnesses, some never heard of before. 

Monsanto are causing a humanitarian and ecological disaster. This situation is something that we should all be aware of if we want our children, and generations to come, to live in a world where we can plant safe seed and watch them grow....

Neil Young - Image copyright Getty Images

This letter by Neil Young accompanies the documentary:

“As I write this, the dark act is up for a vote in the House of Representatives; representatives of the people. The dark act takes away the rights of those people to vote for or against things like GMO labelling in their states. It does seem ironic. If the act is passed, it will truly be a dark day for America.

Monsanto is a corporation with great wealth, now controlling over 90% of soybean and corn growth in America. Family farms have been replaced by giant agri corp farms across this great vast country we call home. Farm aid and other organizations have been fighting the losing battle against this for 30 years now.

Dairy and meat farming is done in those white sheds you see from the freeway, no longer on the green pastures of home with the old farmhouses and barns. Those beautiful buildings now stand in ruin across the country. This has happened on our watch while the country slept, distracted by advertising and false information from the corporations. Monsanto and others simply pay the politicians for voting their way. This is because of “Citizens United”, a legislation that has made it possible for corporations to have the same rights as people, while remaining immune to people’s laws.

Both Democratic and Republican front runners are in bed with Monsanto, from Clinton to Bush, as many government branches are and have been for years. This presidential election could further cement the dominance of corporation’s rights over people’s rights in America. If you have a voice you have a choice. Use it.

On the human side, the film I would like you to see tells the story of a farming family in America, but the same thing is happening around the world. It is a story that takes 10 minutes of your time to see. It is a simple human one, telling the heartbreaking story of one man who fought the corporate behemoth Monsanto, and it illustrates why I was moved to write The Monsanto Years.

The film presents a rare opportunity to hear from the source as Mr. White is one of only four farmers who is still legally allowed to speak about his case as all the others have been effectively silenced.

Thanks for reading this and I hope you look at this simple and powerful film, “Seeding Fear”.

Neil Young

The Monsanto Years”

Overgrowthesystem.com - Image copyright Natacha Pisarenko

Please click the link below if you would like to read Argentina: The country that Monsanto poisoned. 

*This article contains some shocking photos.

http://overgrowthesystem.com/argentina-the-country-that-monsanto-poisoned-photo-essay/

Playtime and Rest

Eve happily sleeping, in an amusing position on the sofa

On Sunday morning Eve woke up at 7.30am - a lovely weekend lie in for me, which was most appreciated. Daddy and I had gone out for 'date night' (the first time since November last year), and were both feeling a bit worse for wear. Eve was such a good girl and played happily in the lounge whilst it poured with rain outside. After giving her breakfast and playing with her for a couple of hours I felt pretty tired so I told her to be a good girl whilst I had a little sleep on the sofa. I woke up an hour later to the sound of Daddy coming downstairs. It was so quiet that I immediately wondered where Eve was. Somehow, she had turned off the tv and had gone to sleep on the sofa next to me. She remained there having a nap for the next 2 hours.

It continued to rain all day. Sam and I were pleasantly surprised with Eve, who played all day long in the lounge and kitchen. She seemed to know that we couldn't go outside and was happy being there with us and didn't get bored at all. 











She enjoyed watching music video's, singing and dancing and has also just learnt how to jump in the air. This morning she was having a great time walking about on her tip toes, which was funny.

Waybuloo

Lately most evenings, when Eve and I arrive home from nursery, we often watch Waybuloo on the CBeebies channel. Eve likes to watch the children as they run along the pathways through the woodland scenery. We then attempt to copy them and practice yoga positions.

We like watching Zingzilla's and Postman Pat in the mornings, with another of our favourites being Cloud Babies. Postman Pat is of course a classic, and I enjoy watching it. It brings back fond memories from my own childhood. I was a huge fan of Rainbow Brite and the Care Bears when I was small so Cloud Babies is definitely a great replacement. One of Eve's favourite songs to sing is 'Twinkle, Twinkle little star' and I can tell that she really likes Cloud Babies, especially when they put the stars to bed.

Cloud Babies

Zingzilla's is fun; they are a band and play world music. It's great for Eve to be able to discover different styles of music and dance along with it.

Zingzilla's

Yesterday Daddy took Eve to Arnos Vale Park in the morning before nursery. This girl loves the park so much! On the whole she is such a good girl, but does throw a tantrum occasionally. This is always when she's enjoying doing something and is then told that she has to do something else or go somewhere. Last week she had a big bump on her head. She had been taken to the library in Knowle on a nursery trip and had thrown her head back and banged it on a book case when they told her that she had to leave the library. I am glad that she is passionate about things and gets so involved with what she is doing. We are still trying to teach her to be patient and understanding when things have to change.

Out N About With Dad

 Eve enjoying soft play at http://www.playspace.co.uk/

When Eve was smaller Sam used to take her to the park during the two mornings a week that they spend together. However, now that she's older and loving nursery he's been taking her further afield to fulfil her playtime fun. Trying to keep her occupied at home can be quite a lot of work these days.

