A New Bike Seat

A lot has happened since the last Blog entry. Emma's Great-Grandma Connie (known as 'G-G') is currently in hospital. She is now on the mend & back home soon we hope!

The big news with Emma this week is that she is starting to really master crawling. The pictures below were taken on Thursday. We spent the day in North Petherton with Emma's Great-Nanna, Great-Uncle Dave & Lisa, cousin Luke & Joey, their Golden Retriever.


The photos below were taken on Saturday when Emma's Gramma Leila popped around for a cuppa. Emma was showing how clever she has become by walking alone with her trolley. She has yet to master steering it, as she ended up bashing the tree with her trolley!

We really enjoyed the sun, and Emma is starting to wear her new sun hat - pictures, no doubt, will follow!!

After our coffee we all set off to the Clevedon Cottage Hospital to visit the 'G-G' (pictured above with her ladyship). Emma was really playing to the galleries, waving & blowing raspberries to the other patients & their visitors.
Becky & Rob (the future Mr & Mrs Armstrong as of 3rd August!) came around on Saturday night for a yummy chicken kebab & making a start on their wedding invitations.

This morning (Sunday) Becky came to collect her bike after church, so we decided to join her on a trip to Yatton. Emma seemed to enjoy the scenery & looks the business in her funky cycle helmet!

I would add that the cycle helmet has a very odd design. It depicts a collection of rabbits toiling in an underground mine to steal carrots. It looks like some sort of rabbit concentration camp!!

We cycled to Rob & Becky's pad in Yatton & enjoyed their garden. Emma enjoyed her lunch there, then had an after-dinner stone to compliment the meal. We attempted to get the stone out, but she swallowed too quickly! She seemed fine otherwise....

Emma enjoyed a little kip on the way back home.

Here's Emma Crawling! Click on the coloured writing to watch some video footage.

Mum & Dad Shallcross visited this afternoon after attending a retirement 'do' for an old friend in Winsford. Emma was on top form & enjoyed a trip out on the sea front in the Silver Cross Pram. We popped in to see Mum & Dad Coles on the way back home. Below Emma is showing her new skill in lifting her foot to clear steps!

She became hungry after all the excitements of the day, and was fed in Mum & Dad Coles' conservatory by Granny Shallcross!

We look forward to receiving some complimentary comments regarding the swiftness of this Blog. You know who this is directed at!!!

Easter at Wallmead

We had a grand meal on Good Friday with Mum & Dad, Becky & Rob & Nanna. After enjoying the Coles company, we headed off to Wallmead on Saturday. A grand barbecue was held in the garden for 22 people - just a small gathering....

Above is Jane carving up a succulent lamb joint cooked on the barbecue, and Mike toiling away to feed the thousands.

The theme of the feast was Moroccan food, and the range and tastes were fantastic. On the left is Linda's dish of Moroccan prawns, and the rest of the feast is on the right and below.


Lin & Mike have been very kind & passed down lots of baby items. The most recent is the cot pictured below. Emma seen sleeping in it, but decided to lie horizontally with her legs poking out of the cot. She did this twice, and looked so funny!

After this refreshing nap she helped with the Easter egg hunt in the garden. Billy is pictured on the left positioning the big Easter egg prize at the very highest possible place in the garden!

Here is Rosie on the hunt for Easter Eggs, and Billy lurking in the trees above.

Emma wore a very pretty dress on Easter Sunday to impress all the relatives. Below is myself (Helen), Dave & Granny Blackburn in the garden.

Cousin Rosie couldn't resist a cuddle!

Granny B, Emma & Dave having a smile together, and Emma smearing her face with chocolate Easter nest cakes!

Below is Jasper in a swanky Jaguar.

And Martin trying to unblock a drain & find ducks nests. The prints on the right are reported to be otter footprints.

Below is Emma fast asleep with her leg dangling out of the cot again!

On Monday morning we attended a 50th birthday drinks party for Lord Talbot's son, Richard. Wallmead Farm is made from the same stone as their mansion, which is pictured above right.


In the afternoon Lin, Mike & Ria arrived for an outdoor picnic. Ria introduced Emma to the joys of wheelbarrow rides!

We had a lovely lunch outside from the barbecue leftovers, and Ria was kind enough to bring some of her old toys.

We had great fun with making balloon shapes & loud bangs when they popped.

Ria was not very taken with her new hat (above right!)

On Monday afternoon we all met up for an Easter Egg Hunt at Old Wardour Castle. Emma had a nice sleep, and all the family present are pictured from the top of the castle in the above left photo. Mike came in appropriate attire to defend the castle.



Above is the final competition in Easter Egg painting. Ria & Rosie won 2 chocolate rabbits for their artistic endeavours. Well done!
Below is Rosie creating a fetching purple moustache with balloons.