The crawling development continues - todays fun was crawling up to Daisy (Charlotte and Dave's dog) "stroking" her and then trying to chase after her when she got fed up and walked off. In the middle of a Scout camping field of course.

On our return from there, Biscuit invited us for a drink so we headed round the corner for a very pleasant quick half of Theakston's for me and some grapefruit juice for Philip (no idea why he likes it but he seems to!). While I was getting his buggy from the car ready to go he nearly crawled out the front door!

All is now quiet on that front. We're up to 3 teeth now (bottom 2 and top right). I'm hoping he won't be teething next week as we've got a couple of important social engagements, but we'll see.

Better go and clear round the house so we're ready for the working week. Training course on railway safety tomorrow.

We have crawling! A bit wobbly but definitely the right idea.

I've also just recieved Philip's first waistcoat ready for his Aunt's wedding!

What an exciting morning.

In response to Dave's comment, he hasn't crawled forwards yet. He is getting more efficient at going backwards and can push himself back up to sitting from lying on his front by pushing up with his arms. He is however gaining a top tooth after a few unsettled nights.

Was ever so proud of myself yesterday. Not only am I managing to keep the day to day things more or less under control while Ed's away but I also managed to get the car booked in for a MOT (finally), me booked in for a hair cut and make progress with the washing and tidying post camp.

While Ed has been galavanting in South Africa, Philip and I have had a brief sojourn in Sweden (the krona and rand exchange rate to the pound are remarkably similar - what can be read into that?)

The weather was wonderful and it sounds like it was a good time to be away from work and nursery as everyone was complaining about the heat. We stayed at a Scout campsite and I was able to contribute a bit to the work - finding stones to hold posts steady as concrete was felt too environmentally intrusive, making models of obstacles so that debates as to the best construction methods could be held, learning to use a planer (thing that sands fast) and negotiating the use of elenor's paintbrush (she's 4) for sign painting.

I also had time to swim in the sea nearly every day, including some longer swims to the nearby island, and we had a bit of a cycle ride courtesy of the Gott's who lent us (amy, Philip and I) their tandem and trailer.

Philip came to really enjoy the SAGGA circle and the social mealtimes, learnt to put his toy rings on the spike, enjoyed watching people using large tools like axes, dipped his legs in the sea, ate swedish meatballs, was most at home in the lovely white toilets with great big mirrors in the village down the road, got everyone giggling in the post office in Stromstad and generally had a great time.

Philip and Gran ->