Horse Power at Beaulieu

After a nice breakfast with Grandpa and GG we set off for a drive back in time to Beaulieu to meet Auntie Stephanie and Pillsbury Phil. Once we'd broken away from the several thousand cars all crawling into Lyndhurst, we raced through the forest and pulled up at Monty's for a spot of lunch.

Beaulieu is a funny old place. It's full of nice old cars and cranky old horses; after a fine lunch (thank you Phil), we went to have a look at both. After spotting a nice old silver DB6 being serviced in the garage we went to meet an old silver nag outside the ice cream shop. Phil went to give the old gal a pat on the head and got nothing but a kick in the shins for his troubles.

Nature's all very well and good, but when it comes to horses I prefer them under the bonnet or on the race track. Or in my tube of Pritt Stick.

AMK

p.s. You can see from this photo that M&D have taken to lumping me round in a rucksack. The gusset rides right up. Right up. Thank you Uncle Dan and Auntie Sue.

Happy Birthday Nanna

Today was Nanna's birthday. Discretion forbids me from telling you, my dear reader, just which birthday it was but needless to say it was a BIG one. (And there's a clue in the picture.)

We all helped her celebrate by filling the house with balloons, cooking up a big feast and Uncle Phil even baked a hundred cupcakes (I shall start calling him Pillsbury Phil).

We sang 'Happy Birthday' and gave Nanna lots of presents. Auntie Stephanie bought lots of balloons too, although I was a little put out that they weren't for me (but Nanna shared, because she's nice like that).

I made her a mug with my mug on it, so she can see my mug whenever she has a mug of coffee. M&D bought her a purse with their pennies - something she can keep her pennies in. And Grandad gave her a special box full of pens and paper, but no crayons.

As we're all flung far and wide, it's nice to have an excuse to meet up together. Some families live in the same street, even the same house. Others live thousands of miles away from one another and never meet up. I think we've got it just right - every time I see Nanna and Grandad, Auntie Stephanie and Pillsbury Phil, GG and Grandpa it's always exciting. And I know it will only be a few weeks until our next adventure together. The only exception is Auntie Danny - I feel a jaunt to the tropical paradise of Jersey is long overdue.

But back to the festivities - Happy Birthday Nanna!

Your favourite grandson,

AMK

Sitting. What could be easier?

Upon every great achievement, it's always nice to share your success and to show it off just a little bit. Auntie Stephanie was up today so I was determined to show her how I've mastered sitting. May sound easy to you, but it's a real skill I tell you - particularly when your head still weighs more than your body.

Thankfully I don't think she noticed this little set back.



Next stop standing. But no rush.

AMK

We're in Cardigans and Ready to Rock

I felt like Braveheart today: I issued a rallying cry and Clan Kerr descended onto Teddington to ruffle up the locals and to belatedly announce my arrival properly. Nanna and Grandad were the first to arrive but neither were in kilts and I'm pretty certain Grandad hadn't painted his bottom blue. (But he was wearing a cardigan that matched mine, which I thought was cool.)

Auntie Stephanie came too. I always like seeing my auntie; she makes me chuckle and we have a nice play. But the biggest surprise was meeting Great Auntie Ave and Great Uncle Mike (Nanna said Ave would love to be called Great Auntie).

Daddy cooked a great big feast for everyone (except me, as usual). Ave is very loud and jolly and tells good jokes. I sat on her knee and we had a good old chat before we all took a stroll down to the river.

I like being part of the Kerr Clan. And I'm glad we wear cardigans and not kilts.

AMK

It's a Jungle out There. And in My Room Too.

Big day today: I'm flying the nest and moving out of M&D's room. I simply can't take any more of their snoring, fussing and hushed debates all through the night; a growing boy needs his sleep.

I insisted Daddy finish off my room by putting up some pictures and generally tidying up the place. Of course he almost made a great hash of it, but thankfully Mummy and Auntie Stephanie were on hand to keep him in check and I now have pictures of a lion, a zebra and a giraffe on my wall. In all honesty, it looks pretty damn good.


Auntie Stephanie and me had some fun while M&D were fretting about my room. She bought me a big Lion for my play mat, which I gave a good thrashing with my best right-left-right punch combos.

I'm looking forward to the time when I can get the train to see Auntie Stephanie on my own. I think we'll have lots of fun.

AMK