There may be other stuff going on in the world right now but I don't care about all that. Don't care about COVID-19 or Ugly Trump or Scruffy Johnson or global warming or the death of Phil Spector or even the fact that Hull City only drew with Blackpool yesterday. No - this weekend, all that I care about is the new addition to our family - Little Phoebe.
She came to our house today with her soft skin, her tiny fingernails, her sighs and her plaintive cries. And she fell asleep while her mama and papa enjoyed the Sunday roast I had prepared after we had toasted Phoebe's arrival with a bottle of "Bolinger" champagne.
And later I held her in my arms, close to my chest and sang the song I have chosen for her babyhood - "Lavender's Blue" - an agricultural song from long ago. I will use this song to comfort her and send her to sleep:-
Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When I am king, dilly dilly,
You shall be queen
Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so
Call up your friends, dilly, dilly
Set them to work
Some to the plough, dilly dilly,
Some to the fork
Some to the hay, dilly dilly,
Some to thresh corn
Whilst you and I, dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm
And one day, when I am gone and she is a woman she might hear this song again and think to herself - "I know that song but I don't know how or why".
Finally, sincere thanks to readers of "Yorkshire Pudding" for all the lovely messages I received in the comments section of this blog after the last two posts. I have read many of them out to Frances and Stewart. It's very uplifting to think that there are so many good people out there thinking such kind, genuine thoughts about our heavenly babe. Thank you so much.
Oh, bliss indeed! What a beautiful little family Frances, Stewart, and Phoebe make! 💗
ReplyDeleteI like the song you've chosen for the baby. How lucky she is to be treasured and loved so much.
You have some good times ahead with your little granddaughter! I'm so happy for you!
I hope that she lives to the year 2100 and beyond. She will be taking a little piece of me there.
DeleteI think that the whole world would benefit from the blessing of being able to set everything aside, just for one shining moment, to join in such a joyous celebration. Your wish brought tears to my eyes. I hope so too.
ReplyDeleteBeneath our protective shells, you are as soft-hearted as I am Debby.
DeleteMy kids have never let me forget that I cried at 'Ice Age'. The wooly mammoth had suffered great loss.
DeleteWear sunglasses then they will bot know that you are crying Debby.
DeleteYou said it all, Bliss! What a beautiful family they make and Mum and Dad look so proud, as they should. Your choice of song for precious Phoebe is perfect and if you continue to sing it for her when she is a toddler she will remember it. In fact she will love all the "dilly, dillies"!
ReplyDeleteI might change the chorus sometimes to "Phoebe-Phoebe" not "dilly dilly".
DeleteA lovely photo of the proud parents and a very contented baby.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue.
DeleteA happy day YP.
ReplyDeleteA day to remember forever. An auspicious first meeting.
DeleteWhat a beautiful picture. I can imagine how happy you felt to hold her in your arms YP...there is nothing like it is there.
ReplyDeleteNothing like it apart from a foaming pint of Tetley's bitter Libby.
Delete*Trailing clouds of glory do we come,* as Wordsworth said.
ReplyDeleteYour photo of Phoebe with her Mummy and Daddy will outlast transient things. There's an online article, What Do Babies Dream About?
*When babies are in REM sleep, it allows their brains to develop pathways, connections, and eventually, learn languages.*
This little babe is wondrously made.
Only today we were wondering what babies might dream about when they are still in the womb.
DeleteThe big guy sings dutch songs to our grandson, songs that he sang to his own children when they were babies. My singing is best not heart.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to have good news this month. She is a blessing.
The Big Guy is a big softie like me.
DeleteYou will have had years to practice Lavender's Blue. In case there is a second grandchild in a year or so you could start to prepare now with:
ReplyDeleteOld Sister Phoebe, how happy were we
The day we sat under the juniper tree
Now around and around we go, we go
Around and around we go.
I never knew that song existed. Thanks Tasker.
DeleteI am crying.
ReplyDelete"Heavenly babe" is right.
What is this life about?
DeleteFrances looks a very proud mummy. Super photo. I bet you're over the moon? Time to smoke cigars. Have a good sup and wet the babies head YP.
ReplyDeleteExcellent advice young man.
DeleteA banner day in your household! Phoebe is a lucky girl to have Frances and Stewart for parents and you and Shirley for grandparents (not forgetting Stewart's family either). Bet you felt like your heart was leaping out of your chest when they handed her to you for the first time.
