Monday, August 27, 2007

Dragon Boat Races and Carnival Weekend
























































We have all had a pretty hectic week including; a trip to Glasgow and Edinburgh (such a beautiful part of the world), a visit from Simon's Auntie Sue and Uncle Gordon, a staff party featuring dragon boat racing at Canary Warf, a lazy lunch in Queens Park, a beautiful BBQ on Howard and Barnie's East London roof top terrace and an afternoon of dancing at Notting Hill Carnival (dad did the dancing with Richard Fearne while Maddie and I chilled out away from the mayhem with friends). Thank goodness it was a long weekend... we all needed the extra day to recover.
Maddie is such a cool character. She is so sweet, social and happy. She just fits in everywhere we take her and happily dozes off when she starts to feel sleepy, no matter where we are. She is pure goodness.
I read a lovely article the other day that reminded me not to take one single day with her for granted. Here is a little extract...
I remember once as a kid, I did something dumb. My actual crime was I lied about where my friends and I were going one night. My father - because he wasn't born yesterday, either - caught me out, and I felt appropriately stupid and embarrassed. And then, in a rare moment of parental candour, explained, "It's OK. your job is to try and get away with stuff. And my job is to try and stop you. That's how the game works." And it is a game. A really fast game, too. No kidding - it really does go incredibly fast. and you'd think knowing that in advance helps, but it doesn't. Everything the good stuff, the bad stuff, the hard stuff - it all ultimately goes away. It evaporates, with no clear warning. One day, you just notice, "Hey, you stopped asking me to read you a bedtime story. Hmm... I guess that's over". Or, "Hey, you don't waddle when you run anymore - when did that happen?" The changes are so imperceptible. But, I suppose, how else could it be? Nowhere along the growth curve do toddlers announce, "Daddy, y'see this little fleshy part of my thigh that's really soft? Well, take a good look, because that's all changing. Wednesday at three." No-one tells you that, but come Wednesday, sure enough, it's gone.
So as it turns out, my father did know what he was doing. His game plan was simple but on-the-money: "You be the best kid you can be, I'll be the best father I can be, and let's see what happens."

Lots of love xxx

Monday, August 20, 2007

More Festival Fun






































Apart from a nasty gastric bug that struck Maddie and Simes last week, life has been grand. Maddie had another rockin' weekend catching up with friends on Saturday and grooving to a fab array of bands at the V Festival on Sunday.
I am off to the Edinburgh Film Festival for a couple of days this week and we are looking forward to a visit from Simon's auntie and uncle this weekend. Simon is also heading down to the Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday... think Maddie and I will give that one a miss... much too hectic for the Nicholls girls!

Maddie is looking suspiciously like she would like to crawl! Simes and I are actively discouraging it. We like her being in one spot where we can keep her out of trouble!
Take care & lots of love xxx


Sunday, August 12, 2007

Maddie's Mates and Birthdays Galore!

































































































This weekend, Maddie caught up with some of her best mates. On Saturday she joined her playmates for a BBQ at Scarlett's house in Queens Park. They jammed together on their musical instruments and giggled the afternoon away in the paddling pool. It was blissful to see the little munchkins so happy together.
On Saturday night, Simes and I helped Barney and Howie celebrate their 30th Birthdays at a fabulous members club in Soho, while Poonam (the lady that takes care of Maddie at nursery) came over and looked after the little minx. It was the first time we left Maddie with an official 'baby sitter'... she slept through the entire experience!
Our beautiful friend Pam had a garden party on Sunday to celebrate her 60th birthday. Pam (Nattie's mum) has cooked us Christmas lunch every year that we have been in London and has showered little Maddie with love from the moment she was born (including cooking her batches of delicious baby food teaching her wonderful African nursery rhymes). It was such a pleasure to help her celebrate her birthday in the sunshine surrounded by lovely friends.
We are looking forward to another music festival next weekend. I hope Maddie doesn't get too used to this rock'n roll lifestyle... I don't know if I have the energy to maintain it!

Congratulations are in order for so many of our lovely friends and family members in Australia with the arrival of hoards of gorgeous new babies. Wishing all the new additions good health and good luck always.

Lots of love xxx

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Ferret Races in the Sun Shine!




























































































The sun has been shining all weekend, so little Maddie made the most of it by catching up with friends and enjoying London's gorgeous parks. Simes, Maddie and I had a fab day in Primrose Hill on Friday, taking in all the sights and sounds and chowing down on lovely pub lunch. On Saturday, we caught up with our dear friends Imogen and Natasha Clark (who we hadn't see for over four years) and their lovely dad Richard (who we hadn't seen for over 10 years!). Funnily enough, we also enjoyed a pub lunch with them (I see a pattern emerging!). Today we had a splendid day with friends at a brilliant fete in Regents Park. The fete included everything from farmers markets, to blues music to ferret racing! It doesn't get much more exciting that that for a little 9 month old girl.
Maddie is getting more and more delicious every week. She is so chilled out, happy and agreeable. I just hope that she can keep her beautiful disposition as she grows older. Her chatter is starting to make more sense now and I suspect it wont be long before our little lady can tell us what she really thinks about this crazy world we have brought her into. We really do thank our lucky stars every day that little Maddie came into our lives. She is pure joy.
Lots of love xxx