Another beautiful day on the Costa del sol. Very warm with a beautiful right blue sky all day.
We as usual went for our morning coffee on on the beach. After you spent 40 minutes or so throwing rocks into the sea we headed off to the old town of Marbella. At the main square there was a charity market being held for a local hospital. We were early, they were just unloading the toys for the stall and so we swooped and bought a big white Porsche 911 GT, a new yellow tractor with a rolling attachment and a driver and finally a little fire engine. We got it all for a mere 2.50€. Not too shabby.
You spent the rest of the day playing with these new toys in the garden, in the paddling pool, in the bath, on the couch and then in bed.
Mummy felt a little ill this evening and went to bed at 7.30pm. She is still asleep as I write this at 11.30 pm. Mummy must have picked up a bug of some sort, either that or she has developed some sort of strange sleeping sickness. Lets just hope it is a bug.
For dinner tonight, I prepared for the family a sweet potato Shepherd’s pie. You ate half a mouthful or so and Mummy just had a nibble because she felt sick. Still I enjoyed it. You went to bed at 8.30pm and I watched a lousy video with Ben Stiller called ‘Night at the Museum’. I also ate one of your teeny tiny chocolate puddings.
Sunday 29 April 2007
Friday 27 April 2007
You and The Chocolate Bunny
When you and mummy were visiting our neighbour Sheila last night, despite your mummy’s protests, Sheila gave you a large chocolate bunny. You got so hyped up on the sugar that you were still up running about singing ‘Wee Willy Winkie,’ at 10.30 pm. Then the sugar wore off and you more or less passed out. It was exhausting but it was very funny.
Why do neighbours think it is ok to pump other people’s kids full of chocolate?
Why do neighbours think it is ok to pump other people’s kids full of chocolate?
Sunday 22 April 2007
New word
Hi Tom
'I see a snail outside daddy.' Was the first time that you used I instead of Tom. You would normaly have said 'Tom see a snail outside daddy.'
You are learning so quickly. I go to work and you know nothing about bumble bees, I come home 8 hours later and you are telling me all about them. It is amasing to me.
I love you
Daddy
'I see a snail outside daddy.' Was the first time that you used I instead of Tom. You would normaly have said 'Tom see a snail outside daddy.'
You are learning so quickly. I go to work and you know nothing about bumble bees, I come home 8 hours later and you are telling me all about them. It is amasing to me.
I love you
Daddy
Friday 20 April 2007
Poo
Well, little man. You did your first poo in a potty yesterday. The look of wonder on your face was something i will never forget. You were so excited that you had to tell everybody. You even told Elke at the studio.
Monday 16 April 2007
Even more dreaded words
Daddy is in so much trouble. I was, as you know looking after you on Saturday. During this stressful time, daddy had reason enough to curse. After I watched you peeing on the couch I let out a quiet,`Oh for *uck´s sake.
When mummy came home she handed you your milk bottle and you dropped it. In a quiet but very clear angelic voice you said,’Oh for *uck´s sake.’ Thomas, time stood still. Mummy turned to me with a look of horror on her face.
To cut a long story short I went for blank denial. Did not work. The outcome, daddy is grounded for 2 weeks.
When mummy came home she handed you your milk bottle and you dropped it. In a quiet but very clear angelic voice you said,’Oh for *uck´s sake.’ Thomas, time stood still. Mummy turned to me with a look of horror on her face.
To cut a long story short I went for blank denial. Did not work. The outcome, daddy is grounded for 2 weeks.
Sunday 15 April 2007
The words we dread.
It has to be,'Daddy, Tom do.' this is used by you all the time. It includes, daddy driving, daddy making smoothies, dayy making your milk, in fact anything I do that is messy.
And you have to do it. You have to help make the milk.
And you have to do it. You have to help make the milk.
Saturday 14 April 2007
How does mummy do it
As I have already told you mummy has a cold. So I am in charge this weekend. Thomas, it is like running a marathon. How your mummy does it every day of the week when daddy is at work is something I will never know.
The Day
7.15am Up playing with toys and generally making a mess.
9.00am Out to beach and 3 hour walk with you and penny the dog
12.00 Playing with tractor in garden and in living room
1.00pm Making lunch and smoothie, house devastated like small fruit bomb has gone off
1.15pm Watch Lewis Hamilton qualify in second place for some GP
1.30 pm Change poo filled nappy.
1.35pm Clean down bedroom walls and wonder how poo can travel so far without it’s own motive power
1.55pm Got you to have a nap
2.00 pm Emptied dishwasher
2.15pm Fed penny
2.30 pm Cried with exhaustion for a while
2.35pm Got a grip and wrote blog
2.40pm Remembered that I had not had any lunch
3.00pm Had lunch and you woke up. Not very fair Mr. God
3.10 Removed your nappy and asked you if you need to use your new found potty skills
3.12pm Watched you peeing all over the couch.
4.12pm Finished cleaning the suede couch, next time we buy alcantara.
4.30pm Left for the grocery shopping
4.45pm watched you dismantle a supermarket, very cute
6.37pm Got home, did bit of crying with exahustion
7.00pm Put you in the bath
7.40pm Gave you dinner. Pitta bread with cream cheese and peas
8.00pm read you a book 'There are giants in our house.'
8.45pm You went to bed.
9.00 pm You got up
9.32pm you went to bed
9.43pm So did I
The Day
7.15am Up playing with toys and generally making a mess.
9.00am Out to beach and 3 hour walk with you and penny the dog
12.00 Playing with tractor in garden and in living room
1.00pm Making lunch and smoothie, house devastated like small fruit bomb has gone off
1.15pm Watch Lewis Hamilton qualify in second place for some GP
1.30 pm Change poo filled nappy.
