Mark, Lucie and Lara

Lara on the 5D Mark II

mark — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 07:49:44 +0000

Got to play with Dean’s camera again, it’s really nice, even for the simple stuff…

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Music credit Rockabye Baby covering Guns and Roses Sweet Child of Mine. We got the Nirvana album when Lara was born, and I’ve bought a few online since then, but GNR rocks!

Lara likes to jump

mark — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:54:42 +0000

I mean she really likes likes to jump. From 6.30 in the morning, straight after dinner. She doesn’t let her food settle. Finally naked after after bath.

A warning: Everything is OK. Lara is fine. Everyone is fine. Don’t worry.

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So we went to the Vondelpark paddling pool…

lucie — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:22:11 +0000

It is stinking hot here, and as Lara missed her promised swimming trip on Sunday, and again on Monday due to Mac’s trip to the vet, I was under pressure today to deliver. Fortunately, the Dutch have a very relaxed attitude to health, safety and general hygiene, and operate permanent giant paddling pools in many of the parks from May to September. These are remarkably clean and well-looked after and very pleasant places to while away a morning (the afternoons are usually super-hot and very packed).

So Mac went off for his walk with Outlet this morning, and Lara and I set off for the Vondelpark pool. We grabbed a spot in the shade, had a quick play in the sand-pit, and then stripped down (Lara) and greased up (both of us) ready for the paddling pool. A great time was had by all, (most) toys are shared freely amongst the kids, the water is clear and cool, and the deepest is just over Lara’s knees so it’s not at all intimidating for the little ones.

Interestingly, I counted only 4 hats on kids from about 100-150 in the total pool enclosure (there weren’t that many kids in the pool!). And Lara was the only child with sunglasses!

Lara in Vondel Park

A Canal Boat in France with Family

mark — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 08:13:41 +0000

We had a good think about where to go on holidays this year, we thought about the practicalities of taking a 2 year old abroad, and how we should probably avoid places with swimming pools. How we have a dog and we want to bring him with us. But we ended up throwing all thought out of the window and going on a Canal Boat Holiday in France, á la Rick Stein. We’d get great food and we could see my folks too!

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QuickTime version you can download (Dad, this is for you)

Note: This video is also up on YouTube in HD 720, but thanks to extremely restrictive copyright laws, the audio track has been disabled and I can’t face going back and recutting the video to another piece of music. If you have Van Morrison ‘Caravan’ from the Moondance album, hit play the YouTube version at the same time and it’ll work. Here’s the Spotify link.

Second Note: I’d link to buy the track, but Van Morrisons website is down, the Official Exile Films YouTube Channel is down and I can’t find anywhere online to link to so you can buy his music!

Click on the picture to see the rest

Top tip when driving through France, pick up the Alastair Sawday Guide to French Bed and Breakfasts (or his Chateau Guide if you’re feeling flush), we stayed in another gem; La Quincy near Laon. Stunning house, freindly family and Raspberry and Pear with custard tart to die for! Just make sure you book up in advance, none of these places are particularly big so if you don’t, you might end up staying in a Mercure Hotel in a Business Park.

Lara and Lucie at La Quincy in 2010

Lucie at La Quincy December 2007

Lara’s Second Birthday

mark — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:06:38 +0000

A 18 hour day for Lucie thanks to Mac whining at 6.15am. Friends arrived on the dot of three, Lara didn’t wake until half past. I hate to complain about the weather, but not only was it too hot to eat the plates of sandwiches, it was too hot to even drink properly! Did some nice iced coffees though

Lovely day, Lara got some great pressies including an England World Cup strip from Uncle Steve.

Click on the picture for more.