Gyros

A delicious meal that I was happy to share with my parents. Gyro roast pork, green salad, tzatziki (with mint from the garden) and spicy ajvar.

My new Uggs

One of Mummy's conspiracy theories is that she was actually picked up from the wheelie bin outside an Inuit igloo. That, combined with Papa's abnormal sweat gene, which I seem to have inherited, means that I am much more cold-tolerant than my tropical relatives could ever imagine. Indeed, my month in the tropics (which my recalcitrant Mummy has yet to blog about) was only made bearable by the copious application of air-conditioning. However, the recent dip in temperatures has proven a bit nippy, even for this household. So I'm thrilled with these fabulous Ugg boots, a gift from my great-aunt in Sydney.

They are lined with sheepskin and are lovely and toasty! Despite my best efforts, the Velcro closing stayed secure. Don't they go perfectly with my jeggings?

A trip to North Yorkshire

The first part of our travels this summer (first week of August) brought us to North Yorkshire. This was my first proper holiday. Mummy had a singing gig and Papa was chauffeur and babysitter. We stayed in a residential college with a sports complex, where I was almost literally thrown into the deep end. I am sorry to report that things did not go swimmingly.

Fortunately, new experiences of the gastronomic variety were much better received. Here's some of the fun stuff that I tried for the first time around Yorkshire :

- scallops, salmon, haddock, pork pie pastry
- peas, pea puree (adult version), potato, green olive tapenade
- watercress
- tiramisu, Sachertorte

Lobster risotto, seafood platter, beef dripping fried chips

I got to try some of the fish from the seafood platter pictured. There was also a gorgeous plate of scallops but my parents were too busy watching me for possible shellfish allergy and concomitant anaphylactic shock to take a photograph. 

I enjoyed all the exciting new foods. But evidently, my parents forgot to read the chapter in the childcare manual that says you should only introduce potential allergens like shellfish, wheat, eggs, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol when the child is at least a year old.

Do real men eat cupcakes?

I am also pleased to report that my parents survived the logistical challenge of transporting me around the country. It did involve packing half the contents of the house into the car, and my paraphernalia - non-collapsible buggy, Bumbo, travel cot, car seat, toys, clothes and toiletries - filled virtually every available crevice. Bring on the next challenge, I say!

Happy Birthday!

Today's my first birthday!

I started the day with a refreshing drink from the tap. What a difference from a year ago, lying in neonatal intensive care being fed via a nasogastric tube.

Then my Ah Ma presented me with a lovely red envelope. What fun! I love shredding paper and then eating it (excellent roughage, try it sometime!) so I was most delighted with this tribute and clung tightly to it. Then that spoilsport Mummy had to come and confiscate the red packet, muttering something about junior ISAs. Ah Ma was kind enough to give me another red envelope, one that felt lighter - perhaps it was empty?