1.35pm Clean down bedroom walls and wonder how poo can travel so far without it’s own motive power
1.55pm Got you to have a nap
2.00 pm Emptied dishwasher
2.15pm Fed penny
2.30 pm Cried with exhaustion for a while
2.35pm Got a grip and wrote blog
2.40pm Remembered that I had not had any lunch
3.00pm Had lunch and you woke up. Not very fair Mr. God
3.10 Removed your nappy and asked you if you need to use your new found potty skills
3.12pm Watched you peeing all over the couch.
4.12pm Finished cleaning the suede couch, next time we buy alcantara.
4.30pm Left for the grocery shopping
4.45pm watched you dismantle a supermarket, very cute
6.37pm Got home, did bit of crying with exahustion
7.00pm Put you in the bath
7.40pm Gave you dinner. Pitta bread with cream cheese and peas
8.00pm read you a book 'There are giants in our house.'
8.45pm You went to bed.
9.00 pm You got up
9.32pm you went to bed
9.43pm So did I
Back From The Beach
We went to the beach and on the way home we bought mummy two bunches of tulips. One red bunch one and one yellow bunch. Mummy was very surprised when you toddled in carrying the big bunches of flowers.
We walked all around the old town. You ran straight to your favourite toyshop and picked a new blue truck. Cost 4.80€
You then helped me make a pear and banana smoothie. You love smoothies, which is good. The downside is the incredible mess involved in you helping making a smoothie
We walked all around the old town. You ran straight to your favourite toyshop and picked a new blue truck. Cost 4.80€
You then helped me make a pear and banana smoothie. You love smoothies, which is good. The downside is the incredible mess involved in you helping making a smoothie
Friday 13 April 2007
You Little Monkey
Here we are both sitting in writing our blog. You have just got up at 7.30am and have already started your 'What´s that noise daddy? Yet again it was the car alarm going off for no known reason.
Mummy still has a nasty cold, so we have left her asleep upsatirs and we are heading off to the beach with Penny for a long walk. It is a beautiful sunny day here in Marbella with bright blue sky.
Mummy has been ill all week and it is exhausting looking after a baby when you are ill.
You have just gone and got you 1000 sportcar book. You love cars so much. You know all of the marques.
Mummy still has a nasty cold, so we have left her asleep upsatirs and we are heading off to the beach with Penny for a long walk. It is a beautiful sunny day here in Marbella with bright blue sky.
Mummy has been ill all week and it is exhausting looking after a baby when you are ill.
You have just gone and got you 1000 sportcar book. You love cars so much. You know all of the marques.
Well Done!
Tom
Earth shattering news, you used the potty for the first time today, aged 2 years and 6 days old.
Mummy and Daddy are so proud
Earth shattering news, you used the potty for the first time today, aged 2 years and 6 days old.
Mummy and Daddy are so proud
Whats that noise?
You have a new favorite saying. 'what's that noise daddy.' You ask it about everything and you keep asking until you understand.
A hard one to explain to a two year old was the car alarm that went off at 11.50pm out side the house.
A hard one to explain to a two year old was the car alarm that went off at 11.50pm out side the house.
How runny can a nose get?
Tom
You and mummy are so sick at the moment. You both have bad colds. I was carrying you into my office today when we became glued together by your runny nose. Ick.
Hope you feel better soon
You and mummy are so sick at the moment. You both have bad colds. I was carrying you into my office today when we became glued together by your runny nose. Ick.
Hope you feel better soon
Sunday 8 April 2007
How to wash a baby
8th April 2005
The nurse said it was time to see how to wash you. So along I went to the washing babies room. Thomas I have been handling you like you were made out of glass. The nurse thought you were made out of tank armour. She stripped you naked by a big steel sink with a shower attachment. She was talking to you all the time in Spanish and you liked her. Under the shower you went. You were stunned. She then soaped you all over with a big rough soap pad (we use the same pads at home to wash the floor etc) You were going a nice vivid pink under the nurses scrubbing. Then she held the shower over your head and you went completely still and looked like you were sleeping. The nurse told me that all babies do this. Out you came and she towelled you dry with a large white towel. I have seen gentler sumo wrestling matches. You were dressed with in 40 seconds. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen. She also put lemon oil on your hair and gave you a side parting, you looked like a 1920’s gangster. The nurse carried you back to our room popped you into bed and you slept for 4 hours without moving a muscle.
The nurse said it was time to see how to wash you. So along I went to the washing babies room. Thomas I have been handling you like you were made out of glass. The nurse thought you were made out of tank armour. She stripped you naked by a big steel sink with a shower attachment. She was talking to you all the time in Spanish and you liked her. Under the shower you went. You were stunned. She then soaped you all over with a big rough soap pad (we use the same pads at home to wash the floor etc) You were going a nice vivid pink under the nurses scrubbing. Then she held the shower over your head and you went completely still and looked like you were sleeping. The nurse told me that all babies do this. Out you came and she towelled you dry with a large white towel. I have seen gentler sumo wrestling matches. You were dressed with in 40 seconds. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen. She also put lemon oil on your hair and gave you a side parting, you looked like a 1920’s gangster. The nurse carried you back to our room popped you into bed and you slept for 4 hours without moving a muscle.
2nd Birthday
Thomas
Yesterday was your 2nd birthday. We all had a fantastic time. Uncle Andrew came from Paris for the weekend. He brought you loads of new presents, including 6 new toy cars. Uncle Andrew also brought you the Cars dvd. You love it. The model cars you have in your hand are also on the screen and you sit there saying ‘same!’
You, Uncle Andrew and I got up at 8.00 am and walked down to the paseo. You hade a birthday croissant and we then spent an hour os so on the beach, were you threw every stone you could find into the big blue sea. The sea was flat calm and looked like a mirror. We are so lucky to live here in Marbella.
