The LolaBump Journals

Lola says that, when she grows up, she’s going to move to Italy. She really loves it here; spending all her time outside with the dog, Stella; disappearing off into the distance to dip sticks in the canals and collect hazelnuts and feathers. She’s getting pretty nifty on the bike, too, and has done a ten-mile trip with us so far.
Her Italian is really coming on, too — she’s really trying to speak to everyone, and doing lots of translation for Neve.
She had an entire conversation (about the choice of fruit juices) in Venice with the waitress there.

It is. And so are the girls. Lola and Neve have spent the last two weeks counting down the days to the Easter holidays and, more importantly, our trip to Ponzano Veneto. They are so utterly happy to be here–and who can blame them.
Today is Dedi’s birthday and we’re busy preparing a little afternoon party: fruit kebabs, crispy, olivey snacks, and a huge tiramisu we made last night. It’s a lovely warm sunny day, so we’ll have it outside in the garden.

The girls are even more happy as this gives them an excuse to put their party dresses on.

Dedi has had a hard time recently with three months of extreme discomfort and pain due to two herniated lumbar discs and simultaneous DVTs. She had to be operated on, which was not straightforward as she was on anticoagulants…
It’s great to see her up and about.

Quite pleased with my bookcase-y thing in the sitting room–particularly the way that the finished piece looked quite like the original plan. Next time, though, I’d not build to such tight tolerance — had to resort to a club hammer to get it seated on the brackets and I was a little worried for the ceiling. Just got to make the doors now; including bi-fold doors for the TV bit.

If you’re bored, you can click through to Flickr and see the whole project in various stages…

Not seen much of Lola this half term as she’s spent the whole time with her nose in various Harry Potter books. She’s been reading around 300-400 pages a day. She only started the series just over 2 weeks ago and she’s already on the sixth book. Her level of involvement is such that she talks to the book and apologises if she leaves it alone for too long!

She came in to the office with me on Thursday morning and I hardly heard a word out of her the whole time, except for updates on the state of Harry. She did come over quite frequently just for a hug, though, which was rather lovely.

Had Lizzie, David and Tom over for dinner on Friday. Isa made another of these (pictured) amazing dhoklas and a spicy tamarindy broth to have with it.

Oh yes.

Neve often wakes early and comes downstairs with me to get her milk. Today was one such day, she came out of her room as I was heading down to put the coffee on. She called me back to help her find some socks — a habbit successfully instilled in her by Isa.

She’s so funny; instantly awake and chatting away, wanting to show me some pics she’d taken on her camera, wondering whether her docorations (made from pongo last night) were dry, telling me how she liked my glasses case and then about how Emily Sutton would wipe her glasses on her skirt if they got wet in the rain. And then bouncing up and down on the sofa while she got me to sing along to Yellow Submarine and Nowhere man. And then remembering the Yellow Submarine film that she’d like to see only it’s a bit long isn’t it; and then talking about the Mr Ben cartoons (which I didn’t realise we had) and how they are probably shorter and how Mr Ben always changes his clothes and has an adventure. And then…

Oh, it’s time to go to work.

Belated post from last year.

Back to work after a two-week break for Christmas. It’s the all-new office environment with Chris, Mike, Jez and Keith gone and a brave new international world ahead. Trepidation. Opportunity.

What is our Lola up to these days? Staying up late reading. Waking up early and reading. She’s had a chronic headache the last week or so. It doesn’t seem to intrude very much but, when asked, it’s still there. She’s been finding it hard to get to sleep, too; and obviously getting a bit scared. She’s come downstairs a couple of times; never really says she’s scared (usually just says can’t get to sleep and head is ouchy) but she is nervous and v quiet. Maybe she’s just worried she’ll be told off for not sleeping!

She got Cluedo (Sherlock version) for Christmas and is very happy with it. We spent a lot of time playing that, and Uno, and Catans (which Lola has gone off now she has Cluedo) over the holiday.

Twinkle has been in quite a lot. Lola spends time with him when he’s there in the sitting room but easily forgets him when he’s out in the hutch. Must try and address that… though it’s a very human trait. Bunny still sleeping in hutch as weather has been super-mild; we’ll see what we think when it gets cold…

Neve is fab; still hanging on to the toddler thing, very loving (“I love you, Mummy” still issued frequently; also Daddy). She does get a bit stubborn; may stamp her foot and refuse to do something. And when she gets upset, her voice goes quiet and unintelligible.

We went for a walk over to the BMX tracks at the far side of the common on New Year’s Eve. The sun was setting and allowed this (hideously underexposed and massively post-filtered) shot.

“Yes, Daddy.” “Ok then Daddy.”

“Yes, my Daddy”.

“I will!”

These are the kinds of responses you hear from Neve all the time. She is an incredible, lovable, happy, involved, involving, inquisitive and intelligent girl. She is smiley and chatty and so pretty; always coming for a cuddle or kiss. Her voice sounds great. She just makes me smile all the time. And also makes me prematurely nostalgic: aware that this period will pass and Neve will never be four again.

Tomorrow, she starts at reception. Just afternoons for the rest of this week, then lunch and afternoons for the next week, then full time.