We're having 'one of those weeks'. You know those times when you want to just hide under the duvet? When illness is compounded by daily chores that don't get the hint that you're not interested. When suddenly a number of matters all require your immediate attention. Add to that a toddler, who better be going through a phase, and even coffee/wine (delete as applicable to time of day) is powerless to help.
EDtot's current phase seems to follow a theme of No, That Isn't What I Want And Nothing You Can Do Will Make Me Happy, Ever. It's an interesting one and she's certainly throwing herself into the role wholeheartedly. There is the odd slip in character when a biscuit derails her, but on the whole, she's nailed this one. A particularly fine performance included the scene on the Lane entitled I Don't Want To Hold My Water Bottle, But I Don't Want You To Have It Either. I was half expecting her to break into I Dreamed A Dream between sobs.
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Sunday, 3 February 2013
West End Girls
Not an Eighties revival. It was a day out for EDtot into Central London. We were off to meet my aunt and cousins for lunch and shopping. Whilst EDtot loves a good social lunch, the shopping part was bound to be traumatic unless I could work it around a nap.
The day before I had spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for play options around Oxford Street, but it would seem that the nobody has felt the need to open a soft play in the heart of London. A huge failing and missed opportunity if you ask me! Anyway, we settled on the next best option - an area for EDtot to roam free. The forecast was for rain so off to the London Transport Museum we went.
At £15 per person it is not a cheap outing, but if you live in London it is worth the money as that £15 buys you an annual ticket. It is based in Covent Garden and so will be a great stop off for us on our way into town by bus or train. The only downside at the moment is that EDtot is not quite walking yet. She can manage a short walk holding our hands, but is too scared to venture off on wobbly legs. So we end up hobbling around slowly or carrying her from one exhibit to the next.
In any event, it was a lovely way to start the day and after an hour in the museum with our friend and her little boy, we set off for Oxford Street. We had a lovely walk up through Chinatown and Soho, ducking and diving through narrow streets and picking up some delicious waffle balls on the way. They are a staple street food in Hong Kong and I am still trying to work out the correct recipe for them.
Selfridges' cafe was our meeting point with the aunt and cousins. I wouldn't tend to head there if I was on my own as it is canteen style service and I would end up with food tray and buggy going flying as I tried to manoeuvre through the tables. Thankfully it is all a lot easier when you have extra hands to help. After a relaxed lunch we decided to have a little wander around the store and at the same time try to get EDtot to nap in her buggy. I had specifically brought the Beast of a Buggy as it is more comfy, but she had other ideas and after I returned from trying on an outfit, I found she had convinced my aunt that life would be better for all concerned if she was allowed to get out of the buggy and walk.
So we enjoyed a snail pace shopping experience with one very happy toddler who was thrilled to have two hands to support her on her epic journey through the store. I'm not sure how well my aunt's and cousin's backs coped, but it worked well for me! We also found a mini-entertainment pit stop in the form of two toy cars in the kiddy clothes section. Big enough for EDtot to sit in and with a couch and telly beside it to relax in.
All-in-all, a successful jaunt into Central London!
The day before I had spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for play options around Oxford Street, but it would seem that the nobody has felt the need to open a soft play in the heart of London. A huge failing and missed opportunity if you ask me! Anyway, we settled on the next best option - an area for EDtot to roam free. The forecast was for rain so off to the London Transport Museum we went.
At £15 per person it is not a cheap outing, but if you live in London it is worth the money as that £15 buys you an annual ticket. It is based in Covent Garden and so will be a great stop off for us on our way into town by bus or train. The only downside at the moment is that EDtot is not quite walking yet. She can manage a short walk holding our hands, but is too scared to venture off on wobbly legs. So we end up hobbling around slowly or carrying her from one exhibit to the next.
In any event, it was a lovely way to start the day and after an hour in the museum with our friend and her little boy, we set off for Oxford Street. We had a lovely walk up through Chinatown and Soho, ducking and diving through narrow streets and picking up some delicious waffle balls on the way. They are a staple street food in Hong Kong and I am still trying to work out the correct recipe for them.
Selfridges' cafe was our meeting point with the aunt and cousins. I wouldn't tend to head there if I was on my own as it is canteen style service and I would end up with food tray and buggy going flying as I tried to manoeuvre through the tables. Thankfully it is all a lot easier when you have extra hands to help. After a relaxed lunch we decided to have a little wander around the store and at the same time try to get EDtot to nap in her buggy. I had specifically brought the Beast of a Buggy as it is more comfy, but she had other ideas and after I returned from trying on an outfit, I found she had convinced my aunt that life would be better for all concerned if she was allowed to get out of the buggy and walk.
So we enjoyed a snail pace shopping experience with one very happy toddler who was thrilled to have two hands to support her on her epic journey through the store. I'm not sure how well my aunt's and cousin's backs coped, but it worked well for me! We also found a mini-entertainment pit stop in the form of two toy cars in the kiddy clothes section. Big enough for EDtot to sit in and with a couch and telly beside it to relax in.
All-in-all, a successful jaunt into Central London!
Sunday, 20 January 2013
What a Week!
The Birthday Week is over and we are exhausted! It was great fun putting together the prize draws and seeing all the entries flood in for each fab prize. EDtot thoroughly enjoyed picking the winners' names out of a box with all the entries.