Whilst you had your afternoon nap, Andrew, mummy and I started to prepare for your birthday party. We had to assemble your new big red tractor (took Uncle Andrew and me over an hour) this was complicated as there were nearly 40 bits and pieces of the thing. Still we managed and as Uncle Andrew stuck the stickers on to the tractor, I started to blow up your new Thomas the Tank Engine inflatable swimming pool. That took forty minutes.
So the plan was for us all to rest while you slept. No chance. We then got all the food ready for the party. Trish, Roy and your cousin Conner were coming over with Abbo and Abba for a barbeque.
Abba and Abbo brought you a huge chocolate and strawberry birthday cake. You got covered in it.
You just had so much fun, you loved all your new toys and books. You love being with the rest of the family we are all very blessed
Yesterday was your 2nd birthday. We all had a fantastic time. Uncle Andrew came from Paris for the weekend. He brought you loads of new presents, including 6 new toy cars. Uncle Andrew also brought you the Cars dvd. You love it. The model cars you have in your hand are also on the screen and you sit there saying ‘same!’
You, Uncle Andrew and I got up at 8.00 am and walked down to the paseo. You hade a birthday croissant and we then spent an hour os so on the beach, were you threw every stone you could find into the big blue sea. The sea was flat calm and looked like a mirror. We are so lucky to live here in Marbella.
Whilst you had your afternoon nap, Andrew, mummy and I started to prepare for your birthday party. We had to assemble your new big red tractor (took Uncle Andrew and me over an hour) this was complicated as there were nearly 40 bits and pieces of the thing. Still we managed and as Uncle Andrew stuck the stickers on to the tractor, I started to blow up your new Thomas the Tank Engine inflatable swimming pool. That took forty minutes.
So the plan was for us all to rest while you slept. No chance. We then got all the food ready for the party. Trish, Roy and your cousin Conner were coming over with Abbo and Abba for a barbeque.
Abba and Abbo brought you a huge chocolate and strawberry birthday cake. You got covered in it.
You just had so much fun, you loved all your new toys and books. You love being with the rest of the family we are all very blessed
Saturday 7 April 2007
You did a pee
7th May 2005
4 momentous events happened this week 1, you were registered with the Spanish authorities, 2 you are already 1 month old, 3 you peed and were sick all over me at the same time and finally number 4, Tony Blair won the election in the UK for the third time in a row.
We took you shopping today in El Cortes Englais, we were looking for a sterilising unit for your bottles etc. You were very well behaved. You slept for most of the time. When you did wake up, mummy left us both in the ground floor café. I got to feed you a bottle of formula milk. All the women in the café could barely keep their eyes off of you.
All we bought in the end we was a portable changing mat and a couple of t-shirts for mummy. Ironically the changing mat is covered with Winnie the pooh. Soon to be covered with Thomas’s poo.
Before we came home we all had lunch in a tai restaurant, it was very, very good. Tai food is mum’s favourite food. My favourite food is chocolate. I absolutely love chocolate.
Thomas, Penny has a new favourite game. Last night she saw a little lizard hanging happily up side down on the roof of our terrace. This type of small lizard is called a Gecko. Gecko’s are almost transparent, that means you can almost see through them. Penny spotted the lizard and was completely transfixed by what she saw. She sat staring at the lizard for about four hours. Thomas that is a lot of staring. The lizard never moved a muscle, it just sat there waiting for the next mosquito come along. Penny only stopped looking at the lizard when we all went to bed.
Mummy and I are going out for dinner tonight with George who lives next door to us. You and penny will be looked after at grandma and grandpa’s house.
14th May 2004
Thomas here we both are sitting outside our house on our terrace on another beautiful Spanish spring day. You are sitting in your bugaboo having a sleep and I am drinking a glass of fizzy water just watching the world go by and typing this.
We all went out for tapas last night. Andrew. Pia, You, Me, mummy, grandma and granddad penny stayed at home as she looked a bit exhausted. You wore a dark blue outfit from Baby Gap. It was the second time Andrew (Mum’s brother) has travelled here to see you and the first time for Pia. Andrew and Pia both work for Disney. They brought you a Winnie the pooh night light, a book about a purple Zebra who paints and your stuffed lion Lionel.
The restaurant was near the old town in Marbella. It was called Venencia. It was busy with lots of Spanish family’s out for a meal. Spain is different from the UK in many ways. One way we notice most is the attitude towards children. Here in Spain the children are welcome in nearly all restaurants and are included, in the UK it is the complete opposite. It was a warm evening so we all sat outside. Mummy had her favourite fish. This fish is called Rosada and it is a little like cod. We have it grilled and served with potatoes and a salad.
Since you were born you have grown an additional 3cm in length and put on an additional 300 grams. Andrew and Pia are staying at grandma’s and granddad’s flat on the beach.
You were not very well yesterday. We changed your formula milk to a Soya based product on the advise of our paediatrician . It smells absolutely awful and it has made you constipated. Mum had been very sleepy so I said that she should get some sleep and I would look after you for a couple of hours. Thomas it was only two hours. You peed on me 5 times. I did not want to disturb mummy by getting some clean clothes from our bedroom, so I just put on what I could find. After you had peed on both pairs of my clean jeans and then you peed on my work jeans , I had run out of clothing, I had to resort to wearing a pair of your mummy’s shorts from the laundry basket in the kitchen. Luckily you had stretched them when you were in mummy’s tummy and they just about fitted me. Tragically for me the shorts are a sort of purple. When mummy got up and found us lying on the couch, me in her shorts and a dirty t-shirt, you just in a nappy she laughed and laughed. I love to hear your mum laugh. She has a musical laugh that brightens my whole life up when I hear it. If I am sad it makes me happy and if I am happy it makes me even more happy.
Last night you were up from3am to 5am. The only thing we could do to comfort you was to lie you on my chest in bed. You were very snug under the warm duvet and went to sleep in 3 minutes flat. I could not move a muscle between 5am and 8am. I could not even go to sleep in case you fell off of me and on to the floor.
