The Yorkshire Pudding blogpost factory was not operating yesterday as we drove down to London to see our little Zach - my only grandson. He was two weeks old today but this was our first meeting with him.
We stayed overnight, not wishing to impose too much upon Ian and Sarah before driving home today.
Of course we got to cuddle Zachary Roy and twice I sang to him random songs that came in and out of my mind. He was wide awake on those occasions, warm in the crook of my arm and looking up as though mesmerised... but possibly horrified by the galumphing ogre who had briefly possessed him.
A lovely young midwife called Sensible Sally rang the doorbell at midday in order to conduct Zach's fourteen day NHS health check and to make sure that everything was fine. She weighed him in a cloth sling and ascertained that he has now surpassed his birth weight so he's certainly gaining the nourishment he needs.
It took us three and half hours to get to their house in Fulham from our house in Sheffield but five and a half hours to get back. Admittedly, we stopped for "Burger King" lunches at the London Gateway Services on the M1 - but that must have taken less than half an hour. The main hold-up was twenty miles south of Sheffield. At times, the traffic was stationary. We believe there had been an accident up ahead involving two big lorries (American: trucks). Clint was not amused.
We'll be heading back to London later this month - partly to see a show at The Royal Albert Hall but also to support Sarah while Ian is in The Netherlands for three nights on a work-related trip. Furthermore, I just found out that BOSH! will also be in Sydney, Australia in February of next year. Ian will really miss his boy.
You should have gone in the heli. Much easier and quicker.
ReplyDeleteThey don't call me Sunak tha knows!
DeleteAwww! how lovely. The wee chap is filling out very nicely, he has already lost the slightly crumpled newborn look
ReplyDeleteBabies are pretty squashed in before birth aren't they?
DeleteSquashed and wet :)
DeleteHandsome lad, that Zachary Roy!
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't ask your habitual question Bob!
DeleteThe Pudding genes produce beautiful children.
ReplyDeleteIs the Sydney trip a publicity thing? Will he be on daytime telly? If so, I shall watch and claim vicarious kudos. 6 degrees of separation and all that.
It is indeed a promotional trip. I suspect that they will be on TV if indeed you have television services in Australia.
DeleteI shall make sure I have my pennies to feed the box next to the magic picture machine.
DeleteWhat a sweet little family Ian has! I'm glad you got to meet little Zach.
ReplyDeleteIt was a joy to hold the little boy.
DeleteThat young fellow is really built. Will probably make a good football player.
ReplyDeleteIce hockey will probably too girly for him.
DeleteZachary in the cloth sling looks like he has just been delivered by a stork (which he has, hasn't he?).
ReplyDeleteThe family photo is beautiful - one worth framing and putting on the wall or mantle.
A traffic hold-up is always annoying, but even more so when you're almost home, I find.
Errr... I hate to be the one to burst your bubble but babies do not arrive that way!
DeleteOh... oops... might explain why I never had any! :-D
DeleteI'm going with mesmerised, babies love being sang and talked to. He certainly looks to be doing very well :)
ReplyDeleteLittle Phoebe was also entranced by my singing. Perhaps I should make a CD for babies.
DeleteI love the photo of him being "weighed like a turkey." Made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteGetting a librarian to laugh is like converting a lion to vegetarianism.
DeleteNOT TRUE! I protest! This one here is a laughing librarian for sure!
DeleteI guess you librarians stick together like The Sicilian Mafia!
DeleteAnother lovely baby, I want to say - babies, babies everywhere ;) At least your life is going to get busy with three grandchildren to look after.
ReplyDeleteWe will certainly be "there" for Phoebe and Margot. It's a shame that Zach is 180 miles away.
DeleteA whirlwind trip. Zach looks surprised in that top photo.
ReplyDeleteI had just informed him that he would star in my next blogpost.
DeleteHe looks a very alert baby. Nice to see a photo of the happy family.
ReplyDeleteIan and Sarah are both 39 years old so Zach has come along quite late in their adult lives. A real blessing.
DeleteI've been worried sick about you absence from the world of blog, needlessly as is now apparent. Zach looks older than two weeks. With his expensive school education, by his teen years, he will make mince meat of his Yorkie grandpa.
ReplyDeleteAs I once heard a charity collector dressed in a koala costume being harassed by youth on a tram say, you should have caught the train, to London. It may not be the quickest way or direct but a whole lot more relaxing than being stuck in traffic.
A tram from Melbourne to London is surely impossible Andrew! I though you were a transport geek!
DeleteIt's probably just as well that we don't remember our birth and first year or two on earth. Might scar us for life!
ReplyDeletePerhaps birth is the most demanding physical challenge that anybody makes.
DeleteWhat a sweet baby! I'm glad you got to make the trip to meet him. Ian and Sarah and Zach make a lovely family!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen. You can see the pride and joy in their faces even though they are tired.
DeleteOh, I just love his beautiful little face! How incredibly lucky you are to have three such healthy, fine grandchildren!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, we missed you, and hoped all was well.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have such healthy grandchildren and successful children too. You must be very proud.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that lovely family photo. I'm looking forward to some photos of Phoebe and Margot together, too. Better yet, it would be nice to see all three grands together!
ReplyDeleteHe's cute as hell. I'm glad he and his parents are doing well. And the lucky little guy has a grandpa that sings to him:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely baby, I love the way they weight him , so cute
ReplyDeleteYou're going to have a wonderful Christmas. What a joyful post for everyone to enjoy.
ReplyDelete