This week he took her to Playspace in St. Phillips. By the look of the photos she absolutely loved it!

Playspace

Also this week, the other morning that they spend together, Sam and Eve met up with Ocky and Arthur at the Hungry Caterpillar Play Cafe in Bedminster. I've never been but have heard a lot about it. They look like they had a great time playing together.

http://hungrycaterpillarbristol.co.uk/

Unfortunately, now that the schools have closed for the summer holidays, the little playgroup in the Baptist church by our house isn't open. However, here is a photo of Eve enjoying doing Fuzzy Felt last week, on the last day of term.

Fuzzy Felt Fun

Even though they do so many activities in the morning, Eve and Dad still manage a quick walk to the park before heading to nursery in the afternoon too.

Very happy with the sticker from Playspace

My girl looks so grown up now. I love seeing her learning, changing and developing each day; but a little part of me misses the days when I would sit with her lying on my chest for hours at home. Funny, at the time I felt terribly bored and 'chained to the sofa'. I now look back on it with fond memories. How times change.

Grannoo - Nanoo

Eve and Granny T

We didn't do a lot this weekend. Sam and I were both feeling pretty zonked out and spent the majority of the weekend at home with Eve.

I had Friday off; and spent the day with my sister Claire. We wandered about Bristol Harbour Festival and had lunch and drinks together. She's gone to Greece on a family holiday today for two weeks, so it was good to spend some time with her before she left.

Yesterday morning my mum arrived with a car load of clothes for Eve, passed along from my brother Jon, who lives in Kent. His little girl Lottie starts school in September, and they are in the process of moving house to Cornwall. Amongst the goodies were some really nice shoes and winter boots that had barely been worn. Eve is going to be kitted out well this winter that's for sure - there are so many coats I can't quite believe it. Hand-me-downs are the best!

After going through the clothes my mum and I took Eve to the park. She had a lovely time there. It's so much easier leaving the park now that she can walk out the gate, and not be put into the pram crying. She loves the park so much, she never wants to leave - and who can blame her?

On Saturday evening as we were getting ready for bed, I told Eve that Granny T was coming the next day. She then said 'Granoo-Nanoo!' We thought it was quite amusing. 

The other night when I was getting her changed after her bath, she said to me, 'bed now?" She communicates so well and it amazes me every time she says something new. 

Game of Thrones figures

Yesterday she wanted to play with our Game Of Thrones collectible figures, and pointed at them and said 'people' so that I could pass them to her. I left for work early this morning and I didn't get to see Eve as she slept in until about 8am (it's alright for some eh). Sam told me that when she woke up she said to him, 'where's mummy?' Heart warming stuff.

Corsley House

After a good nights sleep, I prepped everything and packed up the car on Saturday morning for our trip to Corsley House near Warminster.

The drive was lovely, one of the nicest drives we've taken for a while; no motor ways, not much traffic, just meandering down small roads through the luscious English countryside.

Randomly Sam and I had been researching Staddle stones (used to prop up the grain store in this picture) a few days prior to our trip. You find them all over the place in the countryside, but we couldn't work out what they were actually meant for. Here we can see them as they are supposed to be used.

We arrived in the mid afternoon, with glorious weather. It was really quite hot at times. Eve enjoyed exploring the grounds. After hours of playing in the gardens she went to bed very easily. Bath time was slightly difficult. She still seems a bit scared of the bath since our attempt to put her in the shower during our Wales trip. 

I was so glad that she went to bed without any fuss. We were really lucky, our hosts had given us two adjoining rooms with an ensuite bathroom. This made it super easy and I didn't have to worry about anything.

Sam had been asked to DJ for Olivia's brother, Rory's 21st birthday. The whole family were in full swing setting up the party when we arrived. It was such a beautiful setting for a party; they cooked all the food, set up a bar, and put up Tipi's for the revellers to sleep in.

It was quite tiring running after Eve, but it was a delightful way to spend the afternoon.

Eve absolutely adored climbing onto this chair. It's the first time I've seen a photo of her where she looks like me when I was a little girl.

Getting ready for the evenings events, once Eve was in bed was lovely. It felt so nice being able to get ready slowly and put on make up. Sam was already hard at work outside with the music; he did a great job as always and everyone had a great time.

I adored the lavender which lined many of the hedges and walls around the garden.

Playing with the gravel

I had borrowed a baby monitor, which we set up (we haven't used one at home for ages), just for peace of mind. But, the distance was too far so it wouldn't work. Thankfully we ended up not really needing to use it which was great.

Catching up with our dear friends Beagle and Olivia was great, we hadn't seen them for a while. Seeing them both so happy was heart-warming.

I went to bed at a reasonable time of midnight, after a tasty meal and good chats with new-found friends. The food was so good, and we were treated to a fantastic firework display too. Such a great weekend - Big thanks to our wonderful hosts, the Compton Family!!