We all went out this morning to meet Pia and Andrew for a coffee at the cinema on the passeo. As always you were very good and lots of people gave you a smile. We watched a boy showing of on his BMX bike. He fell off it and rolled down the short flight of marble steps in front of the cafe we were sitting at. He was okay. Just a little embarrassed. I did a little bit of musical laughing myself.
Pia and mum went up stairs to see the new gym that will be opening in the cinema building. It was very expensive to join plus120 euros per month for membership.
We have started to listen to Edith Piaff, whilst you are in your bath. You really like her a lot. She started singing in the 1930’s and was French, I think. I thought she was known as ‘the little parrot’ but granddad assures me it is in fact the ‘the little sparrow’
15th May 2005
We met Lucy and Darren today. They have come over from England to stay at uncle Andrew’s and Aunt Ruth’s flat in Marbella. Lucy is one of Aunt Ruth’s Sisters. We all met them for a coffee in our usual place on the passeo. Lucy is a specialist nurse specialising in gynaecology and her husband Darren works for the council, in the housing benefit section. They brought you a little present, your first rattle. Penny was very interested in the rattle and would have chewed it to bits if she had been allowed. Mummy put the new rattle in her handbag and before we knew it Penny was diving head first into the bag chasing your rattle, mummy saved it.
20th May 2005
Another beautiful warm day. When I got home from work, we all piled into the car, and went to see Dr. Paxad. He was the gynaecologist who treaded mummy through her pregnancy. He is German and quite friendly.
Last night we all went for a tai meal in Marbella. It was warm and sunny everywhere but the restaurant we were eating at was in the shade and an cold wind was blowing towards us. I had to eat my meal with you balanced on my lap, sucking on your bottle. You were very well behaved indeed and we can go again. You got somewhat covered in Tai food. I made more of a mess than you. We came home and you had your first bath with me. You liked it and looked a little like a tadpole. You are so flexible that you can move side to side like a little fish. You make us laugh so much, you really fill our lives to the brim with love.
27th may 2005
We are both sitting outside on our terrace, we are listening to Beth Orton as I type.
You gave us our first smile this week. You smiled for grandma and we even managed to get a photograph of the moment.
Me-ma and Pee-pa have come to stay. They are staying for a week or so. They have driven all the way to here just to see you. They live in Portugal, Pee-pa is great with you. He talks to you and carries you about all the time and you seen very happy. They both just love you so much it is very sweet to see how much fuss that they make over you.
Me-ma has been teaching mum how to breast feed in different positions. You are a lucky boy to have two sets of such loving grand parents.
As usual you got loads of presents, you are lying under your new blanket from Trudy and Nigel.
We all went out for tapas last night. You cried through the whole meal. You were suffering from wind and it was so upsetting to see you in pain. Mum and I took turns walking you around the streets outside the restaurant to try and calm you. Eventually mummy decided to breast feed you in the back of the restaurant and this did the trick, you fell asleep just in time to go home.
I guess I should tell you a little bit about me. I was born in Scotland in 1964 in a small town called Dundee, which is on the east coast, in a hospital called the Royal Infirmary. My dad was a carpenter and my mum worked as a secretary for a company called ‘Kellers’. Kellers made sweets and jam.
We came to live in Richmond when I was about 4 years old. I went to a school in Richmond called Saint John’s. The school was located next to the orange tree pub near the railway station. It was a very old fashioned school with windows high up in the walls and only one huge class room. I wore a brown uniform with a little brown cap with a yellow stags head on it.
We lived in the top half of a smallish house in Jocelyn Road. Our land lord was an actor, who was quite famous for a while. He played the son of the family in a television series called ‘Upstairs Downstairs’.
The house was opposite a church and I liked living there. I learnt to ride my first bike in that street.
12th June 05
Guess what, the French and Dutch people voted against the new European constitution last week. You can not imagine the shock it has caused all over Europe. People are even talking about scrapping the euro.
You have had your vaccinations this week. Mum took you to the doctors and the deed was done. When I came home from work you were sporting a couple of plasters on your tiny little bottom. You now weigh 6.1 kilos and are 61cm long. You are the size of a baby a month older than you.
People who accidentally reverse over their children (it happen quite a lot) must feel so guilty cause we let you get a bite from a mosquito on your leg and we feel guilty in the extreme.
You are now smiling lots and lots. You have even started to try and laugh.
Me-ma and Pee-pa bought you an activity gym. This is a fantastic thing. You lie on it and look at a bunch of animals that hand over you on two curved sticks. You cannot imagine how much fun you have on this thing. It also has music built in (Mozart) and flashing lights.
You peed in my mouth this week. We were both in the bath and you pulled a funny face and I leant over to give to a little kiss and you just peed in my mouth. Your mother was convulsed with laughter I did not find it quite so hysterically amusing.
13th June 2005-06-13
Here we both are sitting outside once again. I have a day off from work today as it is the Queen’s birthday. We are listening to Lloyd Cole on itunes. This is after his Lloyd Cole and the Commotions phase. We have just been for a beautiful walk with Penny around the mountain. It is June now and the temperature is climbing higher and higher and the sky is becoming so blue. You like looking at all the trees as we walk past. You do not fall asleep on the walks so much now, you take a real interest in everything from the trees to dogs barking. You were at your most smiley ever this morning.
My family moved to London when I was 4 years old. As I have already mentioned we lived in Richmond . Just before we lived in Richmond we moved to a little town called Weybridge. I do not have many memories of Weybridge apart from seeing the only red squirrel I have ever seen and being bought a train set for Christmas. It was an intercity 125 set, with a blue and yellow train.
After living in Weybridge for a little while we moved to Richmond and after about a year or so we moved to our new house in Twickenham. This house cost my dad £8000.00 which to you sounds like nothing I am sure, but back then it was a huge, huge amount of money.
