The Belly Of the Beast

Costumes

2012-01-31T21:10:00.000Z

From September. When we could use the back garden, and all (unlike now).

Working

2012-01-30T22:14:00.001Z

Industriously after getting presents.

Pink and Yellow

2012-01-29T22:33:00.001Z

Having a babychino.

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More flying

2012-01-28T12:46:00.001Z

Again, she says.. Again!
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Hiding

2012-01-24T07:32:00.001Z

In the pile of xmas trees.

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Funfairing

2012-01-02T23:19:00.000Z

A Funfair seems to have popped up for a week in She Bu. The little people seem to think That This Is A Good Thing.

New Years Eve

2011-12-31T20:30:00.001Z

At Uncle Effs.

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Opening Presents

2011-12-28T20:35:00.000Z

Very special presents obviously.

Presentmania

2011-12-26T21:30:00.001Z

As expected, woken up early(ish) by gleeful sounds of stockings being raided.

Prepared

2011-12-24T23:30:00.000Z

Ok, the pile is very Matthews.

Paint

2011-12-23T21:24:00.001Z

Natasha at the office kids Xmas party.

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In Her Majesty's Not Very Secret Service

2011-12-22T21:15:00.001Z

Her Mouseness and Her Snufflyness are now British Citizens.

Huzzah!

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Epic

2011-12-18T10:55:00.001Z

Not only does the local Lego store sell pick and mix blocks, but it also has this!

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Window

2011-12-14T22:29:00.001Z

Another lazy lunch at the Red Cafe.

Frog in a pond

2011-12-10T11:26:00.001Z

Gribbet, gribbet.

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Tree Time

2011-12-05T20:51:00.001Z

At the insistent prompting of a very Christmasophiliac mouse, a Christmas tree was purchased this weekend. Naturally Emily picked the biggest (read: most expensive) one.

Still, they had a great time decorating it.

Fuel

2011-11-30T15:54:00.001Z

Car trips are a lot more fun now. Huzzah for the golden arches, etc.

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Big Hair Fairy

2011-11-23T08:09:00.001Z

Looking through her book of spells.
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Shopping for Decorations

2011-11-18T07:00:00.000Z

So we're at Peter Jones, and the girls are told they can pick three decorations each, and to put it in the basket...

So Natasha find the most fantastic bird/chicken thing.

And pops it in the basket and is off.

Alas, after some negotiation, said bird thing goes back on the shelf.

Rolling

2011-11-17T13:30:00.000Z

At Mottisfont. The little ridge between the fairy castle and the creek was the main event as far as the girls were concerned.

Birthday

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000Z

Happy Birthday little miss snuffly.

Scooting

2011-11-15T15:00:00.000Z

A fairy and a Ladybird went down the road one day.

Story Time

2011-11-14T19:03:00.000Z

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Scary Witch

2011-11-07T23:00:00.001Z

I'll admit, I don't really know where the feather boa came from.

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Chair Wars

2011-11-06T10:03:00.001Z

Natasha and Emily in Starbucks.

You've got to fight,
for your right,
to sit in the chair.

Halloween

2011-11-03T14:37:00.001Z

Zombie children!!!

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Potato

2011-10-29T20:38:00.000Z

Harvest time.

(OK, actually a month or so back, but hey.)

Fairies of Mottisfont

2011-10-18T20:49:00.001Z

In a place doing a fairy exhibition, Emily was in her element.

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Running

2011-10-17T17:43:00.001Z

With a yell.

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Laughter

2011-10-02T21:54:00.001Z

Best performed by snuffly people.

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Funfair

2011-09-28T21:15:00.000Z

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Candy Floss

2011-09-11T21:50:00.000Z

As big as your head!

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Rooftops

2011-08-16T10:14:00.001Z

The view from Peter Jones.

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Swing

2011-08-14T20:40:00.001Z

Natasha on the flying fox. Let's just say she knows no fear.

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Bubbles

2011-08-13T11:28:00.001Z

Professionally mixed by Bubbleologists no less.

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Footprints

2011-07-30T15:34:00.000Z

From one of the recent trips to bournemouth.

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George

2011-07-29T06:38:00.001Z

Having a swing.

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Picnic

2011-07-25T22:10:00.001Z

On the way to a teddy bear (and george) picnic.

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Rrr

2011-07-24T21:14:00.001Z

I'm a monster...

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Hello Cat

2011-06-28T18:23:00.000Z

I suspect that the cat is the local school cat, as it was certainly not afraid of children.

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Accessorise

2011-06-21T21:42:00.000Z

Natasha in the bag.

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Techno Children

2011-06-18T10:09:00.001Z

The iPad continues to entertain.

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That Time Again

2011-06-01T06:56:00.001Z

Happy Birthday Little Mouse.

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Bubbles

2011-05-23T20:36:00.000Z

Lots of, even.

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Focus

2011-05-22T20:44:00.001Z

Especially on the ice cream.

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Swinging

2011-05-15T11:51:00.001Z

Still popular.

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Holiday

2011-04-29T11:41:00.002Z

Photos!

