2011

11:11, 11/11/11

Friday 11th November 2011Sunday 1st January 2017Baggie

Confirmation bias, spirit guardians, Nigel Tufnel day, your 40th birthday (you know who you are), Armistice Day or just the ninth binary date of the year? What does the date of 1’s mean to you?

There are a lot of people that I know that hold the time 11:11 in some kind of esteem, some temporal awe and claim that whenever they look at the clock (a digital one of course) that it displays 11:11. For me this is nothing more that confirmation bias, you are looking for it so as soon as you see it you remember it and it confirms your theory. The fact is, because you are holding 11:11 in some form of regard, subconsciously you are looking for 11:11 and the frequency that you are looking at the time will peak in the lead up to 11:11, then once you have seen it the belief is confirmed. You probably don’t even remember that you looked at the clock at 11:08, 11:09 and three times during 11:10. How often have you just looked at the time, then someone immediately asks you what the time is and you have to look at the clock again. Is your memory that bad?

Still quite a cool date though.

So what have we been up to in the last couple of weeks? Well as the East Coast of the U.S. received it’s first dumping of snow (New York City’s heaviest ever October fall) we were experiencing a mild end of October which continued into the beginning of November. This was most welcome for my 2nd cousin Charlotte who was married to Paul Eccles on the 4th November at Salmesbury Hall just on the outskirts of Preston (Lancashire). When we first received the invite I was concerned that the weather could play an unwelcome part in the ceremony but I need not have feared and although the Lancashire countryside can be unforgiving during the winter months it was perhaps a little too early to cause any issues for the wedding party and the rain held off until after the ceremony and most of the photos had been taken.

As Preston is 220 miles away we decided that we would head to Lancashire the day before the wedding and spend two nights away from home. We had initially thought that we would drive to Nanny Fran’s and spend the previous night in West Bromwich and then head in convoy to Preston. However we decided that trying to get ourselves and the girls ready while Nanny Fran and Aunties Mary and Liz were also trying to get ready and then drive to Preston was perhaps asking a little too much. Far easier to concentrate on just getting ready on the morning of the wedding and not then worry about the drive and checking into the hotel and all that entails.

Thus having just come back from a fortnight off work I took another couple of days off for our petit sojourn. We left the moor a little late (we always do whenever it involves packing with the kids!) and headed north. The girls were fed and watered and laden with toys to keep them entertained on the journey. We also gave Éowyn a packed lunch in case she felt hungry along the way. In true Bagnall style she had eaten most of it before we have even made it to the motorway – that’s my girl! Fortunately the traffic was light and the girls fell asleep so we were able to make good time. We arrived in Lancashire in the early afternoon and decided that we would head to Blackpool for a couple of hours before checking into our Preston lodgings.

Blackpool was as tacky and dreary as one would expect for early November and although the weather was kind (I have seen what the Irish sea can do to the promenade at Blackpool) it still felt desolate and depressive. However as the night closed in and the illuminations were switched on then Blackpool came to life. We were only in Blackpool for a couple of hours and didn’t really see it at it’s best however we are considering a holiday either to, or near, the Fylde coast for our summer break next year.

Our lodgings for the night was the Preston Central Travelodge and I only mention it for the fact that it ranks in one of my top ten worst car parks. (Rest assured I don’t actually have a top ten worst car park list and it certainly isn’t laminated!). The rooms are what you can expect from a £19/night hotel but the car park is veritable challenge. After negotiating either the ramp (to the 1st floor) or the tight ground floor entrance you are confronted with a forest of metal pillars (all decorated with a variety of paint scuff marks) and 90° turns. My only regret is that I never actually took a photo to show you, but please be warned that should you ever find yourself in Preston and decide to stay in the night at the local Travelodge and you are driving the car park is something you may not want to negotiate more than once.

Despite the basic nature of the hotel, Éowyn thought it was a fantastic adventure. This was due in no small part to the fact that our room was on the fourth floor. This meant that we had to take the lift and for a three year old that enjoys pressing buttons that is the best thing in the world. She insisted on operating the lift and not only was it fun it was a little educational too with her making sure that she knew what floor we were heading for and whether we were going up or down in the lift and pressing the relevant call button. We also told her our room number and encouraged her to find it. It is important to find the education benefits and the game in the mundane, whether you are a three or ninety-three (think Mary Poppins and A Spoonful Of Sugar).

