Heidi and I had a lie in this morning until 0930h or so. R had got up at 0630h to do a few things and so I had a good extra snooze. Heidi enjoys late mornings I think, provided someone is nearby.

We headed to the shops to get some bits and pieces, and visited Claire for a spot of scrounged breakfast (me.) Cuddles all ‘round and then I dropped R off at home to go shopping with Heidi in Torquay.

It was nice and sunny and so she was in her spotty dress with matching hat. We walked up and down the shops peering in through the windows and getting the various things that I needed, and she slept happily. Occasionally she would stir and smile happily, squinting when the sun almost blinded her.

I visit mum and dads where she is getting a bit grumpy and unsettled. She gets a cuddle from Grandma, and Grandad is chipping golf balls on the front lawn. One goes astray and clangs in to the house. Its all point away a short while later.

I come back to find that R has done three hours of gardening, cut the lawn and weeded, plus emptied the wormery. All in neat bags down the side of the house ready for the tip in the week.

The ‘phone goes and Hayley from work is nearby so is popping by. She arrives and Heidi settles down for a good tree frog snuggle and drops off, quite content. She re-awakens and smiles and cries and then nods off again.

Once in her bouncer chair she settles to watch the fish and starfish wave back at her.

The roast lamb is cooking in the oven with the hasselback potatoes cooking away too. I have not done them for ages and hope they will be a success as I will miss my roasties f they are not.

Today saw the three of us head to Exeter for a shopping trip. Heidi has not been here before, and in fact neither have we since Freddie was in Exeter.

The shopping areas have changed after a great deal of redevelopment so we got a little lost. Its OK, not really our cup of tea (or Costa Packet coffee indeed) so we skirted around the new bits and headed in to the areas we knew.

Heidi was asleep for most of the time but soon perked up in the afternoon and was chuckling to herself constantly. Eyes were bright and swivelling about, looking at all the lights and bright clothes as she sped by the shop windows. Noisy smelly buses made her frown as they thundered by in the “pedestrianised” areas, and a passing police car with siren made her jump and squint a little.

Lunch was a rather grim pasty in a place we had never been before. I have yet to discover a proper pasty in a shop, though the Pasty Heaven chain (W C Rowes) do one which occasionally meets with my approval. A grey paste that someone could have chewed beforehand is not what it’s about. Chuck steak, potato, onion and swede all recognisably the size of a 5mm cube, in short pastry is proper. Plus salt and pepper, with a vent hole in the top and the intial of whose pasty it is seals the deal.

Heidi needed a nappy changed so we headed to Debenhams and R and H went in to the baby changing facilities. Looked good to me, but I could not stay long in there. They say that your own baby’s poo does not smell that bad, but others are really difficult to stomach. Once in one of these infernal spaces, once you go to open the nappy bin a waft of a hundred different babies comes out and fills the room.

It’s evil. It is like the fart of Beelzebub, it really is. A concoction of different pongs escape and I can’t stay much longer. R gives me a weary shake of the head as I escape to compose myself outside in the comfy chair.

We move on to other shops and then head home. We stopped at The Range on the way back to look for something and had a coffee. Heidi was fast asleep by now, and this was good. In the coffee shop we had a drink although every few minutes the sole member of staff would smash a metal implement repeatedly against the metal worktop (three times), with such a force the mezzanine floor shook, and of course woke Heidi each time. She was actually clearing coffee grounds each time from the machine but the frequency really got on my nerves…..

We got home where a slightly sweaty Miss Wills took a bath and happily relaxed into her Moses basket knowing tomorrow would be another day.

We set off this morning, heading to South Petherton in Somerset to visit a friend, Frances.

Arriving before 1100h we had a coffee and a chat and Heidi got her cuddles from both Frances and little Daisy who was at home. Samuel was out at school today.

A nice big lunch and a chat afterwards meant a relaxing day and then Frances’ mum and dad popped by to see Heidi for the first time. We chatted for while and later went for a walk in the lanes which meant Heidi got some fresh country air again. Daisy was in her trike though did not want to be pushed by me.

