The deed is done! Josh has started chldcare!

Day 1- not a tear was shed!! Josh was delighted to see other boys he could play with. His comrades are Ewan and Harry. Ewan is a couple of months older than Josh, but is very similar in build -blond and blue eyed, whilst Harry is 2 and rather slighter, although seems ever such a gentle soul. When we said good bye to Lynn the child minder Josh blew her kisses. I can only interpret this as a good sign!

Day 2 Josh became a little upset at being transferred from one car seat immediately into another as Lynn met me to pick up Josh and continue on to the Whacky warehouse. Aside from this little outburst, Josh seems to be very happy with the new arrangements. Even Lynne says she can't believe how happy and content he is. So..so far so good!! but alas 'every dog has its day!!' Leaves me wondering when ours will be!!

little red boxes

who would have thought boxes could be sooo much fun. Marcel was right...best toy you can get a child is a box...Josh spends hours with his box...pushing it around...sitting in it, being pulled in it, putting his blocks on it or his car...so many concepts to be discovered through the aid of a box!!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

Winter has arrived early as we hole up in our new house in the dales...there has been an incredible amount of snow this november in what they are calling Britain's BIG CHILL!! the last week has seen temepretatures drop to -3 degrees in the day, along with lots of lovely powdery snow!
I took Josh out in his car, which has conveniently converted to a snow mobile. He seemed to like the powder best of all, however we had a rapid deterioartion in the enjoyment factor once Josh got too much snow in his shoes, and rapidly aborted the snowmobile and snowfun, for the haven of the barn!

Splintaspot backdates the Oz trip

What a fantastic time we had in my homeland!! Even Robbie was glad to return to the UK so he could have a spell from wineries!! Well done Marcel, you managed to put Robbie off wine, even if only temporarily!

What a fantastic time we had, in our cottages at Walwa- great to see the farm, so lush and green, and then our homestead stay in Rutherglen. Not to mention our fantastic hosts, Mars, Sam and Ollie and Maya, and of course Nanny and Poppy. It was great to see some friends, although even I forget the vastness of Australia- and we certainly sadly missed seeing lots of people too. Here's a few snaps!

Its turning really festive here!

Josh and I went to Fountains Abbey, Josh was less impressed with the fog and mist than I!!

Berries at Fountains Abbey
Weather is sometimes grey and misty these days, and there are lots of spindely bushses bearing their winter berries. Spent the day in York, which was really crowded but feeling very festive!! Even Robbie agreed that it felt rather Christmassy despite his watershed rule of nothing before the 1st of December...baa humbug to him I say!

What a Fantastic Autumn its been here!! and now its time for Santy!

Josh dying to get off Santa's knee at the White Rose Centre
Took Josh to meet his first Santa with old next door neighbours Sheila, Julie and Doreen- I call them Josh's girlfriends, because they are so loving and doting on Josh- he has outings with his ladies and loves all the adoration!!





Just a few shots with my mobile around Swinsty Reservoir- which is now our nearest local pushcair friendly walk...its great and soo convenient!!

The colours have been amazing this autumn, and now its time for Santy Season, our first Christmas with Josh! Really looking forward to it!

Its been a looong time!!

Splintaspot has been a little bit lonely of late...no time...moving house, going to Australia, sitting an exam...all make life a bit busy. But we are back on track, although my phone does not readily lend itself to blogging...so still need to overcome that obstacle.
Anyhow,
Josh is now 10 months...and he is amazing (if I don't say so myself!!) he is now starting to talk and off course loves to cruise the furniture and walk with a little help from other aids including me!

He regularly says Daddy and also 'down' as stairs are his favourite past time these days. He can whip up and down them in a flash...really is time for that stair gate.
He has settled into his new house with no problems and seems to enjoy his new room especially now his daddy has painted it sky blue...purple really was not Josh's colour and he could even specify this when asked which wall he preferred...the one that was purple or the one that was blu..by utilsing that very useful little pointy finger of his!!! (Which I might add comes in handy for many things! He is a regular pointer!!)
He also LOVES skype and LOVES speaking to Nanny and Poppy on the computer, he gives repeated waves to the computer...indicating it is about time he spoke to Nanny and Poppy, and has even got the hang of saying Nanny, whilst Poppy has taught him to clap- all computer aided!!
Quite a surprise to me, as I really didn't think 10 mth olds would show any interest in a computer aside form pushing all those lovely buttins on the keyboard!!! However, it does seem that Josh's little foray to Oz, has rekindled his family connections!

Josh is also an avid reader and loves his books. He loves Spottywot and Dottywot- so thanks Aunty Sharon, he also now says duck, and cat and is starting to stack his blcoks into a tower, so far we can get to 4!! and then he gives himself a little clap of pride! Hwe also claps mummy when she manages to build a tower too, and of course his two most endearing little developemntal achievements includes blowing kisses and snorting like a piggy- something daddy taught him, which he finds most amusing. Finally he has his 2 bottom teeth which came in Australia, and he now has his 2 top teeth, and is starting to look like a real little boy!

Anyhow- that is a quick update, with hopefully some photo's to follow of the last few months and of course - the Australia tour.

The house is great, and we can't wait for Sammy and Marcel and Ollie and Maya to c ome visit. Robbie is already doing reconaissance missions to explore exciting outings for us all, and hopefully by then we will be sweet with the farmer, so Ollie can really experience farming in the dales.

Not Long Now!