Charlotte and Paul’s wedding was excellent, Salmesbury hall was a beautiful venue. It is a 14th century manor house on the outskirts of Preston and an ideal one stop venue for the guests with the ceremony and reception all held within the house and plenty of photogenic spots within the grounds, especially with the trees dressed in their autumnal garb. The hall was closed to the public for the day which was nice to have the venue to the wedding party and we did not see any of the supernatural residents while we were there either. Both of our girls were very good and before the ceremony Éowyn kept asking where the Princess was (i.e. the bride) and if she was a Princess who was the hansome prince? They were both very good even through the speeches (although Éowyn did start heckling the groom’s speech with ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah!‘ part way through, Amélie just joined in with the clapping). However the excitement of the day was far too much for them and they only managed to last until the Bride and Groom’s first dance, before we had to make our excuses and head back to that car park!

We headed back the next day, breaking the journey up at Nanny Fran’s before tackling the final four motorways and home. I was working the next day so there wasn’t any time for relaxation on these days off, time to book some more I feel.

I will leave you now with the photos

Peace and Love

Baggie

The Big One, a tram and us

Where are we?

Blackpool!

Playing on the beach

Cheese!

Let me go!

Blackpool Tower, at night

I sat there alone upon the ferris wheel

Blackpool, at night

My first wedding

These weddings are fun

The Bagnall girls

The Bride enters the chapel

The bride and groom (and parents)

The happy couple

Now this is fun!

Chillaxing over breakfast

Look what I’ve got!

That’s funny!

Stop it, Nanny

Now then, what to do…

The Badger Moot 2011

Sunday 30th October 2011Sunday 1st January 2017Baggie

The great Badger Moot 2011 took place last week at the Puncknowle Manor Estate in the Bride Valley, West Dorset. Even though I have termed it the Badger Moot there were no Badgers there this year, neither in name nor form, only descendants and family of Granddad Badger. It was Amélie’s first time at the annual gathering (she had only just been born last year so we didn’t go) and only Éowyn’s second (again she was born at the same time as the 2008 gathering, went in 2009 and obviously could not go last year either).

As usual the week was relatively relaxed with trips to the coast and local attractions confirmed in the morning when we could be quietly confident of the weather and have a vague idea of who wants to go where. This year the trips were more fragmented as the weather wasn’t as kind as in previous years and as we have young ones that are more active in the morning and need a kip in the afternoon then we were having to make a decision as to where to go before the others. Irrespective of where you went during the day we would all head back to the manor house before dark to a relax and enjoy a big family meal (unless it is your turn to cook). It was our turn on the Wednesday night and we opted to keep it simple with a beef and guinness stew and a chicken one-pot.

There are a number of favourite haunts that we usually pay a visit to and so it was this year with Bridport market, Lyme Regis and Hive Beach welcoming the Badger Clan as they do each year. Bridport Saturday market was more interesting than normal for we arrived just as the whole of Bridport town centre was experiencing a power cut. So most of the shops were refusing entry, some on the grounds of health and safety (it is dark in most shops, there are very few windows) and some because they couldn’t take your money (the tills and card readers were down). The bonus was that the carpark ticket machines were also down and so it was free carparking in Bridport and the market was unaffected.

Saturday night was themed meal night. The theme was all things American and food was suitably apt with hotdogs, burgers, fries etc. The kitchen was decorated with American flags and we all dressed in suitably American attire. It was the brainchild of Steve and Zoe and Adam and Lucy who co-hosted the evening. It was good to see that everyone had made the effort and turned out in fancy dress. Poor Finley was completely freaked out by Adam’s hillbilly outfit, which was extremely good it has to be said. Lucy had even organised an American theme quiz which was to correctly identify the location of each of the US states and name the capital of that state. Not as easy as it sounds, but I think that we all learned something (how little we collectively knew about the less well know states!).

As the weather was truly autumnal this year (usually we get unseasonably fine weather during the Badger moot) we looked for alternative destinations that didn’t rely on the weather (our trip to Lyme Regis although realtively dry was a very blustery affair and the photos of Éowyn on a windswept beach with her coat zipped up to her neck sum up the day). This is where the Merlin Passes came good. Weymouth is about a 30 minute drive away and has a Sea Life centre and as the Merlin Pass allows you free entry to Sea Life centres is was too good an opportunity to miss. We were quite impressed with Weymouth’s Sea Life centre, although we did get wet running from one aquarium to the next. Éowyn enjoyed seeing the sharks and the turtles but was far keener on staying in the adventure trail area and the rides that were there.