My dad was a time served carpenter. He was the best carpenter I have ever met and one of the hardest, toughest men. Latter on in my life when I was his apprentice learning how to become a carpenter, I can honestly say to you, it was one of the happiest parts of my life. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude for everything he taught me. He taught me everything.
So Thomas, after St John’s school in Richmond I went to Chatsworth Junior School in Hounslow. I was happy at this school. After Chatsworth Junior School I went to Heathland Secondary School again in Hounslow. This school was great. I used to run for the school and play football and basketball. The school was on Hounslow Heath, the heath was famous for having Dick Turpin as a highway man and for being the location of the first airport in London. That is why Heathrow airport got the heath part of it’s name.
14th June2005
You do not sleep. You can stay awake for hours and hours at a time. You don’t cry you just sit around looking cute and demanding attention from everybody in the house. All the how to be parents books tell us that you sleep for approximately eighteen hours a day. So, so wrong Mr Wide-awake.
6th July 2005
London has been awarded the Olympic Games for 2012. This is fantastic news as everyone expected the French to win the games for Paris. The French President made some stupid remarks about the stae of British cooking and said the only cuisine worse was the Finnish. People blame him for losing his country the games
9th July 2004
Well we have all been so busy. I got a promotion at work and start my new job on the 11th of july. I am now Senior Contracts Manager for Dew Construction Gibraltar Limited. This mean I have reasponsibility for all operational activities in Gibraltar. I get a company car now. This means that you and mum can now have the Golf, instead of the old Nissan Sunny.
Mummy is very pleased about this as the Nissan broke down yesterday in the underground car park in Marbella. So you both had a bit of a struggle getting home.
You are now 7.8 kilos. This is the same size as a six month old baby. You are double the average size for your age. We have been told this will all sort itself out, which is good because we do not want a 3.2m tall 16 year old stomping about the house.
You, Penny and mum will be going to Portugal next Friday to see Pee pa and Mee ma. I will miss you all so much but it is only for one week.
There was a terrorist attack in London on the 7th of july. Lots of people were killed on the buses and the tube. Over 50 people lost their life because of the intolerance in the world.
The G 8 Summit was held in Glen Eagles this week. Tony Blair was the chairman and the main item on the agenda was poverty in Africa and trying to find a way to write off the debt the African countrys owe the developed world.
4 momentous events happened this week 1, you were registered with the Spanish authorities, 2 you are already 1 month old, 3 you peed and were sick all over me at the same time and finally number 4, Tony Blair won the election in the UK for the third time in a row.
We took you shopping today in El Cortes Englais, we were looking for a sterilising unit for your bottles etc. You were very well behaved. You slept for most of the time. When you did wake up, mummy left us both in the ground floor café. I got to feed you a bottle of formula milk. All the women in the café could barely keep their eyes off of you.
All we bought in the end we was a portable changing mat and a couple of t-shirts for mummy. Ironically the changing mat is covered with Winnie the pooh. Soon to be covered with Thomas’s poo.
Before we came home we all had lunch in a tai restaurant, it was very, very good. Tai food is mum’s favourite food. My favourite food is chocolate. I absolutely love chocolate.
Thomas, Penny has a new favourite game. Last night she saw a little lizard hanging happily up side down on the roof of our terrace. This type of small lizard is called a Gecko. Gecko’s are almost transparent, that means you can almost see through them. Penny spotted the lizard and was completely transfixed by what she saw. She sat staring at the lizard for about four hours. Thomas that is a lot of staring. The lizard never moved a muscle, it just sat there waiting for the next mosquito come along. Penny only stopped looking at the lizard when we all went to bed.
Mummy and I are going out for dinner tonight with George who lives next door to us. You and penny will be looked after at grandma and grandpa’s house.
14th May 2004
Thomas here we both are sitting outside our house on our terrace on another beautiful Spanish spring day. You are sitting in your bugaboo having a sleep and I am drinking a glass of fizzy water just watching the world go by and typing this.
We all went out for tapas last night. Andrew. Pia, You, Me, mummy, grandma and granddad penny stayed at home as she looked a bit exhausted. You wore a dark blue outfit from Baby Gap. It was the second time Andrew (Mum’s brother) has travelled here to see you and the first time for Pia. Andrew and Pia both work for Disney. They brought you a Winnie the pooh night light, a book about a purple Zebra who paints and your stuffed lion Lionel.
The restaurant was near the old town in Marbella. It was called Venencia. It was busy with lots of Spanish family’s out for a meal. Spain is different from the UK in many ways. One way we notice most is the attitude towards children. Here in Spain the children are welcome in nearly all restaurants and are included, in the UK it is the complete opposite. It was a warm evening so we all sat outside. Mummy had her favourite fish. This fish is called Rosada and it is a little like cod. We have it grilled and served with potatoes and a salad.
Since you were born you have grown an additional 3cm in length and put on an additional 300 grams. Andrew and Pia are staying at grandma’s and granddad’s flat on the beach.
You were not very well yesterday. We changed your formula milk to a Soya based product on the advise of our paediatrician . It smells absolutely awful and it has made you constipated. Mum had been very sleepy so I said that she should get some sleep and I would look after you for a couple of hours. Thomas it was only two hours. You peed on me 5 times. I did not want to disturb mummy by getting some clean clothes from our bedroom, so I just put on what I could find. After you had peed on both pairs of my clean jeans and then you peed on my work jeans , I had run out of clothing, I had to resort to wearing a pair of your mummy’s shorts from the laundry basket in the kitchen. Luckily you had stretched them when you were in mummy’s tummy and they just about fitted me. Tragically for me the shorts are a sort of purple. When mummy got up and found us lying on the couch, me in her shorts and a dirty t-shirt, you just in a nappy she laughed and laughed. I love to hear your mum laugh. She has a musical laugh that brightens my whole life up when I hear it. If I am sad it makes me happy and if I am happy it makes me even more happy.
