Toddler Diaries 'The waterhouse'

Sorry, no blog for the last couple of weeks, we've been away for the last few days so I missed my usual weekend slot. We've been staying at Pop and Grandma's 'water house' in Leintwardine (so called by Joshua because of the water feature in the back garden). My observation is that there is generally a clash of interests between small people and water features. Clearly the grownups see it as a thing of beauty to be looked at, small people can't tell the difference between a water feature and a stream and tend to think it could be improved by some rearrangement, and a few added stones and Fisher Price people into its murky depths. The Fisher Price people had a nice boating holiday in the water feature because as Joshua said "Mummy, boats live in water". Of course they do, how could I have been so silly. Unfortunately you have to watch those Fisher Price people because they have the habit of diving off the boat into the water. Thankfully both the small people, the water feature and the grandparents survived the experience. Sorry Fisher Price folk, you'll have to wait until next time for you next boating trip.

The children had a fantastic time at the water house, enjoying the lovely garden (while I think about it we may have left a Panache bottle in the tree at the bottom of the garden - sorry), and getting to know their paternal grandparents a bit better. Joshua particularly enjoyed getting Pop to draw all the Incredibles and some of the Toy story characters for him to colour in. Yes, Disney Pixar even follows us to deepest Herefordshire. Looking at the results, you may even be in with a chance for a new job Pop!! Bethany enjoyed the lovely meals cooked for her by Grandma, although I can't say everyone else enjoyed what was left behind afterwards. Bethany, her seat, and the surrounding 10 mile radius generally look like a war zone after she's finished eating. She came; she ate; she left a big mess.

We nearly didn't make it home from the waterhouse. After about 45 minutes we stopped at McDonalds for lunch. Having been all fed and watered (and yes, toileted), we had driven a few minutes down the road when a small voice in the back pipes up: "I need a poo". Hurriedly find a secluded side road to complete operation in as we are keen for execution of the event before going on the motorway. Bethany sits and hums on the potty for a while, while we encourage her on. Alas no poo is forthcoming so we pile back in the car and set off on our merry way again. A few minutes a bit further down the same road, Joshua pipes up "I need a poo". Of course we stop again in another side road, and wait for him to do his doings. We sit and wait in expectation, but alas, again no poo. We resume our journey, alarmingly not having unloaded our cargo of poo. Fortunately there are no accidents before the next designated stopping place and we eventually make it home to Watford in one piece. Joshua walks into the lounge and announces with a big sigh "Mummy, we made it". Bethany, who has been going on about her bed for the past hour, marches upstairs, climbs into bed and falls straight to sleep, where she stays for the next 13 hours!

Thank you Pop and Grandma for a lovely holiday, we hope you survived the experience and are enjoying your convalescence.