One of the few full family outings was due to have been on the Monday night: a ghost walk around Bridport. Unfortunately due to the heavy rain (some parts of the neighbouring counties received over a fortnight’s worth of rain) it was cancelled however the guide suggested that he could fit us in on the following day (Tuesday) before his public tour and so we took him up on the offer. Without wishing to be derogatory he did not have the gravitas, nor theatrics of our Dorchester guide from 2009, but he certainly spooked the children and it is always interesting to view a town with another point of view. Finley, especially, gave his imagination too much power and sidled over to me partway through the tour and asked if he could hold my hand. I, of course, said that he could but why and he replied because you are the biggest and the strongest. Not sure that is true and I am not sure that it would help against any malevolent spirits but it allayed Finley’s fears a little.

The week went far too quickly and a great time was had by all. Éowyn especially enjoyed palying with her cousins and with due respect to the cousins they really enjoy playing with her. They give her so much time and involve her in everything including the American hat piñata that Lucy had made. Amélie, obviously, was a bit too young to be involved with their games but nevertheless thaey would quite often sit on the floor and play with her too. It is not just the girls either, Finley (in between fighting me) really enjoys playing with Éowyn and chasing Amélie around the ground floor it is really nice to see. The older cousins also organised a Spa retreat for the adults, with manicures, pedicures, facials, nail varnishing and neck massages all charged at a pound a service (a bargain I am sure you would agree!). I think most of the adults paid a visit and the youngsters split the proceeds between them. I think that poor Seb had the most to complain about for they left his face mask on too long and almost exfoliated his beard when removing it; Adam was probably the most sporting wearing bright nail varnish after his treatment for far too long. It is very enterprising of the girls (and Finley) and Éowyn even helped on one day and was rewarded with a pound for her efforts.

As it quite often is, the day we were leaving Puncknowle was the finest of the week and since we have to vacate the manor house before 1000 myself and Lucinda decided that we would take advantage of the change in the weather to re-visit Lyme Regis and pop down to Hive beach for a cream tea before heading back home. We were glad we did as it was so nice on both beaches that Éowyn even took her shoes and socks off, rolled her trousers up and went for a paddle in the sea (twice – once in Lyme and once on Hive beach!). In fact, she didn’t want to leave and needed persuading that going home was a good idea. Both Éowyn and Amélie (and for part of the way, Lucinda) slept on the journey home. Back home and straight back to work for me – got to pay for it somehow!

Enjoy some of the photos below of our week away and there are plenty more on the Flickr site.

Peace and love

Baggie

American night

Busy preparing the banquet

A family meal

You sure got a pretty mouth

Where did I leave my keys?

The cousins

The group shot

I’m the king of the castle

I am sealing, I am sealing

What a lovely day at the seaside

Sea’s a bit rough

I don’t want to go in there

A lonely beachcomber

This is fun

I like ice-cream!

I like the seaside

Hive beach

I dare you to touch my feet

Here comes the wave

Run away!

Nearly got me

Éowyn’s Third Birthday!

Thursday 20th October 2011Friday 11th May 2012Baggie

Less than three weeks after our youngest turned one our oldest turns three. Time is definitely travelling faster than a superluminal neutrino for the Bagnall family at the moment (although the closer you approach the speed of light the more that time dilates so probably not the best analogy – but you get the idea). Again it doesn’t seem five minutes since we were in St. Peter’s hospital and we were looking at our first born through the perspex window of an incubator in the ICU. Not quite as romantic as sitting there with her in your arms but as you may remember she was quickly rushed to ICU after her birth as she was born with pneumomediastinum and hence there was no time for cuddles before she was whisked away. She has not suffered any ill affects due to that initial condition and indeed it has not stunted her growth either physically or cerebrally.

The weeks between Amélie’s birthday and Éowyn’s have been relatively quiet, work has still been busy (although I am now at the start of a fortnight off work) but I have been able to get home at a more reasonable hour each night. (It brings it home to you when you drop your daughter off at Nanny and Granddad’s before heading to work when she asks ‘Daddy, will me and Amélie be in bed when you come home tonight?‘. Sometimes it is hard to remember why you are doing what you do).