Carousel

2011-04-11T19:43:00.000Z

As approved by Emily.

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Busy

2011-04-02T20:53:00.001Z

At Westfield. Much ice cream was eaten.

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Where's Natasha?

2011-03-30T21:48:00.001Z

Rugs. Not just for covering the floor.

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No Hiding Place

2011-03-22T23:10:00.001Z

Someone doesn't want her teeth brushed..

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Bag Lady

2011-03-15T19:28:00.001Z

Another successful trip to the charity shop.

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Nest

2011-03-14T17:00:00.001Z

For teeny tiny bird.

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Frog chair

2011-03-12T11:25:00.001Z

Now the back garden is warmer, Emily has reclaimed her frog chair.

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Picnic Time

2011-03-12T11:18:00.001Z

And with the marginally better weather, picnics are back on the menu.

Wrapping

2011-03-10T18:05:00.002Z

Spring is (kind of) springing. Time for little girls to see the daffodils at Kew.

Earmuffs

2011-03-09T22:02:00.001Z

Because Natasha snores, you know.

Attack of the Fairies (redux)

2011-03-02T21:35:00.002Z

Dancing Fairy

2011-02-28T18:11:00.002Z

From December, at the holiday house.

Break Time

2011-02-27T21:04:00.000Z

And it's important to try out the new linen.

Wandering

2011-02-27T20:05:00.002Z

Down the road with a bagmonster and a shopping trolley.

And other activities.

Synchronised

2011-02-25T21:02:00.000Z

One, two, three... Open!

Glee

2011-02-23T17:59:00.001Z

Is opening a pack of chocolate biscuits at Christmas.

Ninjae

2011-02-22T20:53:00.002Z

Phear our l337 hiding and clambering skills....

Random Photos for February

2011-02-06T18:51:00.004Z

In the absence of anything else, photos of small children :

Eden project:

Station cafe on way home. Emily has taken to sharing a hot chocolate with me, because she loves chocolate. (Well, that's her logic anyway)

And misc. household activity.

Lessons Learned

2011-01-23T21:23:00.001Z

Reason #1 not to buy the Lego Harry Potter game for the iPad:

Alix has stolen my iPad, and I don't expect to get it back until she's finished the game.

Cottaged

2010-12-31T23:49:00.001Z

Mr and Mrs Eff found us a fantastic cottage for NY. Have had a huge swim in the pool, great meal, and much beer is now being consumed.

Happy New Year all.

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Going West, Again

2010-12-30T22:09:00.001Z

The good thing about Xmas, was that Alix wanted a new phone "with a decent phone and GPS". This proved handy when going to the cottage in Devon with Eff and co. We were going down several C roads (and that is being generous), totally lost, however the joy of GPS saved us. Huzzah!

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Flying Away

2010-12-27T15:48:00.002Z

Attack of the flying fairies!

That Time Again

2010-12-25T22:34:00.003Z

Well Christmas has come and (almost) gone again. Two little girls seemed to think the whole thing was pretty fantastic.

Weathered

2010-11-30T16:15:00.001Z

Cycling to work through the snow. Very cold, but somewhat exciting.

Mainly cold though.

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Nocturnal

2010-11-25T21:16:00.004Z

So we've moved the girls in together. Most of the times it works. But not always....

Expedition

2010-11-15T09:57:00.000Z

Some photos from an expedition with Renata.

Attack of the Fairies

2010-11-13T09:42:00.003Z

Like it says really.

Aqua

2010-11-12T09:33:00.003Z

Don't leave the bath running while the Snuffle is roaming the house.

And beware of buckets full of rainwater.

Movement

2010-10-31T22:36:00.003Z

Well so far the move in together of small children seems to be working - except Natasha is spectacularly uncooperative when Alix is trying to do bedtime by herself.

Have started new contract - harder work than I've had to do for a while, but pretty wide ranging. The cycle to work, while a lot less scenic than my last ride, is at least fairly short - around 25 mins. I think this is probably the shortest commute I've ever had - including Wellington.

And now for some pictures of little girls on holiday in Cornwall.

Living Space

2010-10-23T22:31:00.001Z

We finally gave in and moved the girls into the same room together. It might be an interesting night....

Working for The Man (Again)

2010-10-12T22:26:00.001Z

Have managed to get a new contract to see me through to February. Hooray!

Not Actually That Death-Defying

2010-10-06T20:59:00.002Z

Continuing the cycling-to-work thing, I'm now cycling through central London to London Bridge, which is a world apart from the relatively calm cycling I was doing before.

Previously my journey was pretty straightforward, with the last 3-4 miles on a bush track. Now... not so much.

Currently it is more like - down High St Kensington, through Hyde Park, under Wellington Arch, down Constitution Hill, round Buckingham Palace, Past St James park, past the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, over Westminster Bridge, and then behind Waterloo till you hit London Bridge.

Mostly picturesque (except the last bit)

Whereas the highlights of my last trip were the BBC Television Centre and Wormwood Scrubs Prison (and Queen Charlotte's, where the girls were born).

Traffic is not nearly as dangerous as I thought - mainly due to the lowish speed I imagine. Pedestrians seem to be more of a hazard.

