My quiz team friend Danny from Buxton sometimes drops into this blog. Probably on days when the weather is inclement and he is bereft of things to do. He says to himself, "I am bored as hell. I have emptied the dishwasher, made the bed, checked the progress of my shares, read the newspaper twice, taken the lapdog round the block and now I have got nothing to do. Zero. Oh I know - I will visit Yorkshire Pudding!"
I saw him again on Wednesday night this week. He suggested that this blog was getting too serious and that I should perhaps lighten up. Maybe he is right. We were out at "The Rising Sun" at Nether Green for a pre-Christmas meal using quiz winnings from previous months to pay the bill. It all made a nice change and we were joined by our main rivals - Quiz Team Aguillera. You may be pleased to learn that there was no fighting.
Meanwhile Little Phoebe has been spending a fair amount of time with her Australian cousins. They are the progeny of Stewart's brother and his Australian wife. The children are aged five and two. Last weekend the two young families rented a house together in the village of Mickleton in County Durham.
It was, apparently, a lovely house but I am afraid the weather up there was most unkind - with rain lashing down most of the time. Still they got to visit nearby Raby Castle - seat of noble families for a thousand years. They were mostly there for the Christmas attractions and a visit to Father Christmas.
I have been told that I should not name the children or show pictures of them on this blog as it attracts a lot of seedy, untrustworthy visitors. Maybe you are one of them? It's so sad that we have to be very guarded about such things these days - suspecting vultures round every corner.
However, I have been a little naughty. The face-in-hole board at the top shows Phoebe as Father Christmas with her anonymous male Australian cousin crouching down as a foot servant or something. I did not know where the "blur face" button was. In the picture below I have cropped out both of Phoebe's Australian cousins - when they visited Santa's grotto at Raby Castle.
Phoebe is getting so big! And she's a darling little girl. I'm glad I get to see photos of her from time to time.
ReplyDeleteI know I am very biased Jennifer but she is a most delightful child and the source of so much joy. She will be three on January 15th. That second picture makes her seem taller than she really is.
DeleteI like the look in Phoebe's eyes as she takes in the sights of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSuch innocence! Her world will only get increasingly hard to understand as she grows older.
DeleteI love the first one; such sweet faces!
ReplyDeleteThe innocence of childhood is a beautiful thing to behold.
DeleteIt's disturbing that we need to be so careful of what we put on our blogs. I sometimes wonder if I am putting too many photos of the twins once a week.
ReplyDeletePhoebe looks delighted with all the Christmas decorations.
It is indeed disturbing. There is as much suspicion as there is trust.
DeleteThe look on Phoebe‘s face in the second picture says it all. Christmas is a magical time for children. Long may it last.
ReplyDeleteI would like her to be this way forever but I know it won't be so.
DeleteI think it is sad that parents feel the need to protect their children in such a manner. That it what really gives power to those not so nice people. I am not sure about your laws but here if it is public space, no one can stop you taking photos unless there are special laws in place. I understand privately operated 'public spaces' can put their own rules about photography in place. Two of our city railway stations ban photography as they are privately operated. The remaining government operated stations do not. Anyway, I sure you don't want to bad friends with relatives, so you do as they request, as most of us would.
ReplyDeleteI hope Phoebe picks up some Australian words, better still an accent.
G'day! The last hope will be hoped in vain my friend! But it is nice that she will always have a special connection with Australia...mate!
DeleteWhat a terrible world we live in.
ReplyDeletePhoebe is the most beautiful child. What a smashing grandad she has. X
Yes. Her paternal grandfather is a great bloke.
DeleteShe does seem tall in that bottom photo. They seem to be enjoying themselves amongst all that Santa stuff. PS I am not one of those nasty seedy people of whom you speak..
ReplyDeleteHave you had a police check JayCee?
DeleteI have actually - back when I volunteered at the local Hospice. I was clean!
DeleteI was only kidding as I know that you are a paragon of virtue.
DeleteI never post pictures of my grandchildren if there are other kids in them unless I've asked the parents of those children if it's okay. The North Carolina cousins of August and Levon have parents who don't want their kids on social media at all and so I don't post pictures with them in it and I understand.
ReplyDeletePhoebe is beautiful and I am very glad that you post pictures of her. It's always so nice to see her. I'm glad she's getting to spend time with her cousins. That is such a special relationship.
"Be on your guard" seems to be the motto of most families these days.
DeleteI am careful about photos of people I don't know on the blog.
ReplyDeleteJust don't take a picture of yourself in a mirror!
DeleteThose are sweet photos and I am glad you shared them with us. Looks like they really enjoyed their Christmas visit!
ReplyDeletePhoebe's female cousin is just three months younger than her and they got on so well.
DeleteI love the look of wonder on Phoebe's face. These days Christmas commercialism is often excessive but there are some superbly decorated stately homes to visit. An absolute wonderland for children - and grown-ups.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's a shame about the rain.
DeleteMy brother has strictly forbidden me to post pictures of my nieces for just that reason. I think he's being a bit overcautious but these days, you never know. I also make it a policy when I'm photographing out & about never to include kids prominently in any photos.
ReplyDeleteSo much for lightening up! LOL
Why does every pub have a Quiz Team Aguilera? Honestly, we quizzers need to come up with some new alternatives.
You are right - Aguilera contains only one "l". I wonder if Christina knows of her popularity in Britain as a quiz team name? Better than being popular for recording forgettable songs.
DeleteCute kids!
ReplyDeleteAnd still living in innocence. I wish that I could live there.
DeleteLove the last photo, big eyes full of wonderment.
ReplyDeletePhoebe and her cousin look so cute! She's really growing up (which is what they're supposed to do). My younger daughter works in the court system and with some of the horrible cases she's seen come through, she doesn't want her child's photo posted online anywhere.
ReplyDelete