So it's mid-January, it's cold, unforgiving, mostly dark. It's... time to make pizza! Aunty Katie is dealing with one of the trickier bits - for a four-year-old anyway- rolling out the pizza dough, as Daisy patiently waits for her turn (I say patiently: she is clearly a little peckish as she reaches for some of the toppings). There is quite some selection available in the toppings department too, with red peppers, white onion, red onion, chorizo, salami, ham, sweetcorn, various cheeses and the obligatory tomato sauce. Unhappily, I don't appear to have any "after" shots, i.e. of the cooked pizza. Careless.
We fast forward to the end of January (not much going on, evidently) and this is taken in Manchester Road Park. Gregory is going so fast on his scooter that he is a blur.
As it the usual deal, a trip to the park is followed by a trip to the pub. Who has negotiated what has changed over the years. I'm pretty sure that they used to want to go to the park and I persuaded them to go to the pub afterwards, but it's the other way round these days (early 2022 - yes, I am way behind). There has been sufficient preparation here to bring colouring equipment. The grab bags of crisps remain strangely untouched although, given the relatively low amount of drink consumption, I suspect that they had only recently been delivered. My inevitable pint is not featured.
The next day, Gregory went to Felix's party and was faced with wall climbing. I'm fairly sure he was pretty apprehensive about the whole thing. He seems here to be going for the Marky Mark look (albeit with top on).
Hard to judge his mood here. Concentrating definitely. He has a slightly pink-cheeked look, which suggests some physical strain and/or having been a bit upset beforehand.
But ultimately the boy did well. (I wasn't there - this was the report back, as I vaguely recall it. And, well, you can see for yourself.)
It was my turn to do the drop-off on a Monday morning, to breakfast club so this is punishingly early (just after 8pm). Must have been a cold one as the kids are all "wintered up" too.
The next day, I did the pick-up and this umbrella came in extremely useful for young Gregory. Not so much for me, though. The perils of an open playground and a changeable climate.
Talking of changeable climates, the very next day, the morning gives us a white-carpeted world to play in.
And what fun it is. It must have been quite a recent and heavy snowfall based on the weight of snow the branches are carrying.
This is what happens when you give a child your phone (in this case Lynne's). He looks very sinister.
Here is clear evidence of who The Boy takes after in looks. His mother.
Mid-February and I am suspecting that this was not long after the mighty chocolate fountain was purchased, for the purposes of Daisy's forthcoming birthday. I was out this evening (records suggest), but the kids gave it a tryout.
A bit of fun in the garden with a small jumping boy and tall shadows.
And after all that exertion, what better than a thirst-quenching apple juice to rest with.
It's the day of Daisy's birthday party, hence the smart outfits and happy (slightly odd) poses.
First up, a classic game of chop the chocolate whilst wearing a hat, scarf and gloves while the rest try to roll a 6. It is pretty chaotic, as Gregory joins in with Daisy and her friends.
The birthday lunch is pizza and chips. And maybe some hash browns.
But never mind that, it's time for the pièce de résistance: the chocolate fountain. Gregory looks on as the chocolate pieces are added.
Once the chocolate is flowing, it's time for the sticks of dipping things to be thrust into the cascading goodness, with Gregory and Daisy pulling some interesting faces as they do so.
On her actual birthday, painfully before 7am (it must have been peak excitement for Daisy). Gregory watches on.
We went for a meal for Daisy's birthday that evening, at Zizzi. Gregory, accompanied by an Elmo, found a red pillar to stand inside. As you do.
There appears to be some kind of fancy dress action going on the next day. Research suggests that this was World Book Day, and Daisy has clearly gone for the Harry Potter look, really making the effort (or Lynne really making the effort for her). Gregory, meanwhile, has gone (probably) for Mr Happy. Either that or he is trying to spark an acid house revival.
