Last and first...

Before the supreme being descended into our life we were always away in Doodoo. Many a weekend was spent racing up the west coast on a Friday after work, to enjoy a weekend of hopeful sunshine in the Highlands. Just before Emily was born we decided to have a 'last' night away on Loch Chon in the Trossachs, as we imagined our wandersome life may be somewhat curtailed for the foreseeable future...that was last October.

Picture perfect views at Loch Chon 2012

Three and a half weeks before E-day

And so it was that I returned from work last Friday with the sun still splitting the sky, brimming with wanderlust, and suggested to Mummy that we once more race up to Loch Chon and give the supreme being a taste of our life before she arrived. Mummy thankfully jumped at the chance and we quickly packed and piled our things into Doodoo. One immediate problem became apparent as it was obvious we were no longer able to bolt out the blocks and travel quite as light as before. But it wasn't long before the car seat, pushchair, baby bath, bumbo seat, sling, baby backpack and various others toys, teethers and accoutrements were all packed and we were off for Emi's 'first' night of kipping in the van. 

We arrived just in time before the sun set behind the hills and managed to secure the exact same spot as 9 months before. It was magic...better than we could have dreamed :-).

A quick paddle before bathtime

The bathroom had a view to die for

Bathtime al fresco is magic!!

Location = 8 out of 10

Daddy's cooking = 2 out of 10

Video clip: Verdict = whirling hands for 10 out of 10

Despite all the excitement the supreme being managed to sleep right through the night, the fresh air must have done the trick. Mummy and Daddy even got a wee bit of time watching the sunset kept warm by a fire on the beach. There's hope yet for the old life...

Daddy finally chilling by the fire

No longer a second hand child...

The supreme being loves the sun

I have a theory that Glasgow gets a proper summer every 7 or 8 years. I have been here 15 years and this is my third decent summer, so it must be true. It really is glorious this year though. And with the supreme being in tow, we have spent hours and hours happily wandering around the place - just enjoying 'being' in the sun. 

There's something about this year though that feels very different. Seeing Emily delight at the sight of a flower or the sound of a bird has made me start to look at our amazing world with new eyes, and just appreciate the very simple things in life. Our daughter is growing up fast. They say that time speeds up when you have children. We can't believe she's nearly 9 months old. Where did it go?

Up to now she has been a second-hand child. A big thank you to everyone who has donated things to us, and another big thank you to everyone who has donated things to charity shops which we have bought for her. However, the other day I took the urge to dig deep and splash out £3.20 on a paddling pool from Mothercare. Emi took to it at once... summer is now complete!! Happy summer everyone - hope the sun is shining wherever you are...

Heaven is a paddling pool on a summers day

Video clip: Summer fun with the wee one

The little people...

Whilst the supreme being has not quite mastered the intricacies of our family tree, she has started to enjoy the company of her cousins. She likes little people, they are more her size and are more at her level, and they certainly don't try and wipe her face or nose clean with a wet cloth like Mummy and Daddy do.

We've recently spent two weekends visiting little people - firstly for cousin Dylen's 2nd birthday in Edinburgh, and then to cousins Rosie (6) and Abbie (4) in North Berwick.

 

Dylen loved his 2nd birthday

 Bathtime with cousins is SO much fun

She loved both trips and spent the whole time smiling away at her new found friends. In fact she loved the little people so much that we went in search of more of them with a trip to Pressmennan Woods.

Elusive creatures live amongst the old dying trees in Pressmennan Wood. Glingbobs and Tootflits have made the wood their home, and those with keen eyes can often see the signs of their habitation. The Glingbob is part woodlouse and part bumble bee.  It lives on the forest floor and its home is always found at the base of a dead or dying tree.  The Tootflit on the other hand is part dragonfly and part weevil and can fly, and so inhabits the woodland canopy.

 The cousins prepare for the search

Knocking to see if Glingbob Bombi Noffnuff is at home

Decision time on whose house to visit next

 Excitedly searching for the elusive little people

But unfortunately all good times must come to an end. And so the cousins all headed back to their respective homes having found where the Glingbobs and Tootflits lived, but what they did not see were the creatures themselves. Apparently they are there though – but they are very, very shy, and were no doubt watching from a safe distance.

Homeward bound

The little people wore the supreme being out

Sandwich fortnight...

Growing up in a racket sport crazed family meant that the annual arrival of Wimbledon was clearly pencilled in to the family calendar every year. For two weeks in early summer life revolved around the tennis matches being battled out in SW19. Family legend has it that in the days running up to the start of play, my mother would be busy in the kitchen preparing a mountain of sandwiches the likes of which were undreamed of when John Montague, 4th Earl of Sandwich, slapped some cheese between two bits of bread. All catering was cancelled during Wimbledon fortnight, the Rooke family being forced to slowly work it's way through this bread Himalaya for the duration of play.

Whether truth actually resembles history is still a matter of heated debate, but whatever the reality Wimbledon will forever be known to me as 'Sandwich Fortnight'. And for the record, I have made a couple of tactical calls to my dad this year to check he hasn't starved by the fourth round.

 

Aspriations were high from an early age...

Like the Rooke child she is, the supreme being has taken a very keen interest in the tennis during her first Wimbledon. So much so, it has been extraordinarily difficult to get her to bed at any semblance of a decent time since it began. She's taken to sitting in her little seat watching 'Today at Wimbledon' while Mummy and Daddy are nodding off on the sofa, and getting visibly upset when the days play is over. Oh well, at least its only a fortnight...and I for one am well conditioned to not having a hot meal during Wimbledon.

Tension is high with Murray in the 3rd round