Easter Egg Hunt

We have had the most glorious weather this April. It really has been nicer than I have ever known for this time of year. Cue, lots of opportunity for Cas to play in the park and outside generally with his mates!

We went on an Easter Egg Hunt at the gorgeously, quintentially English, Edwalton church. The gardens were lovely and filled with cute kids excitedly searching for silver and special golden eggs. It could have been a scene from a Richard Curtis film!

The kids exchanged their eggs for little chocolate eggs - which were a huge success with Cas.



We then had a bike ride to the Riverbank Restaurant on Trent Bridge for an exceedingly decadent and posh lunch in the sun next to the river - blissful!

St Georges Day

We took Cas waving his flag to look at the St Georges Day activities in Nottingham. The market square had lots of stalls with craft activities for kids and food stalls. We made some silver dragon scales and stuck them to the Dragon Collage.

We then went to the Nottingham Contempory as they were having a chinese dragon dance (a mix of St George and the Dragon and the chinese theme of the current exhibition with the contraversial stuffed elephant.

Cas's favourite film is 'How to Train your Dragon' so we thought that it would be a good idea - after all he is always saying 'I love Dragons!'

Not so! He HATED it. The drums were so loud that it frightened him - he yelled and yelled and yelled! We went from gallery to gallery to gallery and the dragons and drums followed us! Nightmare! He'll be scared for life!

Potty Training

Well Cas is 3 in July so I thought that I should make a start with potty training. I read the Gina Ford book - 'Potty Training in a Week' and got cracking. The first couple of days were a bit of a disaster, with several accidents -however by the end of day 2, he was doing more wees in the potty than out , we were making progress!

By the end of the first week Cas was dry most of the day, although he still needed reminding to go. Poo's however took a bit longer to get right. It seemed like he was holding on to them until he had a nappy to poo in at night.

A month later, we are mainly sorted now, sometimes at home he will do a wee in his pants to be naughty! But it isn't an accident - it is naughtiness!


He is excellent at aiming he wee! He likes to wee outside - soon he will be writing his name with his wee!

A month on in and he is dry most days, with only the occassional accident. Pooing as well is in the potty or toilet - although we have to be quick. When he says he needs to go, he needs to go now!

Visiting Julia and Kitty

We took a trip in March to see our friends in Southfield nr Burnley. Cas loves visiting Kitty and had a great time pestering her dog! He also got to feed their goats carrots - which he really really loves - despite the fact they are the biggest goats ever known!

We had a lovely Sunday dinner in the pub - although our first choice of a snack in the cafe of a local village was cut short as the only table was next to the range which they had just stoked up and was really flaming! Cas was not happy - 'No 'ike FIRE' he wailed several times, before we hastily beat a retreat.

Kitty is gorgeous and very well behaved and I think this rubs off on Cas a bit! Course it doesn't last!

Southport Weekend

Ok - so this isn't something I did with Cas. However it is the first time I have been away from him for more than one night, so that was a milestone! Also I wanted to share some of the great photos that Tee took. So, I went to Southport with Tee and Katty to see Michelle who had travelled from Fort Wayne to host our friend Katies' baby shower! As you can see I baked a baby cake!

This is Michelle and I at Crosby beach were we went to see the Gormley's. First decent weather weekend of the year!

This is the fish installation at Southport Pier. Which incidently is very nice, as is Southport itself I think. We stayed in a lovely cottage close to the seafront.

We are like Charlies Angles . .but there are 4 of us . . We were posing in jumpsuits in House of Fraser!

Allotment!!

Exciting news!!

I have an allotment! I've been on the waiting list for years and now the wait is over! I have a lovely little (well size of a large swimming pool) plot next to the Grantham canal. It has 4 apple trees, a pond, a shed and it is in reasonable order... just some tidying and clearing to do, which should take a few weeks and then I can start planting.

I have decided to grow:
Potatoes (earlies and second earlies this year)
Parsnips
Carrots
Leeks
Purple sprouting brocolli
Red Cabbage
Savoy Cabbage
Sprouts
Sweetcorn
Courgettes
Salad
Radishes
Cucumber
Peas
Beans
Rhubarb
Raspberries
Strawberries
Gooseberries

My good friend Joe had advised me to start with plug plants this year and not worry about growing from seed until I have the plot organised and a seed bed build and some cold frames etc.

I can't wait to get going once this horrible weather has passed! It will be great fun for Cas too I hope.

Nottingham Light Night

January and February so far have been pretty dull months. The weather has been so bad, cold and wet and that alongside the usual colds and coughs etc. has meant that we haven't been doing a great deal.

But on the 18th of Feb, Nottingham had another Light Night. Here is what it is:

"For one night the city stays up so that its attractions and symbols are seen in a new light. The spectators get to see the unusual in a familiar environment and 'lose themselves' in the city, which is transformed into a stage for the night. "



There were lots of mad things going on . .for example this giant lobster and giant lit of swans dancing around the Market Square.

The Sonic Manipulater guy who we saw at summer sundae and thought was great, we found doing his thing! Cas went and stood right infront of him and entertained the crowds! The Police kept arriving to move on ner'do wells like the guy with the sax on this picture . .not quite your summer sundae festival crowd!

This is Cas on the solar powered dance floor in the Market Square - he was dancing* along to some classic disco tunes! * for dancing read running and jumping!