ChunkyMonkey

Favourite food

Whilst thinking about what food we should buy for the Christmas period, I asked Harvey this;

Me: "Harv, what food would you like me to buy, to eat on Christmas day?"

Harv: "Cashew nuts"

Me: "Good call.  What about dessert?"

Harv: "Get that pudding, you know, the one with the poisonous leaves"

Me: "Poisonous leaves? I am not sure I know what you mean"

Harv: "Yes you do, the one with the poisonous leaves and the cherries on it"

Me: "Erm............."

Harv: "you know! It's....it's...."

Me: "............................?"

Harv: "CHOCOLATE PUDDING!"

Me: "Ah, do you mean Christmas pudding!?"

Harv: "Yeah! That's it! Christmas pudding with poisonous leaves and cherries!"

Me: "you mean spiky leaves and berries"

Harv: "YEAH!"

Me: "already got one of those - Donna is bringing one"

Harv: "oh....lemon cheesecake then..I love lemon cheesecake...I am going to eat a whole one"

Me: "OK...go for it...you are your father's son alright".

Yo ho go!

 

This was extremely fun. What an excellent idea to organize a charity run at Christmas.  The Santa Jog was Harvey's first race.  We are hopeful that he may follow in the footsteps of his marathon-running Daddy and much-shorter-distances-running Mummy.

It was freezing cold on the day - literally.  Willen Lake had frozen over in places - seriously - in England! A frozen lake!  Never happens.

 Davin took it very seriously, and sought last-minute tips from his trainer.

 

Go into the light!

 

Harvey is not looking too pleased.  There was a prize for the best fancy dress.  Going as Santa was never going to bag him the prize.

 At the finish line - who would have thought Batman was under there?

Happy Christmas!

This year, I wish that all at once, I could be in Vancouver (with the Rutters), in Exeter (with my family), and at home (with husband, child, dog, outlaws, and crazy best friend).

Happy Christmas to everyone, especially those of you who have been extra fabulous - you know who you are.

Happy Christmas from Davin and Harvey (and me taking the photo).

 

and also from my Mum (who obviously has no idea I am posting this on the internet - actually she has no idea what the internet is).  It is really for the benefit of my sister's readers.  Oh to be 85 years old, and not give a monkeys.

A murder most horrid

I have mentioned Barney and his eye fetish before.  He is getting worse

Shaun the Sheep (before)

During

And finally,

You will understand why we have to keep Harvey's bedroom door closed at all times. Barney is a soft-toy junkie.  All of the poor creatures above were either purchased or donated (thanks Pam), specifically for the purpose of being de-eyed.

Gives me the willies.

First day at school

Well, well.  When I first started blogging, the boy wonder looked like this:

Now, he is this.....ready for his first day at school

and at school, looking rather pleased about it all

So, the first day is over. A relief to us all.  Harvey was so tired.  More tired than even we realised.  I went into the lounge to ask him a question at this time of day

a mere 5 past 6 pm, to find this

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz.  Clearly the first day of school take it out of you these days.

This year has included other 'firsts' that were not so welcomed.  The loss of Charlie dog hit us all hard.  None more so than Harvey, who still talks about him.  Every cloud has a silver lining, as they say.  Our silver lining is, in fact, blonde and hairy.  His name is Barney, and he has become Harvey's best friend.

Barney is now 10 months old, and a beast of a dog.  Luckily he is a gentle giant, who just like Charlie, likes to involve himself in all our family activities.

His only slightly alarming personality trait, is his desire to eat the eyes from cuddly toys.  Poor, poor Rizzo.

On a different note

I will continue the Charlie story, I promise.

However, it is worth saying that when people you love move a very long way away. It. Really. Hurts. Sadly, time apart just seems to make the empty space in your heart a little bigger.  If it wasn't for the wonders of Skype, I would not get to talk to my wonderful, beautiful and very much loved Rebecca Rutter.  But, the down side is I miss her more every time we speak. She is so far away. It stinks.  Good job we will be in Vancouver in 27 days!!!!!!

We love ya Rutters. Get the wine in the cooler.

Now is the time

After 2 full months, I reckon it is time to blog about Charlie.