ReplyDeleteHave you bought her a Hull onesie or t-shirt yet? :)
Unfortunately, Daddy is a Sheffield Wednesday supporter!
DeleteI love that nursery rhyme and used to sing it to Kay. I dont blame you for shutting out all the horrors going on in the world. How lovely to have something so beautiful to admire instead.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you also sang "Lavender's Blue" to Kay when she was also an itsy bitsy baby.
DeleteShe's a very fortunate little girl to find herself in you family.
ReplyDeleteIf she makes your age Red she will be in a new century.
DeleteVery happy parents too by the look of it.
ReplyDeleteThis morning Frances wrote - "We are still in awe".
DeleteWhat a beautiful, new born baby! I am a regular reader. I have only commented once or twice, a long time ago. This delightful news is reason for all of us to offer our very best wishes and congratulations! Phoebe certainly is a very fortunate baby to have been born into such a loving family and she, in turn, will enrich your lives in countless ways.
DeleteThanks for leaving such a lovely comment Desiree.
DeleteA wonderful song to sing to Ms Phoebe ! I sang "De-o" by Harry Belafonte to my son 43 years ago and he still remembers it.
ReplyDeleteDaylight comes and I want to go home...
DeleteWhat a grand day you and Shirley had with baby. Oh, Aunt Donna would have loved to have been there. Maybe someday you can get your Pudding friends all together, arrange to have little Phoebe for part of the day and then have a zoom meeting with us. Yes, that’s a grand idea!! I sang that ditty of a song so many times, I can still remember the guitar cords. A wonderful song to belong to Phoebe.
ReplyDeleteI often sang "The Grand Old Duke of York" to Ian and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to Frances. It was an effective distraction that stifled crying. Pleased to discover that you are familiar with "Lavender's Blue".
DeleteWhat a beautiful post for a beautiful family! I hope blogs will stay around long enough for Phoebe to one day read what you wrote about her first encounter with you. It is very touching, and I am glad you had such a happy Sunday with nothing of all the weirdness and nastiness from the outside world intruding.
ReplyDeleteSad to think that I will be eighty when she is thirteen thought I doubt I will get that far.
DeleteOhhh Phoebe is a beauty! No doubt your heart is hers forever... there is something quite super special about your very own grandchild (no... not that you can hand them back lol) Perhaps it is that you can enjoy them without the responsibility - all the same they captivate you.
ReplyDeleteI love your song... ours was 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and many verses made up on the spur of the moment, which included 'How much was that Doggie in the Window' somehow... got to have a doggo in there somewhere. Hugs to all and a little butterfly kiss for Phoebe ..Elle xx
Kind and funny comment Elle. Thank you.
DeleteI have given blogging a rest as you may have noticed YP but still read them each day.
ReplyDeleteMay you have as much joy from little phoebe as we have had from our Tom.
Briony
x
I hope that Phoebe discovers a big popstar with equally big hair.
DeleteA very special photo as a reminder of your first meeting with your beautiful little granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteYP. don't worry about what age you'll be when Phoebe is thirteen - just live in the moment and enjoy every minute of time spent with her.
Good advice CG. Thank you.
DeleteHow wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIn trying months when we have not tasted much "wonderful". Thanks.
DeleteA lovely old song you have chosen. You'll be able to watch that 2015 version of Cinderella together .
ReplyDeleteSo much to look forward to.
I am looking forward to reading her stories.
DeleteYears ago I was given an IPod as a present, my daughter-in-law a nursery school teacher set it up for me I downloaded 100s of Beatles, Motown, Rolling Stones songs and switched it on the first song I heard was Lavenders blue she’d used the nearest disc to hand to check it was working her class’s nursery rhyme one...gorgeous photo of proud parents and a beautiful granddaughter... Debbie ( Tweetart )
ReplyDeleteWhat a strange co-incidence Debbie Tweetart! "Lavender's Blue" I mean.
DeleteA lovely family portrait. How about one of grandpa and baby?😀😀
ReplyDeleteGrandpa is like Christina... painfully shy!
DeleteThat's very touching, that you have your own song ready for her tiny ears. I have no doubt you'll be singing it to her long enough that she'll know exactly why she remembers it! (You'll probably be singing it to her when she goes to Uni! LOL!)
ReplyDeleteI suspect that I will be dead when that day comes Steve. I wonder what it is like being dead.
Delete