Last night you were up from3am to 5am. The only thing we could do to comfort you was to lie you on my chest in bed. You were very snug under the warm duvet and went to sleep in 3 minutes flat. I could not move a muscle between 5am and 8am. I could not even go to sleep in case you fell off of me and on to the floor.
We all went out this morning to meet Pia and Andrew for a coffee at the cinema on the passeo. As always you were very good and lots of people gave you a smile. We watched a boy showing of on his BMX bike. He fell off it and rolled down the short flight of marble steps in front of the cafe we were sitting at. He was okay. Just a little embarrassed. I did a little bit of musical laughing myself.
Pia and mum went up stairs to see the new gym that will be opening in the cinema building. It was very expensive to join plus120 euros per month for membership.
We have started to listen to Edith Piaff, whilst you are in your bath. You really like her a lot. She started singing in the 1930’s and was French, I think. I thought she was known as ‘the little parrot’ but granddad assures me it is in fact the ‘the little sparrow’
15th May 2005
We met Lucy and Darren today. They have come over from England to stay at uncle Andrew’s and Aunt Ruth’s flat in Marbella. Lucy is one of Aunt Ruth’s Sisters. We all met them for a coffee in our usual place on the passeo. Lucy is a specialist nurse specialising in gynaecology and her husband Darren works for the council, in the housing benefit section. They brought you a little present, your first rattle. Penny was very interested in the rattle and would have chewed it to bits if she had been allowed. Mummy put the new rattle in her handbag and before we knew it Penny was diving head first into the bag chasing your rattle, mummy saved it.
20th May 2005
Another beautiful warm day. When I got home from work, we all piled into the car, and went to see Dr. Paxad. He was the gynaecologist who treaded mummy through her pregnancy. He is German and quite friendly.
Last night we all went for a tai meal in Marbella. It was warm and sunny everywhere but the restaurant we were eating at was in the shade and an cold wind was blowing towards us. I had to eat my meal with you balanced on my lap, sucking on your bottle. You were very well behaved indeed and we can go again. You got somewhat covered in Tai food. I made more of a mess than you. We came home and you had your first bath with me. You liked it and looked a little like a tadpole. You are so flexible that you can move side to side like a little fish. You make us laugh so much, you really fill our lives to the brim with love.
27th may 2005
We are both sitting outside on our terrace, we are listening to Beth Orton as I type.
You gave us our first smile this week. You smiled for grandma and we even managed to get a photograph of the moment.
Me-ma and Pee-pa have come to stay. They are staying for a week or so. They have driven all the way to here just to see you. They live in Portugal, Pee-pa is great with you. He talks to you and carries you about all the time and you seen very happy. They both just love you so much it is very sweet to see how much fuss that they make over you.
Me-ma has been teaching mum how to breast feed in different positions. You are a lucky boy to have two sets of such loving grand parents.
As usual you got loads of presents, you are lying under your new blanket from Trudy and Nigel.
We all went out for tapas last night. You cried through the whole meal. You were suffering from wind and it was so upsetting to see you in pain. Mum and I took turns walking you around the streets outside the restaurant to try and calm you. Eventually mummy decided to breast feed you in the back of the restaurant and this did the trick, you fell asleep just in time to go home.
I guess I should tell you a little bit about me. I was born in Scotland in 1964 in a small town called Dundee, which is on the east coast, in a hospital called the Royal Infirmary. My dad was a carpenter and my mum worked as a secretary for a company called ‘Kellers’. Kellers made sweets and jam.
We came to live in Richmond when I was about 4 years old. I went to a school in Richmond called Saint John’s. The school was located next to the orange tree pub near the railway station. It was a very old fashioned school with windows high up in the walls and only one huge class room. I wore a brown uniform with a little brown cap with a yellow stags head on it.
We lived in the top half of a smallish house in Jocelyn Road. Our land lord was an actor, who was quite famous for a while. He played the son of the family in a television series called ‘Upstairs Downstairs’.
The house was opposite a church and I liked living there. I learnt to ride my first bike in that street.
12th June 05
Guess what, the French and Dutch people voted against the new European constitution last week. You can not imagine the shock it has caused all over Europe. People are even talking about scrapping the euro.
You have had your vaccinations this week. Mum took you to the doctors and the deed was done. When I came home from work you were sporting a couple of plasters on your tiny little bottom. You now weigh 6.1 kilos and are 61cm long. You are the size of a baby a month older than you.
People who accidentally reverse over their children (it happen quite a lot) must feel so guilty cause we let you get a bite from a mosquito on your leg and we feel guilty in the extreme.
You are now smiling lots and lots. You have even started to try and laugh.
Me-ma and Pee-pa bought you an activity gym. This is a fantastic thing. You lie on it and look at a bunch of animals that hand over you on two curved sticks. You cannot imagine how much fun you have on this thing. It also has music built in (Mozart) and flashing lights.
You peed in my mouth this week. We were both in the bath and you pulled a funny face and I leant over to give to a little kiss and you just peed in my mouth. Your mother was convulsed with laughter I did not find it quite so hysterically amusing.
13th June 2005-06-13
Here we both are sitting outside once again. I have a day off from work today as it is the Queen’s birthday. We are listening to Lloyd Cole on itunes. This is after his Lloyd Cole and the Commotions phase. We have just been for a beautiful walk with Penny around the mountain. It is June now and the temperature is climbing higher and higher and the sky is becoming so blue. You like looking at all the trees as we walk past. You do not fall asleep on the walks so much now, you take a real interest in everything from the trees to dogs barking. You were at your most smiley ever this morning.
My family moved to London when I was 4 years old. As I have already mentioned we lived in Richmond . Just before we lived in Richmond we moved to a little town called Weybridge. I do not have many memories of Weybridge apart from seeing the only red squirrel I have ever seen and being bought a train set for Christmas. It was an intercity 125 set, with a blue and yellow train.
