Walking On The Wall

This is the River Colne in the centre of Marsden, a regular stop on our frequent visits to the village (it comes after the ice cream shop and the playground, usually). There are always ducks here, and G enjoys chasing and pointing at them. Although I generally don't take any bread to feed them, as when I do G tends to put it in her own mouth instead.

Yesterday, G got me to lift her up on the wall so she could get a better view of the ducks. Then she walked along it, pointing at the ducks as they resolutely swam in the opposite direction. Obviously I tried to keep my hand on her so she didn't fall in, but equally obviously every time I got hold of her she shouted "No, daddy!" and started wriggling free. Instead I had to keep my arm vaguely near her so I could grab her in the event she slipped. This may make me a reckless parent, but on the other hand, she never looked like falling in. And I'm sure the ducks were glad she couldn't get any closer than this.

Local Playground For Local People

We marked the first sunny day for a couple of weeks by visiting Marsden. After the inevitable ice cream, we walked up to the playground so G could have a go on the climbing frame and the swings. I realised as G was swinging quite how picturesque it was, and quickly snapped this photo.

If you recognise the white house on the hill in the distance, it's because Marsden was used for the far-away shots of the village in the League of Gentlemen. Sadly the local shop itself was only a piece of set. So, luckily for G, I've never forced her to go and look for it.

Fairground Ride

G had her first go in a fairground ride yesterday. We went over to Marsden for the Cuckoo Festival, and G led us away from the centre of the village to where there were a few rides set up for little ones. She first looked like she fancied one which involved her sitting down and being gently whirled around, but she decided against it once she'd got strapped in.

She was much happier when she got into this little spaceship thing, with Mrs J there behind her. There were lots of big smiles every time she came round, even though I think she was a bit small for it really. Rollercoaster next year.

Chocolate Ice Cream

Ever since G was little I've often taken her for an ice cream. This used to be so I could have a little treat while giving her a bottle of milk, but eventually she graduated onto having an ice cream of her own.

Knowing how fickle toddlers can be over their food, I've always got her a vanilla cone, because I know she likes it and will finish it without having a tantrum and throwing it somewhere. But on Friday, I decided to let her pick for herself. "Brown one!" she said, pointing at the tub of chocolate. So she had her first ever chocolate ice cream (I got a vanilla one myself, just in case she changed her mind halfway through, but unsurprisingly this didn't prove necessary).

Given Mrs J's fondness for chocolate, this could be the beginning of a long relationship for G. A momentous day, indeed. The next step will be chocolate sauce.

Little Madam

Here's G at today's Marsden Cuckoo Day, a festival held in a village near where we live to mark the beginning of spring. She had lots of fun toddling around amidst all the brass bands and morris dancers, and would have explored a lot more had I not had tight hold of the end of her reins. Keeping her on those is now a necessity when there are lots of people about.

In the past week or so G has also learned the word no. Or, as she often uses it: "NO!" This has coincided with an increase in the number of mini-tantrums she throws, usually complete with crying and whining, although also usually quickly over and forgotten about. But even though it's still fairly easy to distract her from whatever's upsetting her, thereby bringing any minor crying fit to a swift end, I know that isn't going to be the case forever.

"We're going to have to come up with a consistent way of dealing with this," said Mrs J, as G adopted her best little madam position while we were out having lunch earlier. And so we are. Although I imagine keeping her on reins at all times of the day is probably frowned on.

A Cold Day

Here's G looking singularly unimpressed by a duck waddling past. I took this by the side of the River Colne in Marsden, after deciding it would be a good idea to drive over the top for a walk around the village. It's been one of those lovely winter days, mostly clear and sunny skies with a sprinkling of snow on the ground. We've had the odd mini-blizzard during the day, but we managed to get to Marsden and back without getting stranded.

Even though it's only a short distance away, Marsden seems to be much higher up than Dobcross, and it certainly seemed a lot colder today. Pushing G around I quickly found my hands going red and then numb, and she wasn't looking particularly warm either, so I called an early halt and stopped in at a coffee shop for a brew. It was selling some homemade ice cream, which seemed like an especially bold business decision in the middle of winter. I didn't try any.

Earlier, I went to the parent and baby group in the church hall in Dobcross. For the second week running I turned up with some homebaking to dish out in the form of millionaire's shortbread. This prompted some general discussion among the other mums along the lines of how I was putting them to shame. I can tell that if I keep bringing sweet treats every week, instead of becoming more popular (as you'd expect in, say, an office) it might actually have the opposite effect. Such are the paradoxes faced by the stay-at-home dad.

The group finishes with a little singsong for the kids (most of them are toddlers). Among the nursery rhymes I sang today, for the first time in at least 20 years, were Jack and Jill, The Grand Old Duke of York and Hickory Dickory Dock. G isn't old enough to join in yet, but when she is I hope she'll prefer something a bit trendier.