Saturday 23rd November 2024

Grandma Jandma and Auntie Ellie came to visit you today. Ellie, Uncle Mark and Ruby had bought you some presents - all panda themed. She'd also brought some bits that her friend Sue had knitted for you. I told Ellie that if she kept buying you panda things, I would tell you to call her Great Aunt Helen.

We all went for a walk to Ciccios to get some lunch. The weather was miserable, but the lunch was nice - as it always seems to be. You were quite good, though you did start whinging a bit while we were finishing up.

I went to Waitrose to buy some Sudocrem while everyone else walked home. They all walk very slowly - I once jokingly referred to it as the Banon Waddle and I don't think they've ever forgiven me for it. They do dawdle though - Auntie Zoe will back me up on that.

As it turns out, they did beat me home and had already left by the time I arrived. I guess that showed me.

You and your mum had a nap while I got on with a few jobs around the house. First I fixed the airing cupboard shelves which I'd managed to pull down the other day, then I suited up and went into the loft to relay the insulation I'd had to move so Grandad Bob could mess with the pipes. We had quite a bad rat infestation in our loft a few years ago - caused by a cracked sewer pipe downstairs - and, while the rats have long since moved on, they've definitely left their mark. I suppose I'll have to get it sorted one day.

We had cheese on toast for dinner while you dozed in your mum's arms. We've been watching The Simpsons from the beginning for the last few months, and you can tell it's really starting to drop now - it was a clip show about times they've sung.

It's now almost 1am and your mum's just put you to bed. You seem settled, though you're also making some very ominous squeaking noises. Auntie Sophie gave us a rabbit that makes shush noises, as she said it used to help settle Toby. Fingers crossed. I hope I sleep better tonight.

Dad.