After living in Weybridge for a little while we moved to Richmond and after about a year or so we moved to our new house in Twickenham. This house cost my dad £8000.00 which to you sounds like nothing I am sure, but back then it was a huge, huge amount of money.
My dad was a time served carpenter. He was the best carpenter I have ever met and one of the hardest, toughest men. Latter on in my life when I was his apprentice learning how to become a carpenter, I can honestly say to you, it was one of the happiest parts of my life. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude for everything he taught me. He taught me everything.
So Thomas, after St John’s school in Richmond I went to Chatsworth Junior School in Hounslow. I was happy at this school. After Chatsworth Junior School I went to Heathland Secondary School again in Hounslow. This school was great. I used to run for the school and play football and basketball. The school was on Hounslow Heath, the heath was famous for having Dick Turpin as a highway man and for being the location of the first airport in London. That is why Heathrow airport got the heath part of it’s name.
14th June2005
You do not sleep. You can stay awake for hours and hours at a time. You don’t cry you just sit around looking cute and demanding attention from everybody in the house. All the how to be parents books tell us that you sleep for approximately eighteen hours a day. So, so wrong Mr Wide-awake.
6th July 2005
London has been awarded the Olympic Games for 2012. This is fantastic news as everyone expected the French to win the games for Paris. The French President made some stupid remarks about the stae of British cooking and said the only cuisine worse was the Finnish. People blame him for losing his country the games
9th July 2004
Well we have all been so busy. I got a promotion at work and start my new job on the 11th of july. I am now Senior Contracts Manager for Dew Construction Gibraltar Limited. This mean I have reasponsibility for all operational activities in Gibraltar. I get a company car now. This means that you and mum can now have the Golf, instead of the old Nissan Sunny.
Mummy is very pleased about this as the Nissan broke down yesterday in the underground car park in Marbella. So you both had a bit of a struggle getting home.
You are now 7.8 kilos. This is the same size as a six month old baby. You are double the average size for your age. We have been told this will all sort itself out, which is good because we do not want a 3.2m tall 16 year old stomping about the house.
You, Penny and mum will be going to Portugal next Friday to see Pee pa and Mee ma. I will miss you all so much but it is only for one week.
There was a terrorist attack in London on the 7th of july. Lots of people were killed on the buses and the tube. Over 50 people lost their life because of the intolerance in the world.
The G 8 Summit was held in Glen Eagles this week. Tony Blair was the chairman and the main item on the agenda was poverty in Africa and trying to find a way to write off the debt the African countrys owe the developed world.
April 7th 2005
The big day is here. It is a warm sunny day with a beautiful blue sky. It is a good day to be born. I slept on the sofa bed in your mum’s room. We both only slept for 4 or 5 hours. Last night it was a little noisy outside with all the cars and scooters zipping by. We live in Marbella up behind the town a little, so it is much quieter there than it is here.
I was woken up at 8am this morning by all the birds’ perched singing in up high in the trees, on the gargoyles and roof of the cathedral. Your mum is looking very calm, very beautiful and as relaxed as usual, I cannot think of anything on this planet that would faze her.
I needed to have some breakfast so I walked back to the café we were at last night. I had a coffee and a toasted croissant for breakfast. Mum was a bit jealous; as she is not allowed to have any breakfast this morning due to the operation she is about to have and she is feeling hungry and thirsty.
When I came back to the hospital I had a shower in the smallest, most ridiculous shower I have ever been in. I don’t think that the architect that designed the bathrooms has ever met or even seen a picture of a pregnant woman. Pregnant women are big.
I am sitting watching your mum, dressed in her green surgical robe, you will not believe this but she is sitting in her hospital bed and is putting a little make up on her face.
Well, well, well Thomas I was so completely and totally wrong, your mum can be fazed, one day when you are older you have to ask her about the enema from hell. Oh my God, Thomas, never ever trust a snowman.
So the snowmen are here cleaning the room, since I left for a 5-minute walk to get over the whole enema thing, and in that time your mum has vanished. It is 11.05 am. She will be in this hospital somewhere; I am going to find her. Perhaps I will find you too.
I have just been told that I cannot see your mum I do not know what is going on. I am very sad about this. I have been handed a blue doctor’s suit and I am sitting wearing it in our room wondering what to do.
Just before mum disappeared I was just in the process of beening told off by your mum and the head nurse. I forgot to bring your mum’s passport. It was the last thing I was asked to do just before we left the house last night. It was really mum’s fault as she said’ go and get my passport from the office.’ Even as she said it I was thinking ‘hmmm, we don’t have an office.’ And the passport went instantly out of my mind.
The nurse was talking about having to cancel the operation. Luckily we had your mum’s driver’s license. How could they possibly cancel the operation you have to be born today?
11.45am, I have found your mum. She was lying on the operation table covered in only a green sheet looking very glamorous, and extremely brave as only Helen can. I managed to sneak the camera into the room and took a couple of pictures of her.
The nurses came in an introduced themselves. In this hospital they all wear green uniforms from head to toe. Unfortunately the nurses were tiny and they hospital only had extra large uniforms in stock. I started to laugh they looked so funny. Then both the doctors came into the room. The both gave Helen a kiss on the cheek, shook my hand and told me I had nothing to worry about. Then I was told to leave and come back to our room. I am feeling even more excited than ever.
First it was months, then weeks, then days, and then hours and now it is only minutes until you are finally here.
1.15pm
I have just seen you for the very first time. You are tiny (3.3 kilos) and you have light brown hair. A nurse came in with you, let me kiss you on the head then immediately took you away to get your shots etc. You are so beautiful, the moment I saw you in the nurses arms wrapped up in your little white blanket, something chemical happened in my head and I could feel myself changing from a not dad into a dad. Thank you Thomas, for this gift, I promise I will cherish you as much as I cherish your mummy. All I ask from you Thomas is that you live a life that will make you happy and that you let mummy and daddy love you all that we can.