During our conversations we discuss the gramophone player I had seen in a local antique shop, and which I would like. It’s expensive, but the combined previous purchases of gramophone players, and the subsequent hefty profits I have made almost justify buying it. It is actually a good piece of furniture and would be my ultimate goal in gramophone-things, so Rachel concedes that I can buy it. On the proviso that I sell my old desk and cabinet gramophone. Deal done!!

We headed back late afternoon along the A303 and pass by the antique shop near home, with the gramophone still in the window.

Once back Heidi gets her bath and seems content. She does smile a lot this evening, so hopefully enjoyed her day.

Another sunny morning, which looked good for the plans which are set for today.

Heidi had had a good night and had slept from 2200h through to 0530h where she had her breakfast. The routine is I do the nappy and R feeds H. All the stuff is her side of the bed (including H) and so this seems to work well.

I have today and tomorrow off. It is a national Unison strike day, so I have combined leave with a bit of militant action. Had I not been “short changed” the other month when I was on paternity leave I would probably have taken it as no pay, but needs must, and so I used leave instead.

On Father’s Day I gave my dad a ticket for the Lindstrand Helium Balloon flight, which has appeared this year, on Torquay seafront. I wanted to go on it too, so purchased two tickets, which are valid for a year. Every weekend we have wanted to go has seen it grounded due to poor weather, or good weather but too strong a breeze. It really does shift about when it is tethered. I give the “Balloon Hotline” a call and they confirm that indeed it is flying today. A quick call to dad who is clearing the hedge trimmings from the side of the house means we are ready to roll.

Once there we manage to park on the road, a few feet away from the balloon which is even better. It looks much larger than when I drive by it several times a day, and is soon in flight as we look up. It is a bit of a spectacle to behold, even in this day and age. Basic but fascinating.

We go through to the benched area, which I suppose a sort of Departure Lounge and await the return of this flying machine. Just two other people are waiting. Apparently it will fly even if there is one of you waiting which is good if you can time it right. Anyway, before the gondola hits the ground a few German women arrive, chattering away noisily and sit down like the rest of us. Once we are summoned to climb aboard the pilot explains that only five passengers can board this time because of the wind. Dad and I would be number three and four so a solo passenger is needed. Regardless of this, the Germans forge ahead of us clambering to get aboard before us, and it looks like we will not get on. I manage to point out to the pilot the error of the Germans ways, and they are disembarked, completely in the dark as to why, despite much gesticulating and slow speaking.

As we ascend, I give our European friends a little wave as they get smaller and smaller, to
which they surprisingly wave back.

20 minutes later we return to ground, and head off to the seafront and drive home. I think dad enjoyed it very much.

Heidi was with R all this time and slept well, watching the artificial fish on her bouncer and real ones in the tank.

I took her out for the afternoon around town and over to mum and dad’s. In town I visited the antique shop and saw a rather splendid horn gramophone, which at £350.00 is reasonable. However, I have a cabinet one that needs a clean up before I move it on, and it is a bit of a luxury. A bargain though.

Heidi is doing all sorts with her hands now, and this can actually be quite disruptive – pulling things out purposely, or blocking your hands to get at her.

Another journey tomorrow though…..

Rachel and Heidi have been away for a night, after taking June back to Chagford. They set off yesterday morning early to avoid the traffic, and both returned this evening at tea time.

Heidi has been well behaved and has been meeting lots of people. She did her weekly visit to the farm where the two of them and Audrey went for a long walk over the fields and by the river. Rachel collected a few stones for Heidi’s aquarium on the way.

She is carried into the house with eyes as bright as buttons and I get my cuddle and smile.

Emily pops by to see H and soon it is bath time. Loads of din as Heidi shouts but soon calms to the splashing of water on her legs and bum.

After a feed she is fast asleep, hopefully catching up on much needed sleep, and will wake again much later…..