So it's mid-October in 2017 and Gregory is almost ready to leave the buggy behind, but not yet. I presume here that I have taken him for a haircut given the bribe of a milky bar and the shape of the fringe. It's not the best haircut, but it's about the best that can be done given the fact that every time I have taken him he has bawled his eyes out and squirmed somewhat, seemingly hating every minute.
Back at the ranch, Gregory is keenly pointing out ripe tomatoes in the greenhouse. That seems rather late in the year (as I write this, in early September 2018, the tomatoes are ripening regularly).
Best of all is the opportunity to munch on the freshly picked fruit.
That afternoon, we take a trip to the recently-refurbished park, where Gregory has a rare excursion on the more grown-up swings (he prefers sitting in the mini-cage swings). It certainly doesn't seem to be fazing him.
The next day, given the seemingly nice weather, Uncle Matt popped round and was treated to a barbecue, featuring the usual halloumi, sausages and burgers. Gregory is sporting some cool shades as he points out the contents of his plate to Uncle Matt.
We skip forward a week to see Gregory looking particularly smart, and proud of it. This appears to be for a double header of birthday parties. Firstly, the twins' cinema birthday party (so arguably a triple header of birthday parties...), followed by Dylan's birthday party. Dylan is one of Gregory's good friends from playgroup and footy totz.
We jump forward another week, closing in on Halloween, and this I think is at Arc (Arts for Recovery in the Community), where they lay on some craft-type things for free (although charity donations are requested). Gregory, sporting his Halloween-themed T-shirt, is with his aforementioned mate Dylan as they draw on the back of paper plates.
With Daisy received homework each week in Year Two, Gregory is keen not to be left out and often requests is own homework. So I have taken to setting him some basic sums to do, which at this stage he used either items (typically rubbers) or fingers to compute. (Almost a year later, he does basic sums in his head. In fact, he recently counted in 5s to 100, stumbling about three times the first time and completely nailing the second time.) As you can see, he got all ten sums right.
The boy loves his fruit, especially when consumed off the end of his fingers, as is the fate of these raspberries.
The children were off school for the week before Halloween and Lynne took the opportunity to make pumpkins with them. This is Gregory's effort (inevitably he will have had a little bit of help) and it looks pretty cool. It occupied (with Daisy's) a space in the porch, looking out on to the drive.
They had also made skeletons at Arc, with Gregory's being the top one, I think (he ran out of steam and largely required me to do the putting together after some rather laborious cutting out).
In early November, Aunty Janet and Uncle Graham came over for a meal and to stay over. After starters (homemade pitta bread and homemade dips, if I remember rightly, UG (he of the shiny pate) turned his attention to reading Gregory a story while Daisy did her homework.
The next day was Bonfire Night so we went into the back garden to play with sparklers (in a safe manner, obviously). I don't think we bothered going to a fireworks event (for example, at the Hinds Head down the road) as they tend to go on too late. However, just as the kids were going to bed, the firework display started and so we watched it from afar.
A couple of weeks later, pyjama'd up and ready for bed, although it's the wrong bed. That needs sorting.
G-man plays cars with his friend Alexander. (When I showed this picture to Gregory to identify the other boy, he muttered something about not having food but picking up Daisy from yoga. I wasn't there so I cannot confirm.)
It's mid-November but obviously the Christmas spirit is cranking up at garden centres near-ish you. On this Saturday, we went for a trip to the Wyevale garden centre near Marple with Gregory.
He was happy to be petting the animals amongst the Christmas tree.
Daisy must not have been here as Gregory appears to have the play area all to himself. Maybe Daisy was at a friend's or something.
The cheeky little Santa poses for a photo but inevitably can't look at the camera.
Finally, we take a ride on the little steam train. I think this time we may have avoided Santa's grotto. It may not even have been open.
Wideboy Greg rocks his Hey Duggee PJs.
Later that day, Judy & Jim came round, very possibly with others in tow...
...such as Uncle Matt and Aunty Nic, in front of whom Gregory was only too happy to do some action poses.
The next day, we decide to make some pizza, Gregory's favourite foodstuff. First, he mix up the ingredients to make the dough, and then he chops the air out of the dough.
The pizza dough then proved nicely before Gregory rolled it out and topped his pizza with tomato sauce, cheese, ham, sweetcorn, sausage and pepperoni. I did one for me too.
And this is what it looks like cooked. Good work, Gregory.
After a couple of days in London, I had an early start in Warrington (oh, the joys) but the little 'uns were still up early enough (shortly after 7) to see me off.
As we approached winter, it was naturally getting colder in the kitchen in particular and so Gregory was very happy to have some slipper to keep his footsies warm.
This could actually have been from a week or so ago, but it's appeared here in photo date order so this is where it's going. What is most alarming about this, however, is the fact that he seems to be sinking into the carpet. Quick, save yourself!
The next day, it stops raining for long enough to get some fresh air, so we quickly set up the hopscotch mats, although Gregory is not happy that the game we play (throwing dice and moving along) is not going his way, but he soon cheers up. Well, stops crying anyway - he still seems a little bothered by something.
On the Sunday, Gregory demonstrates his increased appetite for brunch, with some sausage sandwich and a side of halloumi.
I treat them to a lunchbox picnic under a blanket watching TV (what a treat). I think they would do this every day if they could.
