Four Play

“Eeeeehh they all grow up too fast don’t they?”, etc. etc.

Elsie turned four yesterday, much to our amazement and mild mourning of an era in our house starting to end.  She’s our littlest one and she’s pretty much out of pre-school-dom now, and it’s exciting and fun but does make one feel ever so slightly melancholy.

But come what may it’s an achievement worth celebrating. There are many occasions in the last few years when I’d thought she could never get to the age of four without some period in prison.  🙂

She’s certainly living life to the full and making every minute count – a lesson to us all. Happy Birthday, Elsie.

We opted for a smallish get together with a few friends rather than the full troupe from nursery, and were gifted the kind of weather you can only dream of for a party.

I made a film (below or here) – with help from the lovely version of Summertime by Jim Hall and Pat Metheney – and took a few photos here on Flickr.

Happy days.

Easter Holiday on Arran

Holiday on Arran

Been too long since our last family trip to Scotland just over 2 years ago and we were all very excited to get a holiday booked on the Isle of Arran this Easter. It has all the necessary aspects of a good family holiday venue for us Haygarths. More outdoors stuff than you can shake a stick of driftwood at, wildlife, mountains, beaches… just great. Continue reading “Easter Holiday on Arran”

Sid the Kitten

New family member joined the household.   Sid Haygarth (named after Six Dinner Sid) is just over 8 weeks old, a fluffball, bossing the dog around, and very playful and affectionate.  He’s sent two little girls into squeaky cutesy voices so much so that my ears hurt, and he’s in for some mega attention, play and cuddles.  But Elvis has not left the building.  And he’s better at fetching stuff. Continue reading “Sid the Kitten”

As one door closes… another one opens

Finish Line

“My” day of cyclocross: Rode well, steady start, faded a bit, kicked into a good rhythm after ten mins, then after 40 mins my bike was trashed and the race was over.  It doesn’t sound too good does it. Not even with my rose coloured glasses.  A good couple of k’s worth of carbon fible mashed up after the spokes sucked my rear gear mech into them isn’t exactly silver lining stuff.  But there was a large, very glittering silver lining to my not-so-effective day’s racing today at round 1 of the North West Cyclocross league in Preston.  Continue reading “As one door closes… another one opens”

Lily is Nine

My little Lily turned nine today – stunningly quickly … as these things go … Elsie jumped in to Lily’s bed extra early and we opened a couple of pressies and cards – but on her return to School Day we decided to leave the proper festivities until later today. Happy Birthday my lovely girl.

Photos here

 

Mum’s 70th birthday

My mum reached a very respectable 3 score and ten yesterday and we went up to Kirkby Lonsdale today to enjoy some lovely weather, cakes, food, and company. It seemed very strange but incredibly rewarding to meet a few people from mum’s life that I haven’t seen for many many years. At least three people I enjoyed chatting to today are people I haven’t seen since I was younger than ten years old.

Obviously a lot of water under the bridge but it’s amazing to feel an instant connection to some people because of a shared past. I’m pretty sure mum enjoyed herself but hardly had a moment to pass the time with her on a busy day. We get some better quality time together in a couple of weeks… To be savoured.

Some photos here… On Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/minnellium/archives/date-posted/2011/07/10/?view=md

Formby Dunes: Recommended

Fantastic trip with Katie and the girls to Formby Sand Dunes / Red Squirrel woodland on Monday – it was chucking it down all morning and we took the risk… it paid off and cleared up minutes after we got there. Brilliant, very non-Northern feeling environment. It felt more like France or the low countries. Gorgeous coniferous sandy rolling woods and really big dunes. Just an utter playground for the youg and the young-at-heart and their dogs. Continue reading “Formby Dunes: Recommended”

Elsie – Three as a bird

They all grow up fast, don’t they. Elsie’s third birthday last week seemed to mark a bit more ‘moving on’ in the household and confirmed any suspicion that time goes by ridiculously fast in life. It fell on a ‘normal’ work day for Katie, a school day for Lily and hence a nursery day for Elsie, but the mini party we enjoyed after was a lovely little celebration and what it lacked in length it made up for in intensity. Elsie basically was cooked by 6pm and had to retire to bed (on her own request!)
Continue reading “Elsie – Three as a bird”