Cuckoo Fair

I had an interesting day today as Mummy & Daddy took me to the Cuckoo fair at Downton in Wiltshire.  I was asleep when we got there because I had been up for a long time.  Daddy says I am like the Duracell Bunny on fresh batteries, whatever that is!  When I woke up there was so much going on I was fascinated.

Daddy said it was a challenge taking photos of the dancers as he was using a manual focus lens.  He only took a very small camera bag and 2 small lenses because it was so busy and difficult to squeeze past people in some places.

Brass band

Then there were some ladies and a man doing Appalachian clog dancing...I liked the music a lot.

Round and round we go!

Then it got really funny when we saw some Morris dancers.  I liked the music and was laughing at the funny people who were dancing with sticks and handkerchiefs!  Daddy says it is a unique British cultural experience.  I did like the funny hobby horse that came around between dances with the master of morris dancing.

Master of morris dancers!

Daddy says the giant idol and hobby horse kind of remind him of a film called The Wicker Man.  He says I will have to grow up a lot before I can see that one!

This is me contemplating morris dancing with my Granddad

Anyway, the day got even better.  I started getting a bit grumpy because I was hungry and it was past my lunch time.  Mummy & Daddy took me to a lovely private garden where they were selling teas and the kind lady offered to warm my food up in her microwave.  To say thankyou Mummy & Daddy bought a draw ticket for a big teddy bear.  There was only one boy's name left on the long list of names, so we paid 50 pence for "Ian"and put the ticket in my name.  Anyway I must be very lucky because, as I was being fed, my ticket was drawn and I won the big bear now called Ian!!!!

I am especially lucky because Nana got me the World's greatest bear when I was very little and I often hug and wrestle him in my cot.  Ian looks like a different kind of bear, so I now have 2!  Daddy says if I'm that lucky he will buy me a National Lottery ticket, whatever that is...personally I think Teddies sound more interesting.  Here I am meeting my new friend.

Easter

Its been lovely weather and we have been out a lot enjoying it.  I still have a nasty cough and a snotty nose....yuk.  I think I'm teething, so I'm a bit sensitive and can get a bit grumpy sometimes.  This is me in my cot.

We went to Compton Abbas Airfield and for a nice walk.  Daddy carried me a long way in my backpack carrier.  We got to ride in Granddad's nice new car and he made faces at me, so I stared back!

Granddad showed me some aeroplanes

During the walk I got hungry and a bit grumpy so we had to make a pitstop on Compton Down

Here we are just starting off

Pitstop time!

We stopped for tea and some cake about half way through, then we had to walk up a big hill and it was very hot.  Daddy did well because I'm getting heavy and Nana & Granddad did well because they are much older than me!

On Saturday Daddy & Mummy took me for a walk to see my first bluebell wood at Kingston Lacy.  Lots of ladies came up and admired me which is fun.  Daddy says I should make the best of it because it will be much harder to attract them when I'm older!

We took a break in the field near the wood because Mummy thought I was hungry.  I didn't eat much but the mosquitoes tried to eat Daddy!

I gave my Mummy some big wet kisses

Mummy had a go with Daddy's biggest camera and took this shot.  Daddy took me in the front carrier as it wasn't a long walk.

The evening sun in the wood was amazing

O Sunday we went to Moors valley when Daddy came in from work.  I had a good play on the picnic blanket with a nice ball that Mummy got me.

My hair was a bit wild in the wind and of course I tried to eat my ball!

Its a bit frustrating when the ball runs away and I can't catch it!

I love eating breadsticks but I dropped this one and wanted it back!

Nana and Granddad sent me a lovely pop up book for Easter with farm animals, Auntie Mie sent me a fab Gruffalo T-shirt and Auntie Sal sent me some lovely fish for bath time.  I squealed when Daddy read me the book last night and squealed when Mummy gave me one of the fish to play with in the bath tonight.  Thankyou everyone!

Another Bluebell Hotspot!

I popped down to the Kingston Lacy Bluebell Wood to check it out.  It was very busy when I arrived in mid afternoon but thinned out later and was quiet once the light was really good.

Its an impressive sight and the aroma was really intoxicating.

To get there travel along the B3082 from Wimborne towards Blandford.  After going past QE School turn left into the first turning signposted to Pamphill.  You should be in Abbott Street.  Very soon you will see a church along a long drive to your left and a road with an avenue of trees to your right.  Turn left and park in the car park or along the road.  Walk back to Abbott Street and turn left then turn left into a small lane called All Fools Lane, which is just a farm track.  Follow that for about 150-200 metres then go right over a style and over a very small field to another style...you are now in the wood!

Keep an eye out along the lane as there are lots of ferns emerging, plus a few primroses, wild garlic and anemones.

Mid April 2011

I am 7 months old now and starting to vocalise into much more distinct sounds.  I still eat very well too.  I have still been waking Mummy and Daddy up this week but not as bad as most recent times because I sleep for up to 3 or 4 hours.

We had a nice meal at Nan and Granddad's  a bit over a week ago and Granddad took me for a look around the garden.

Last week we went for a walk at Milton Abbas where I saw some big, friendly cows and had a short picnic with Mummy and Daddy.  It was a bit cold and windy.

After we went to a pub for a cup of tea I decided to eat my feet, which is a great form of Munchkin entertainment!  I have some shoes now and even those seem to taste nice.

Someone had a birthday this week...18 sounds very old to me.

On Sunday we went for a walk at Moors Valley before Daddy went to work.  It was sooo busy because it was lovely and sunny, like a summer day.

I had a very exciting new toy last weekend that Mummy got second hand from a baby sale....it cost just £10.  Daddy put it together and got some rechargeable batteries so I can swing as much as I like...I love it!

If you go down to the woods today.......

Garston Wood is the place to be again as the bluebells begin to create a misty blue carpet all over the woodland floor.  Today was fantastic as the afternoon light was great and all the flowers are young and vibrant with many more on the way.  The carpet certainly hasn't reached its peak but all the flowers are fresh with none looking tired at all.

There is a new car park marked with a small "RSPB" sign that is positioned about half way along the side of the wood and not as far as the main, original car park.  If you park in the new one the best area for bluebells is literally a 1 minute walk, through the gate and straight onto the path across the wood.