Later that day, it's time for the annual putting up of the Christmas tree. It's pretty easy to do, if a bit repetitive, so I am glad for the help. The beauty of a plastic tree - this has been going for years.
The next weekend it gets all Christmassy on us and snows, which is not something that Gregory has seen lots so he is keen to get a first-hand view. Well perhaps being outside would be first-hand, so perhaps this is second-hand.
Ah there we go, time to get out there. As it often seems to do, it is snowing in the morning before we have had chance to get dressed or properly start the day (it's 9am on a Saturday here, which is not really that early but hey), so the kids are in the standard combination of pyjamas and winter clothing. It's not really snowed that much, obviously, but it's nice to be out there.
The next day, we head over the Lowry to watch a Gruffalo show. We're not allowed to take any pictures of the performance itself but here is the stage scenery. It was a good show which stretched out the Gruffalo to an hour or more via some embellishment with songs and the like.
We were all excited as we waited for the action to start, Lynne in particular.
However, as we leave the establishment, Gregory appears less than happy, taking on the appearance of a distinctly unhappy teenager.
But he is happier later that day, showing off his Rudolph T-shirt.
The next weekend, after a flying visit from Mamaa and Grandad (not pictured), we head over to Waterdale for some chippy action. Rather unbelievably, we are allowed to eat our lunch, gravy and drinks and all, IN THE LOUNGE. We never would have been allowed to do this. Such favouritism for the grandchildren. Daisy seems rather unhappy that she is having her photo taken, though.
The next day, we head to Dunham Massey for a Christmas light show. Along the way, there is a great photo opportunity via some well-lit frames, although Gregory doesn't quite play ball with his facial expressions, despite the rest of us giving nice enough smiles.
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On the evening of their last day at school of the calendar year, the kids and their friends headed down the road to the house on the A6 which is well-lit at Christmas time and accessible for the general public. Daisy looks in celebratory mood while Gregory looks like he means business. He's certainly not going to get involved with the joviality of his sister or friends.
Lynne becomes unwell later in the week (possibly a combination of an ear infection and tonsillitis) so I took Daisy for her swimming lesson at the Life Leisure in Hazel Grove and Gregory came along.
The next day, Gregory didn't feel well (he may have been sick, I can't recall) and so Daisy did these to cheer him up.
However, he is sufficiently OK (after some time of nil by mouth) to point slightly joyfully towards an array of large beads.
After Christmas, which will hopefully appear on another page if I ever get round to it, we went to the Light cinema in Stockport to watch Ferdinand, which was not a bad film about bull-fighting (or rather, avoiding bull-fighting).
We are heading for the end of the year so it's time for a packed lunch again! Why not, it's the Christmas holidays.
Hang on a minute, what's going on here. Gregory has pinched my laptop. Very possibly to look at photos or do some typing. Actually, I would guess the latter given he is reaching for the backspace key (he usually types things out and then deletes them shortly afterwards).
Later that day, we head into a drying back garden for some scooter action, with which he is getting ever more comfortable.
After that, it is time for him to help clean my cyclo-cross bike.
The next day, we head into Stockport to do some shopping, including wandering round Waterstones and slipping slowly off armchairs.
On New Year's Eve Eve (the 30th), we pop over to Waterdale where Gregory struggles to keep control of a white chocolate mini Magnum.
Local primary school teacher Aunty Katie is soon helping them with some craftwork. I can't tell if they are making paper planes or the folded paper with numbers and stuff that you flip open in different directions (no idea if you know what I mean - I'm sure they have a name).
On the big day itself (New Year's Eve), we head into Manchester on the train and then get a tram across town, which is exciting for the kids as they have rarely been on a tram. Well, a bit exciting. They're not easily impressed.
First up, we go to Don Giovanni, an Italian restaurant just off St Peter's Square, for a nice lunch. We get some booze because, well why not. We limit the children to orange juice.
The primary reason for us being in town is to see a showing of Cinderella, put on at the Dancehouse. It was quite a long performance (easily two hours or more if I remember rightly) for not much money. It was the last show of the year and so the cast played the odd trick on each other, generally having a laugh, and there were a few jokes aimed at the adults, which kept us engaged.
Daisy was eagerly anticipating the show as Gregory frowned.
And it's Happy New Year everyone. We behave suitably lazily, demonstrated by Gregory running with Wii Fit in his pyjamas at around lunchtime. I expect we all went to bed fairly late.
On the day after, which might have been the children's last day before going back to school, they went to the Odeon cinema with the twins. Daisy can't remember what they watched.
At the next weekend, it was time to clear all away the Christmas stuff, which can be quite cathartic. This especially seems to be the case for Gregory, who was eager to use the Dustbuster to remove the last traces of the tree (even though it is plastic, it can still shed the odd small piece). Back in the loft for another eleven months...
Later that day, I took the kids for some fresh air at the local park on a crisp, sunny day. The newly laid paths are great for some scootering action, although Gregory here neglects to take advantage of the friction-reducing effect of wheels and instead walks alongside.
The next day, we get outside one more and given the car a good clean. They are both willing (for a time anyway) to get stuck in, alternating sponge and hosepipe.
On the Monday morning, Gregory draws around his hand. Given the transitory nature of these drawing machines, it won't be for posterity.
And that it is for now. Next up, some more photos of Gregory, which you can find here.
Back to the Secret Portal.