And occasionally, you have to take a detour due to some dudes on horses doing something ceremonial-like.

Rage Against the Machine (Coffee)

2010-09-01T08:12:00.001Z

There seems to be a conspiracy to ensure all of the stations I use have rubbish coffee. Watford's Costa has become an AMT, and Shepherds Bush Rail has a lovely friendly independent coffee/sandwich shop.... that only sells machine coffee. Blah.

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Fatigued

2010-08-31T22:00:00.001Z

And not (just) because of Her Snufflyness.

I've taken up cycling part of the way to work (as those sampling the dubious joys of Facebook would know). I'm generally cycling around 7 miles each way, with a short train journey in the middle.

Positives: fitness certainly improving.

Negatives: evenings like tonight where I can barely summon the energy to get out of the chair to go to bed.

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Splish Splosh Splash

2010-08-20T22:04:00.002Z

How much water can we get out of the bath?

History Regularly Repeats

2010-08-06T19:52:00.001Z

Which is why I seem to be at the GBBF. Again.

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Slow Day

2010-08-05T18:05:00.001Z

But surprisingly not completely unproductive. The couple of 7% ciders at the end of the night weren't the most prudent move I've ever made, however.

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Field Report 2

2010-08-04T19:47:00.001Z

Or the Danish Red Nitro.

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Field Report

2010-08-04T19:46:00.000Z

Don't drink the Tsarina Esra Reserve (11%)

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Inbound

2010-08-04T16:00:00.001Z

On way to the Great British Beer Festival. I may be some time.

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Artistry

2010-07-31T21:31:00.003Z

Now in stereo.

Here be Tripods

2010-07-29T07:25:00.000Z

Alix took me down to Riverside Studios (one of Sharon's hangouts when she was here) to see Tripod vs. The Dragon last night. The blurb for the show:

"Legendary in their native Australia, Tripod regularly play the Sydney Opera House and other massive places of high art. Their latest opus: a musical theatre work of exquisite sophistication and hilarity that delves deep into the terrifying, operatic, geektastic world of Dungeons and Dragons"

Much laughter ensued.

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(Im)Mobility

2010-07-26T21:09:00.000Z

Children are asleep. And I don't have to get off the couch to blog. Life is good.

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Proms

2010-07-24T18:45:00.003Z

Thanks to a clash of schedules, Alix has ended up with a ticket for tonight's Doctor Who Prom. Sounds pretty funky.

(Edit - Alix reports it has Daleks!)

Went to Sleepy's son Connor's christening - children were thankfully well behaved at the church. Except for one mad dash for freedom from Natasha.

At the pub after however behaviour was a bit more.... mixed.

On the down side, looks like our camera LCD display is busted. Poo.

And... random cute photo.

Impromptu

2010-07-23T09:27:00.000Z

Sometimes, you've just got to throw a little party.

The Dad in the Hat

2010-07-22T08:40:00.003Z

We had the Hilton Spring Ball a while back - the theme this year was 'Mad Hatters Ball', so Emily and Alix painted me a Hat.

Ball was fanstastico as usuaal - good work Mr Eff.

Ticking clock

2010-07-21T18:05:00.000Z

Hmmm.. Contract coming to an end soonish, and may not be an extension.

Boo hiss.

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The Stuff What We Did

2010-07-21T09:31:00.001Z

Ok, June. And Stuff. Number One recent event of course was Her Mouseness's birthday. I must confess some surprise to having a three year-old. Said birthday was (repeatedly) celebrated with cake.

Other big event was heading up north to catch up with Toadboy, Zarah and baby Max. We booked a cottage on a farm an hour north of Newcastle in Alnmouth - which turned out to be a fantastic idea, as there was a combination of cows, beaches, fish and chips, Alnwick gardens, and a fabulous old second hand bookshop all within 10-15 minutes drive.

Unsurprisingly, the new parents (Max was 8ish weeks then) were a bit frazzled, but seem to be doing alright. Max seems quite cute for someone who is clearly going to be the Doom Of Us All.

Children were taken to a petting farm, where much moo's and baa's were successfully identified. Beaches were seen and fish-and-chip piranha's fed.

Other stuff: I seem to find myself travelling back to Watford, much to my surprise. Though I'm going to have to sort out a bike for the last leg, to try and cut the commuting time. I've got my eye on a Dahon Jack D7, but I'm going to have to wait for the gadget budget to recover from the pad purchase.

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Noooooooo

2010-07-20T09:09:00.000Z

They've taken away my Costa at the station! Bastards!

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Buble

2010-07-08T23:36:00.003Z

While I'm writing the "so that was June" post, have some bubbles on me.

Padded

2010-07-01T21:15:00.001Z

Time to party like it's 1987!

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Spotty Baby

2010-05-20T20:33:00.000Z

Time for round two - Natasha!

Plague Strikes

2010-05-08T13:59:00.001Z

Finally the much-expected chickenpox has arrived for Emily. Looks like a relatively mild case, and she's bearing up as well as can be expected.

I suspect Natasha won't be quite so easy when she (inevitably) gets it.