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie.  Just the sweetest most gorgeous mutt ever.  Our story began in November 1999.  We had been wanting to adopt a dog for a few months, and had visited a number of dogs homes.  We didn't want a puppy, as there are just too many unwanted dogs out there.  Auntie Linnie, Uncle Phil, Tom and a tiny baby Billy came to visit us for the weekend, and we decided to visit Chiltern Dog's Home.  We asked for a black Labrador.  The staff informed us they had no such match.  In the waiting room was a purple dog basket, with a baby's crib duvet, and a label that said 'Charlie'.  The lady said " we do have a lovely new dog.  He won't be here for long as he has no behavioural problems, and is good with children - would you like to see him?"

"OK" - we said.

Off she went. Soon she returned with a blonde, long haired some-kinda-retriever thing.  I sighed.  Davin swooned.  Davin and Charlie went off for a walk.  Never before had I witnessed love at first sight.  This observation was confounded by Uncle Phil saying " Aww, you'll never find a better dog than that".

So begins the love affair that was us and Charlie.  He came home with us that day.  He settled in immediately. The only trouble he ever caused us was much dog hair, and the occasional stealing of mint chocolates.

When Harvey was born in 2004, we were aprehenisive.  How would Charlie take a new addition?  The answer being......predicatably......Charlie accepted Harvey as a baby, and a toddler, and all of Harv' s  friends too.  He loved them.  Because they were children?  Because they left a trail of food wherever they went?

Charlie's decline into old age was thankfully slow.  He got to live with us in our beautiful new house, with the big garden over-looking fields.  The smell of fresh rabbit being rife in the air.

From the summer last year Davin and I knew in our hearts his time was limited.  He was slower than usual.  Unable to move freely.  Quality of life was there though.  What made us laugh was the new-found disregard for the previous house rules.  He started to steal food from the table - he would not have DARED before!

To be continued....

Charlie

With streaming tears, and a broken heart, I write to tell you that Charlie died very peacefully this morning, with Davin tickling his ears. I will write a proper blog dedicated that that wonderful hairy mutt, just as soon as I have the strength. He is our 'Forever dog'.

Life through the eyes of a 2-year-old girl

On Wednesday, whilst Harvey was at pre-school, Rebecca and I went to Sainsbury's.  One of the gazillion gifts Harvey received for Christmas was a kids digital camera.  Rebecca, on spotting this in the playroom, shouted "Picture!", and started to take some snaps. Then she took more. And more.  And then we went to Sainsbury's.

He she is just prior to the event

When we arrived at Sainsbury's, Rebecca shouted "I TAKE SOME PICTURES!", and the following shots tell the story of what a 2-year-old girl believes to be important in life, whilst out supermarket shopping:

Pretty flowers

Shepherd's pie

Jewelery

Cake

Tortilla chips

Pringles

Finally, a lone Brussel spout that had rolled out of someone's shopping bag, onto the bench where the sprout had come to rest. You can just see it in the bottom of the frame.

That trip was the most fun I have had food shopping in a while.  What a gal. 

 

 

It has been a long time

Just got off the phone from The Rutters, and apparently Princess Mabel requires photos of a certain little boy.  Her wish, has always been, and always will be, my command. Thousands of  miles have made no difference to how we Millers feel about Mabel. We loved her when we saw her every day, and we love her still.  In 123 days we will be in Vancouver.  May those days pass very quickly indeed.

Here is Harv on the day we put up the Christmas deccos

With Tom during a visit to see Father Christmas and his reindeer

Ruldolph? Dancer? Prancer? Blitzen?

Having just made the cake

The cake!

Making food for the reindeer on Christmas eve.  In the words of Harvey "you can't have too much glitter, can you?".  My response.....HELL NO!

The Boys in Church on Christmas Eve. This time last year Harvey and Mabel sang 'Away in a Manger' together.  The lack of Mabel was the only sadness this time around. Mabel was a detail missed by us all.

After Church and back at home....putting out the food for Father Christmas and the reindeer

First thing Christmas day

Look at my lovely Mollychicken scarf!

Cameo appearance by Charlie dog.  We fear, his last Christmas with us. He is a very, very old dog now (tears to eyes at this point)

 

And I leave you with a true love story.  'My' auntie Linnie and Harvey. What a lucky boy he is.

Happy new year to absent friends and family.  Big, BIG love to you.