Philip and I have been on a couple of exciting adventures this week. In Thursday we met with Liz D at Cadbury World to use my 2 for the price of 1 ticket. In fact is was 3 for the price of 1 since Philip, being under 4, got in free but they then give you all the free chocolate for him. We're considering taking a coach load of babies next time (not very seriously) ! The best bit for me was the chocolate tasting area where they give you a small pot of runny chocolate as you go in. We got to move melted chocolate around and watch hyperactive school children get over excited. One to the point of putting melted chocolate on his teachers face. I'm right back onto chocolate now, Philip having largely outgrown his objection to it second hand.

And on Saturday we joined my parents for my Dad's birthday treat of visiting a community of eco-homes called the Hockerton Housing Project, near Newark. The drive down was great - snow lying at the side of the road but a dry, non-frozen road to drive on. The project was very interesting. We are quite interested in using the principles to build or adapt an energy efficient house if we get the chance at some point. Anyway, we've bought the fact sheets! My Mum did a grand job looking after Philip so I could take part in most of the tour and watch the presentation in peace.

Philip update: He's now having baths in the big bath after he starting having a mad splashing time in his baby bath. We got the giggles (a sign of improved nights sleep) and he got water on his face and started crying poor love. He's done a front to back roll once infront of his Gran so Ed hasn't seen the new trick yet. We'll see if he repeats it. We've started with small quantities of food very gently so he's tried baby rice, carrot and apple so far (separately). It seems to be going well.

The South African rural technology education project had some good applications and we'll be interviewing the shortlisted students the weekend after next. So it's all looking positive there too.