A big thank you to all the lovely people who donated prizes. If you don't already know them, here's a round up of what they have to offer:
Mothers Inc - onsite childcare whilst you enjoy your pampering experience. Fancy a massage or facial, but can't find childcare for such a short time? Mothers Inc. offers the perfect solution.
SE22 Piano School - your local piano teaching practice with students from ages 3 - 60. The school teaches from beginners to advanced levels in classical, pop, improvisation and jazz piano and holds recitals such as the one offered in the prize draw.
Cheeky C's - the fun, creative and exciting playgroup, which is split into different C's. Take your toddler/baby along to enjoy the construction, camping, creative, cosy, crazy, cooking, concert, costume, curious and concentration corners with a coffee corner for the adults!
Tippee Toes Music - the music and movement classes include action songs, musical instruments, movement props, puppets, colourful laminates, parachute play and oodles of bubbles! They also offer baby massage, soft play, parties and even a mobile creche for those special events.
The Dish and The Spoon - need a coffee, but know your little one won't want to sit still for long enough to allow the caffeine to kick in (for you; not them!)? Head to The Dish and The Spoon cafe and deli in Nunhead serving up Dark Fluid Coffee, cakes and more with the added bonus of a lovely play area to keep the kiddies amused.
Fuzzy and Friends - looking for a class that will fire up their imagination? Try out one that is all about learning through music and make believe. With free-play time before and after the sessions for the adults to catch up over a cuppa.
ShutterBaby - how could you not want that shot of your newborn all curled up on a pile of towels with a pair of angel wings? We left it too late to grab that special newborn pic, but luckily they tend to stay cute for a fair few years and ShutterBaby can help you capture those perfect pics.
Diddi Dance - jealous of the amount of energy your little one has every day? Channel it into improving their rhythm and co-ordination using various dancing games and exercises, bells, hoops and dance ribbons to Diddi Dance's own funky pop songs. They also offer fantastic party fun!
Babistic Baby - enjoy all the benefits that baby yoga can offer in a group session with other mums. Babistic Baby also offers baby massage and maternity reflexology sessions to help relax you and baby.
Bach to Baby - not only do you have the chance to enjoy a concert without hiring a sitter, your little one also has the chance to attend a live classical music performance and chill out to Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms!
Powerpramming - it is hard enough sometimes to get yourself up and out with a newborn let alone find childcare whilst you try to get your fitness back! Powerpramming is the perfect solution as you can bring your little bundle with you whilst you enjoy working out at your own pace.
Captured on the Rye - a home furnishing shop with a cafe area serving delicious coffees, hot and cold beverages and a selection of cakes. Check out the handmade designs that are screenprinted locally. Many lines are organic and Fairtrade cotton.
Thank you to everyone involved. Here's to another fun filled year!
xx
A big thank you to all the lovely people who donated prizes. If you don't already know them, here's a round up of what they have to offer:
Mothers Inc - onsite childcare whilst you enjoy your pampering experience. Fancy a massage or facial, but can't find childcare for such a short time? Mothers Inc. offers the perfect solution.
SE22 Piano School - your local piano teaching practice with students from ages 3 - 60. The school teaches from beginners to advanced levels in classical, pop, improvisation and jazz piano and holds recitals such as the one offered in the prize draw.
Cheeky C's - the fun, creative and exciting playgroup, which is split into different C's. Take your toddler/baby along to enjoy the construction, camping, creative, cosy, crazy, cooking, concert, costume, curious and concentration corners with a coffee corner for the adults!
Tippee Toes Music - the music and movement classes include action songs, musical instruments, movement props, puppets, colourful laminates, parachute play and oodles of bubbles! They also offer baby massage, soft play, parties and even a mobile creche for those special events.
The Dish and The Spoon - need a coffee, but know your little one won't want to sit still for long enough to allow the caffeine to kick in (for you; not them!)? Head to The Dish and The Spoon cafe and deli in Nunhead serving up Dark Fluid Coffee, cakes and more with the added bonus of a lovely play area to keep the kiddies amused.
Fuzzy and Friends - looking for a class that will fire up their imagination? Try out one that is all about learning through music and make believe. With free-play time before and after the sessions for the adults to catch up over a cuppa.
ShutterBaby - how could you not want that shot of your newborn all curled up on a pile of towels with a pair of angel wings? We left it too late to grab that special newborn pic, but luckily they tend to stay cute for a fair few years and ShutterBaby can help you capture those perfect pics.
Diddi Dance - jealous of the amount of energy your little one has every day? Channel it into improving their rhythm and co-ordination using various dancing games and exercises, bells, hoops and dance ribbons to Diddi Dance's own funky pop songs. They also offer fantastic party fun!
Babistic Baby - enjoy all the benefits that baby yoga can offer in a group session with other mums. Babistic Baby also offers baby massage and maternity reflexology sessions to help relax you and baby.
Bach to Baby - not only do you have the chance to enjoy a concert without hiring a sitter, your little one also has the chance to attend a live classical music performance and chill out to Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms!
Powerpramming - it is hard enough sometimes to get yourself up and out with a newborn let alone find childcare whilst you try to get your fitness back! Powerpramming is the perfect solution as you can bring your little bundle with you whilst you enjoy working out at your own pace.
Captured on the Rye - a home furnishing shop with a cafe area serving delicious coffees, hot and cold beverages and a selection of cakes. Check out the handmade designs that are screenprinted locally. Many lines are organic and Fairtrade cotton.
Thank you to everyone involved. Here's to another fun filled year!
xx
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