I know, I know, it's October now and summer is long gone, but since I now have these morning hours to myself, here I am thinking back to warmer months. We spent so much time out and about. Still in love with London.
Probably most exciting for me was the Emirates Air Line which is a cable car running across the Thames between the O2 arena and the ExCeL Centre. Here we are about to get on, girls in classic Pig Style poses. You may note that Taya has learnt to do RAWK horns. Chris couldn't be prouder. Note also the blue binoculars Brooke has around her neck. I got those from a charity shop for £1. The girls LOVE them. Brooke loved them so much she left them on the cable car and we had to go home without them.
After our 360 degree ride and a quick picnic on a grassy bank we hopped back on the DLR, changed at Bank and got a bus to the South Bank. Brooke tried to leave her bag on the bus. There was a very cool mini fair at the South Bank but the rides were mega bucks. They looked good though.
Then as we were walking along someone suddenly said my name - Cuckoo's mother-in-law was there with the boys and their aunt! The kids took it in their stride and played at the rainbow beach for a while before we had to part ways.
It seems customary for my kids to cause mayhem at the South Bank, so in true form Taya knocked over a tower of cones (a display or a tidy pile, who can tell?) then happily pressed the alarm in the toilets in the Hayward Gallery. A man's voice joined us in the cubicle "Hello? Is everything okay?" Those alarm cords and buttons are a bit toddler-tantalising though. Here's something else Taya likes to do in the bathroom.
The warm weather also meant lots of water play for the kids. This took us to the water playground, the Serpentine Lido (do you say it lee-doh or lie-doh?) and the gardens for paddling fun with friends.
I also continued our tour of London's city farms, this time at Freightliners. One of thsese days I am going to find a place where the kids can sit down and hold small, non-children-biting furry mammals. Apart from stroking this rabbit called Duchess, Brooke was scratched by a cat. That was about the extent of our interaction with the animals on this occasion. It was nice, but quite far to travel and worth noting that the cafe is NOT open on Mondays or Tuesdays.
We also went back to lovely Holland Park. Those peacocks are beautiful but a little bit intimidating when they puff themselves up and hiss at you. We went to the adventure playground in the rain one day.
Another day we went on a seaside trip with Brooke's old nursery. We went to Littlehampton and the girls ran into the sea, built sandcastles and spent all the money in my purse on rides, where we had to pretend Taya was 4 and scraped her through the 1 meter high test.
We also managed to meet up with lovely friends Sharifa and Clare one day. The three of us worked together and had our first babies within weeks of each other. All girls. Then we each had another girl within 2 years. Hence the 6 girls in 2 years club met up at the Transport Museum followed by a picnic in the gardens by Embankment. Here's 5/6ths of the club. Shortly after this was taken Taya curled up in the buggy, only to then lean out and thrown up all over my handbag on the grass.
We liked the Transport Museum a lot, so it's a good job their entry price allows you unlimited access for a year, as the fake horse poo and pretend escalator continue to amuse.
After one of the Transport Museum visits we popped into the National Gallery. I thought I'd treat the girls to some of the excellent free culture London can offer. Taya was underwhelmed and none of the other visitors welcomed the soundtrack of crying so we left promptly.
On the way home one day I decided on a whim to visit the Lost Property Office at Baker Street. I've always been intrigued by it and now I had a genuine reason to visit. Ten minutes and £4 later we were reunited with the beloved blue binoculars. I told the girls to look happy and point at the binoculars as I took a picture. I *think* Brooke may have needed the toilet.
I'll have to stop reminiscing now if I'm going to have some lunch before I pick Taya up from school.
Probably most exciting for me was the Emirates Air Line which is a cable car running across the Thames between the O2 arena and the ExCeL Centre. Here we are about to get on, girls in classic Pig Style poses. You may note that Taya has learnt to do RAWK horns. Chris couldn't be prouder. Note also the blue binoculars Brooke has around her neck. I got those from a charity shop for £1. The girls LOVE them. Brooke loved them so much she left them on the cable car and we had to go home without them.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Pig Style |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| The ExCeL side terminal |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Weeeee! |
After our 360 degree ride and a quick picnic on a grassy bank we hopped back on the DLR, changed at Bank and got a bus to the South Bank. Brooke tried to leave her bag on the bus. There was a very cool mini fair at the South Bank but the rides were mega bucks. They looked good though.
Then as we were walking along someone suddenly said my name - Cuckoo's mother-in-law was there with the boys and their aunt! The kids took it in their stride and played at the rainbow beach for a while before we had to part ways.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Brooke and Teddy |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Cool fabric tree |
It seems customary for my kids to cause mayhem at the South Bank, so in true form Taya knocked over a tower of cones (a display or a tidy pile, who can tell?) then happily pressed the alarm in the toilets in the Hayward Gallery. A man's voice joined us in the cubicle "Hello? Is everything okay?" Those alarm cords and buttons are a bit toddler-tantalising though. Here's something else Taya likes to do in the bathroom.
The warm weather also meant lots of water play for the kids. This took us to the water playground, the Serpentine Lido (do you say it lee-doh or lie-doh?) and the gardens for paddling fun with friends.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Kensington Memorial Water Park |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Nudie splashing with Ned and Casper |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Taya soaking Alex with the hose |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Rabbit petting at Freightliners Farm |
We also went back to lovely Holland Park. Those peacocks are beautiful but a little bit intimidating when they puff themselves up and hiss at you. We went to the adventure playground in the rain one day.
Another day we went on a seaside trip with Brooke's old nursery. We went to Littlehampton and the girls ran into the sea, built sandcastles and spent all the money in my purse on rides, where we had to pretend Taya was 4 and scraped her through the 1 meter high test.
We also managed to meet up with lovely friends Sharifa and Clare one day. The three of us worked together and had our first babies within weeks of each other. All girls. Then we each had another girl within 2 years. Hence the 6 girls in 2 years club met up at the Transport Museum followed by a picnic in the gardens by Embankment. Here's 5/6ths of the club. Shortly after this was taken Taya curled up in the buggy, only to then lean out and thrown up all over my handbag on the grass.
We liked the Transport Museum a lot, so it's a good job their entry price allows you unlimited access for a year, as the fake horse poo and pretend escalator continue to amuse.
After one of the Transport Museum visits we popped into the National Gallery. I thought I'd treat the girls to some of the excellent free culture London can offer. Taya was underwhelmed and none of the other visitors welcomed the soundtrack of crying so we left promptly.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Traflagar Square |
On the way home one day I decided on a whim to visit the Lost Property Office at Baker Street. I've always been intrigued by it and now I had a genuine reason to visit. Ten minutes and £4 later we were reunited with the beloved blue binoculars. I told the girls to look happy and point at the binoculars as I took a picture. I *think* Brooke may have needed the toilet.
I'll have to stop reminiscing now if I'm going to have some lunch before I pick Taya up from school.