THE ELGANCE OF SWANS

It is Sunday morning and the pair of swans on Kilmardinny Loch in Bearsden arrive at the lochside bench where Harriet, asleep in her pushchair, and I are enjoying a quiet moment in the sunshine.  We kept very quiet as a French family joined us to watch Mum and Dad engage in their morning wash and preening session.

CHAPTER BOOKS

Alastair was with me today as he was unwell and did not go to school.  Seeing we had this unexpected time together without noise and other distractions we occupied ourselves with drawing and other quiet activities.

He is 6 years old now and in Primary 2 at Mosshead School, Bearsden.  (Here is a photo taken of him and Indy last month when Alastair and family were here for 3 weeks.)

As he arrived today with his current school reading book I suggested we sit and read it, i.e. he would read and I would listen so as to get an idea of what level he is at.  Well!  I was very impressed!

 

This book is part of the school's Early Reading Series and is published by Orion books.  Six years old and he reads fluently words which include: thought, continue, aisle, whine and whinge. It was a terrific story and we had great fun turning the pages.  Full marks to the author, Francesca Simon!

When we finished I asked him "What kind of book do you like best?"  "Chapter books!"

HARRRIET'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

Harriet is one year old!  This calls for celebrations which turned out to be on several occasions.  We opened up some of the lovely bottles from the May Birthday Bash we held and shared it around.

The birthday girl having some cake.

Grandpa and Harriet out in the garden at Mairi and John's.

Harriet in our garden just after we got back from Shetland at the end of May.

Flower Power!

INDY MEDICAL UPDATE

Indy had an examination under anaesthetic today to determine if there were any cancer cells in his eye.  None were found so it is good news! 

 

Alastair, Dawn and Indy, aged 2 and a half, taken while on their visit to Scotland this past month.

 

Indy appears to be using his left hand mostly but often alternates between the two.  It is his left eye that has the prosthetic. It stays in all of the time; on the whole he doesn't fiddle with it, i.e. it doesn't appear to bother him.

Here he is in the back garden lining up the water jet into the watering can. He chatters away to himself "Got work to do." .... "Indy be careful."  Like all 2 year olds he is full on, i.e. busy running about the place playing with cars especially the ambulance.  He likes lining things up e.g. stones on the wall, cars being parked in his makeshift garage.