On the subsequent Saturday, Daisy's birthday week continued, with the Allens coming round. Nana Sue had got Gregory some compensatory presents, which is her standard approach.
Gregory had got some kind of fizz bomb thing. I think the point is that there is something inside to get out of there. Is that the point? Is there a need to do it like that? I don't really know. Anyway, Nana Sue, Aunty Katie and Aunty Nic looked on, with the daffodils giving it a good spring feel.
Gregory's look of utter joy is evident as the thing continues to dissolve. Can you control your excitement?
Well, enough of that. I don't have a photo of how it turned out - I obviously got bored as well. Oh actually, maybe I do. It looks Daisy got a couple of small characters out of it. Probably worth it. Anyway, Gregory decides it would be better to occupy himself with a buzzing wire game (I presume).
It's then time to sit down for Daisy's birthday meal. It's not completely clear from the photos what has been made. It's Daisy, so clearly she has requested pasta, accompanies by pizza and garlic bread. The sauce might be a chorizo concoction, but it's quite brown (normally it would be more tomato-y). So who knows! Probably someone with a better memory than me (this is nearly three years later, sluggish webpage updating fans).
Anyway, the birthday week is now officially over and it's back to more mundane activities, such as DIY. A panel had come loose from the side gate, so I employed Gregory to hammer it back into place. With some nails.
Gregory appears to have got some serious arm swinging action going on here for this work , on the walk to school. However...
...the truth is that he has a big plaster on his elbow and he's not happy about it. At that age, he treated a plaster on his body like he needed to elevate the affected area. It occasionally led to a comedy walk.
A list of the things that Gregory loves. Pretty good list.
The council's desire for confusing and futile road layouts does not stop at the reception playground.
While waiting for Daisy at school pick-up (I presume), Gregory gets the chance for some playground action. That is his head poking over the top.
Gregory was keen for maths and I regularly set him sums to do. Inspired by this, he decided to set me some tricky ones. I don't have any evidence of how I fared. I probably dealt with the maths OK, but the words section looks more puzzling.
Naturally, Gregory was taking swimming lessons, and here is evidence of his backstroke ability.
A trip to Manchester Road park for some football action.
Some days, in the morning, your hair just won't go where you want it to. I don't know what dreams Gregory had the previous night, but they must have been amazingly evocative.
Daisy and Gregory join the crew walking at Heaton Chapel train station.
Gregory's ability to sow seeds had become so good that he could rely on other senses to complete the task. No need to look.
I was a bit worried about whether the kids had remembered to get anything for Lynne for Mothers' Day. Happily they had remembered, and also managed to find someone to buy alcohol whilst stood outside the offie. Result!
In a common second instalment of Mother's Day, we popped round to Waterdale to see Nana Sue. Gregory was, at the time, into cleaning and here he gets stuck in with Aunty Katie.
I obviously can't be bothered going outside here, as I'm taking the photo from inside, but Uncle Matt is obviously putting Gregory in his place for insolence. Or so I like to think.
On the last day of the tax year, Gregory joined Daisy in being off school ill (I remember not with what), so they passed their time playing a kids' version of Monopoly while I worked from home (as best as I could).
They look pretty out of it as they engage in some late afternoon Wii action.
We get to the weekend and Lynne gets them sorting out party bags for Gregory's birthday party (more of which on the next page).
By the Sunday, they are feeling brave enough to venture outside, for good, old-fashioned game of football.
It's getting close to bedtime. Gregory looks much more wide awake than Daisy, whom he cuddles with brotherly love.
We then rolled into the Easter school holidays. Again, I worked from home, but if it's sunny we're allowed to take breaks at the local park, right? The boy lines up in net on the sandy astroturfed goal area (it had gotten way too muddy in the past so this is a better option).
It seems pretty quiet at the park, so there's plenty of opportunity to share a big swing.
And that brings this mini-chapter to a close. He'll be the big five years old any moment! See here for details.
Back to the Secret Portal.