Anya with Granny and Grandad

On the Move

Anya is now officially walking. Although she's been taking the odd step now and then for a few weeks, she's never been brave enough to keep going. She saved it up for our last night in Provence when the lure of her little inflatable boat proved too great to resist. Grandad has now bought her possibly the most annoying musical stroller that Argos could supply. Anya loves it and has spent the last 2 days careering along the hall with a complete disregard to walls, furniture, or anyone who happens to get in the way. We are now faced with the logistical nightmare of getting this thing back to SA

Vive Le France

I am now officially in mourning for all things European. We've just spent a week in Provence with Kath, Jonny and Hannah. We were staying at a very laid back guest house (recommended by Sean & Brigitte) near Gordes. The breakfasts and evening meals were amazing and we 'made do' with food from the markets for lunch. All in all, it was a total cheese fest. We pottered around the little hill top villages, danced sur le pont in Avingon (well, under it) and generally had a fab time playing in the pool, drinking wine and chilling out. All the guests ate their evening meal together in the courtyard, and as there was no choice of menu, you ate what you were given. This is the only excuse I have, for admitting to eating a rather tasty lapin. Hermann now has his eye on Bongile and Phumuzile for our big Le Creuset pot. We also ate tripe sausages (not quite so tasty) at the Saturday night BBQ......

Anya Has Teeth and Hair

Just found this photo of Anya taken when Anya was 7 months old. How cute does she look!! I'd like to reassure everyone that she has grown some hair since then and is not destined to resemble her Uncle Andrew.

Back in the UK

We've been back in the UK for a couple of weeks now and its funny how you forget the little things e.g. exactly how cold the rain is in Glasgow; how much things actually cost in pounds (£2 for a mango for gods sake!) and how much walking in silly shoes you do whilst looking for taxis on a night out. And then there are all the important changes that have occurred while we've been gone - creme eggs now come in twists, there are no tolls on the Forth Road Bridge (can I have my pound back please) and most important of all, meeting the new owners of Kinkell Cottage (boo hoo). At least Anya had fun spotting chickens and peeing on Donna's new rug. Hermann and I also managed a night oot in Glasgow at One Devonshire Gardens which is a well posh hotel. We did feel slightly out of place going down for dinner in jeans and t-shirts, but wot the heck. Let's just say that we were very glad that we had bought a carry-oot and a large packet of mini cheddars at the offie beforehand. Hermann's starter was a plate of foam concealing some miniature lobster ravioli. At least my starter of asparagus required chewing rather than inhaling. I reckon that if you pieced together the lamb pieces of my main course they may just have made up one lamb chop - there were no veggies or spuds to speak of, rather the plate was decorated with some rather tasty ribbons of puree. Similarly, Hermann's pork belly wouldn't have satisfied a 2 year old. Oh well, it was all very very tasty and for pure comic value it was an experience.