The nurse came back to the room and asked me for some of your clothes, so much for all the books we have read, I did not have a clue what to give her. I just handed her a blue baby-grow. She looked at me gave me a small smile and said “nada mass’, “nada mass,” I replied, feeling like a complete fool.
The big day is here. It is a warm sunny day with a beautiful blue sky. It is a good day to be born. I slept on the sofa bed in your mum’s room. We both only slept for 4 or 5 hours. Last night it was a little noisy outside with all the cars and scooters zipping by. We live in Marbella up behind the town a little, so it is much quieter there than it is here.
I was woken up at 8am this morning by all the birds’ perched singing in up high in the trees, on the gargoyles and roof of the cathedral. Your mum is looking very calm, very beautiful and as relaxed as usual, I cannot think of anything on this planet that would faze her.
I needed to have some breakfast so I walked back to the café we were at last night. I had a coffee and a toasted croissant for breakfast. Mum was a bit jealous; as she is not allowed to have any breakfast this morning due to the operation she is about to have and she is feeling hungry and thirsty.
When I came back to the hospital I had a shower in the smallest, most ridiculous shower I have ever been in. I don’t think that the architect that designed the bathrooms has ever met or even seen a picture of a pregnant woman. Pregnant women are big.
I am sitting watching your mum, dressed in her green surgical robe, you will not believe this but she is sitting in her hospital bed and is putting a little make up on her face.
Well, well, well Thomas I was so completely and totally wrong, your mum can be fazed, one day when you are older you have to ask her about the enema from hell. Oh my God, Thomas, never ever trust a snowman.
So the snowmen are here cleaning the room, since I left for a 5-minute walk to get over the whole enema thing, and in that time your mum has vanished. It is 11.05 am. She will be in this hospital somewhere; I am going to find her. Perhaps I will find you too.
I have just been told that I cannot see your mum I do not know what is going on. I am very sad about this. I have been handed a blue doctor’s suit and I am sitting wearing it in our room wondering what to do.
Just before mum disappeared I was just in the process of beening told off by your mum and the head nurse. I forgot to bring your mum’s passport. It was the last thing I was asked to do just before we left the house last night. It was really mum’s fault as she said’ go and get my passport from the office.’ Even as she said it I was thinking ‘hmmm, we don’t have an office.’ And the passport went instantly out of my mind.
The nurse was talking about having to cancel the operation. Luckily we had your mum’s driver’s license. How could they possibly cancel the operation you have to be born today?
11.45am, I have found your mum. She was lying on the operation table covered in only a green sheet looking very glamorous, and extremely brave as only Helen can. I managed to sneak the camera into the room and took a couple of pictures of her.
The nurses came in an introduced themselves. In this hospital they all wear green uniforms from head to toe. Unfortunately the nurses were tiny and they hospital only had extra large uniforms in stock. I started to laugh they looked so funny. Then both the doctors came into the room. The both gave Helen a kiss on the cheek, shook my hand and told me I had nothing to worry about. Then I was told to leave and come back to our room. I am feeling even more excited than ever.
First it was months, then weeks, then days, and then hours and now it is only minutes until you are finally here.
1.15pm
I have just seen you for the very first time. You are tiny (3.3 kilos) and you have light brown hair. A nurse came in with you, let me kiss you on the head then immediately took you away to get your shots etc. You are so beautiful, the moment I saw you in the nurses arms wrapped up in your little white blanket, something chemical happened in my head and I could feel myself changing from a not dad into a dad. Thank you Thomas, for this gift, I promise I will cherish you as much as I cherish your mummy. All I ask from you Thomas is that you live a life that will make you happy and that you let mummy and daddy love you all that we can.
The nurse came back to the room and asked me for some of your clothes, so much for all the books we have read, I did not have a clue what to give her. I just handed her a blue baby-grow. She looked at me gave me a small smile and said “nada mass’, “nada mass,” I replied, feeling like a complete fool.
Wednesday 4 April 2007
Books etc
Well, the little girl at the beach is called Alana. You are meeting her and her mum today at the mother and baby group in Nuevo Andalusia. Lets hope you don’t steal too much of her sweets etc.
You got a new book from mummy yesterday called ¨my potty Book. ¨ Guess what that book is about. You also got one called ¨Diggers and you just love it so much.
But your current favourite book is called Once there were giants.
Our friend Elke lost her baby yesterday. She was only three months pregnant but she is completely devastated. The hospital looking after her put her in a room with two new mothers with two new born babies. Not very good, we are all very sad for Elke and her husband Marcus. You got a special big hug from both mummy and daddy when I got home from work last night.
You got a new book from mummy yesterday called ¨my potty Book. ¨ Guess what that book is about. You also got one called ¨Diggers and you just love it so much.
But your current favourite book is called Once there were giants.
Our friend Elke lost her baby yesterday. She was only three months pregnant but she is completely devastated. The hospital looking after her put her in a room with two new mothers with two new born babies. Not very good, we are all very sad for Elke and her husband Marcus. You got a special big hug from both mummy and daddy when I got home from work last night.
Sunday 1 April 2007
At the beach
Tom
Today we went to the beach as we normaly do. We met a little girl at the cafe on the paseo, you ate all her raisins and one of her biscuits. You are a little monkey. You did get kicked in the eye by her though.
We also found a green spade on the beach. You love finding spades etc. You try to shovel the beach into the sea one spade at a time.
Dad
Today we went to the beach as we normaly do. We met a little girl at the cafe on the paseo, you ate all her raisins and one of her biscuits. You are a little monkey. You did get kicked in the eye by her though.
We also found a green spade on the beach. You love finding spades etc. You try to shovel the beach into the sea one spade at a time.
Dad
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