4 Generations

Lucy, Mummy, Great Nanny and Aunty Jill. Pretty cool to have 4 generations covering the thick end of a century all on the same sofa.

Daddy gets in on the action.

Photographer Lucy captures Jill's husband Mitch and son Martin and his lovely new puppy.

Meerkat Babies

Tropical World in Leeds has got some meerkat babies. Lucy is very excited to visit them. However, she is very aware of how susceptible little mammals can be to infestations so she checks Jonny out for nits.

Since Jonny passes the head lice inspection, Lucy allows him to escort her to Roundhay's finest meerkat venue. Simples.

First she spots some lemur action - but she is surprised and disappointed. From the documentary footage she has seen she was expecting to hear their distinct song

Impressive as the waterfall is - it's no meerkat.

That's what I'm talking about! But this guard meerkat is a bit big.

Cutest ever, two little baby meercats grooming each other (not in the internet sense!)

And then this little tyke popped off to get her lunch from her Mum.

Mummy and Aunty Sue walk Lucy back to the car after a thrilling meerkat encounter.

Supper in Pajamas

Mummy and to a slightly lesser extent Daddy are quite strict with Lucy*. One rule is that meals are in her high chair at the dinning table. And where possible particularly at weekends with Mummy and Daddy eating at the same time as well. We really want to instill in her the social side of eating. But our trip back from Yorkshire was quite long and Lucy quite understandably got a bit upset towards the end. So as a treat we put her in her pajamas and gave her a bit of comfort food in front of "In the Night Garden"

Eggs over easy and crumpets**.

* Mummy may dispute this :-)
** OK Chris. They are thick Pikelets

Lunch in Leeds

It's a tradition that the day after Jonny's Birthday bash Grandma and Grandad treat everyone to a slap up meal in a posh pub in Leeds. Grandma loaned Lucy her note pad and PostIt notes to distract her while we wait for the meal to arrive. It works spectacularly well. Mum really understands kids. That is why she was such a well loved reception class teacher and more recently is a famous children's author. Grandad looks on approvingly, not least because recently Lucy has started referring to him as "Dad Dad". Not 100% accurate but close enough to make a few of us pretend there is something in our eye.

Of course as soon as her bowl of fresh fruit arrives for pudding, no distraction is required.

This is not a bad impersonation of Terry Thomas

Jonny's Birthday

Jonny will be horrified that he is on the Interweb with his little cousin Lucy. But it is a smashing photo. And he has grow up to be a smashing chap. Happy 16th Jonny.

Lucy holds court with her Aunty Sue and Aunty Tiss. They seem to be captivated by her witty and erudite soliloquy.

Grandma and Mummy look on as Lucy plays with Jonny's birthday balloons.

Fish Tank

We're over in Leeds for cousin Jonny's 16th birthday. In the reception of Marlow's chip oil they have a fish tank. What child doesn't like to press their nose into glass when Daddy is on the other side with a camera.

Of course she is also enjoying the fish.

Mummy and Aunty Sue point out the interesting stuff.

Big Tele

Aunty Sue tries to get Lucy interested in her electronic keyboard. Having played a grand piano at Grandma and Grandads she isn't convinced.

However, when she manages to get hold of the remote control for the big TV she is rather more interested. That is a BIG TV!

Meerkat World

Obviously you would think that this picture was taken in the Bahamas or some such Tropical Paradise. Actually it is Leeds. You heard - Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Mummy and Lucy get Tropical.

Ali, Uncky Kev and Jonny worship the meerkats.

Aunty Sue, Daddy and Spork watch a meerkat playing around a cactus.

Colin Meerkat has a rest and cools his meerkat boots.

It seems that Lucy has joined the meerkat massive. Colin Meerkat checks out any predators to the right while Lucy keeps any eye out to the left.

The money shot! Colin Meerkat having a look about the place from the top of a burrow.

Aunty Sue

Aunty Sue watches as Lucy shows her how her little car works

Of course Lucy just goes on and on until she hits something that will stop her. In this case the house. Fortunately due to recent improvements the house is still standing.