We we putting the finishing touches on our costumes when Nova came bursting down the hall screaming, “Door! Door!! Door!” with Martha hot on her heels wielding a plastic battle axe like a miniature beserker.
2002
November 2002
Nova’s been saying “cake” today. She’s suggested it at random times throughout the day, as if the idea has just popped into her head. I’ve never given her any cake, and can only assume it’s a treat she enjoys at Pascale’s.
October 2002
It’s dawning on me that being a parent is not so much a job in itself as a series of jobs, and you’re constantly switching hats, or wearing a few at once…
September 2002
Nova ate like the family honour was at stake: half a potato mashed with tuna and cheese, a pile of green beans, some rice and seafood sauce, several chips, a hunk of bread, cucumber slices, a handful of corn, a box of raisins, two dinosaur biscuits, a third of a creme caramel…
August 2002
Nova has taken to shaking her head vigorously when you are trying to spoon something into her. It has nothing to do with the food itself — she’ll stop and open her mouth like a baby bird between shakes. I’ve taken to nodding just as vigorously as she shakes, which reduces both of us to giggles.
July 2002
Here we were surrounded by mountains and glacial lakes, and I was spending most of my time looking over my shoulder, trying to read “Where’s Rusty” upside down or recite Dr Seuss’s ABC from memory.
June 2002
The little flower girl came through the doors and tugged on my sleeve. “The swimming pool is on fire,” she reported seriously. “Yes, doesn’t it look lovely!” I replied, and continued filling my face. Fortunately, she shared her news with a more responsible adult, because the swimming pool was on fire — one of the floating candles had been sucked into the filtration system, and flames were shooting up the side of the pool.
May 2002
Nova’s latest trick is emptying all the food she can reach out of the pantry cupboard. She’s especially partial to bottles of wine, olive oil etc. which land with a satisfying crash and roll along the floor. In fact, she has a little routine established.
April 2002
Went into the office this afternoon to discuss my return to work. It was strange to be getting ready for an outing and thinking “keys, bus pass, filofax…” instead of “beaker, change kit, muslin, squeaky toy…” In fact, I pulled quite a pile of biscuits, rattles, wipes etc. out of my bag that I wasn’t even aware I was carrying around.
March 2002
Fern had given me a gold sovereign on a chain that had been my great grandmother’s, who had “always set great store by it”. I decided to wear it in the hope that it would bring me good luck on the flight. The instant Anne sat down next to me, I knew that I’d hit the jackpot. She was a kind, friendly, grandmotherly sort, and her first words were, “A baby! How lovely!”
February 2002
The Canadian baby opens the programme with a good, strong cry. Great response time from the Canadian mom — she’s up out of a deep sleep and on her feet in less than seven seconds. Threading the darkened course between the hide-a-bed and the coffee table with confidence…
January 2002
Clown Town seemed to be popular with kids, but it was a little hell on earth from my perspective. We stayed about a lifetime, then stopped off at Tescos before heading home, where I did a number on my back getting Nova out of her car seat that had me prostrate for the rest of the evening…