Éowyn’s birthday celebrations started the on the first day of my vacation (two days before her birthday proper), with a party at Nanny and Granddad’s with her cousins and Lucy’s family, a kind of precursor to the Badger Moot. It was a relatively sedate affair as the elder cousins keep our two little ones entertained for the majority of the afternoon allowing us to have some adult conversation and actually enjoy our meal for a change rather without the interruptions or encouraging Éowyn to carry on eating. After the meal we allowed her to open her pressies and cards and sang happy birthday to her as she blew the candle out on her Peppa Pig cake. A perfect ending to birthday number 0ne.

The following day was a joint third birthday party at the Egham Leisure Centre’s soft play area with the other couples from our NCT group. We hired the same place last year and so we knew what we were in for. The booking allows you exclusive use of the soft play area and the adjoining room in which they provide party food (Jamie Oliver wouldn’t be happy but chicken nuggets, chips and crisps go down far better than the cheese, ham and jam sandwiches that are also provided). Nanny Fran and Auntie Liz met us there and Auntie Liz brought her face painting case to practise on Éowyn’s cohorts. The two hours seemed to fly by but with one eye on the kids there was hardly a chance to actually have any lengthy adult conversation with the fellow NCT-ees (is that the correct term?).

Nanny Fran and Auntie Liz then followed us back home where Auntie Mary came over to complete the Bagnall side. Again we allowed Éowyn to open the pressies from her Bagnall relatives. She was very happy to be the centre of attention for the second day in a row. It must feel to poor Amélie that she is forever in the shadow of her older sister. It doesn’t seem to bother her though and she is quite unassumingly progressing and will grab the attention of someone in the room and demand that you sing ‘Row, row, row the boat’ to her. Demand is probably a strong word but will encourage by starting you off with ‘Rowrowrow‘. That person tended to be Nanny Fran on Sunday. She has also started to pull herself up onto her legs now, so you have to be careful where you put things, for the number of safe places is beginning to dwindle.

Monday saw Éowyn’s actual birthday and so we decided not to take her to pre-school but Peppa Pig World instead. The weather forecast implied that it was going to be dry if a little cooler than late (probably still average for the middle of October) and so it seemed like it could be the last opportunity of the year (unless we head to Santa’s Christmas Wonderland at Paulton’s Park). The weather forecast (for once) was fairly accurate (apart from a short sharp shower) and we took full advantage of the diminished crowds and managed a significant more of the rides than the last time we went. It didn’t start out too well though for all the way down to Peppa Pig World Éowyn was asking if she could go on the Windy Castle ride. So the first ride we headed to in the park was the Windy Castle ride but as she looked up at the tower she freaked herself out and decided that she didn’t want to go on it anymore. We feared that this was going to be the precedent for the day, fortunately it seemed to be just a blip and she went on every other ride without a second thought. We even managed to enter the Peppa Pig shop and leave without buying anything!

So Éowyn’s three day celebration of her birthday came to a close and once again she was blessed with a multitude of cards and presents, thank you to everyone who sent either or both, it is most appreciated by us and more significantly by Éowyn herself as she becomes more aware of birthdays (and Christmasses) and what they mean (presents!).

Although this instalment is mainly about Éowyn’s third birthday, Amélie has some important news too. Since she has reached the grand age of 12 months it is time to test her milk protein intolerance. We went to see the dietitian yesterday and she has given us a timetable of what to test her with and what to look for. It begins with half a biscuit that contains milk (the milk in the biscuit will have been cooked at a high temperature and therefore changed its shape. In a highly intolerant person the body will still recognise the protein structure and they will have a reaction, more usually the body fails to recognise the protein and nothing happens) and ends with diary being introduced into her diet as usual (assuming she has grown out of her intolerance. Obviously this is a long process especially if she has any reaction to the milk protein (in whatever form) along the way but of course we will keep you informed. The dietitian has also warned us that even though she may have grown out of her intolerance there is a strong possibility that she may just not like dairy products and she has not grown up with the taste or has a deep memory in her subconscious of her early encounters. A little like me with cheese! She was also weighed and measured and now tops the scales at 9.88kg (21.7lbs) in the 75th centile while her length has her in the 98th centile – so another tall child. The weight gain is very pleasing it has to be said for she was born in the 75th centile and before her milk protein intolerance had been diagnosed she had dropped below the 25th centile, so it is good to see her maintaining a good weight.

I shall leave you there and as I am off work at the moment there will hopefully be another instalment in the next week or so. Look for the photographic evidence of my weight loss, you maybe impressed.

Peace and love

Baggie