at college

Nicholas and son visit Darwin College, where Nicholas is doing his PhD.  It's so nice there I'm surprised he doesn't spend any time there.

We met up with him for lunch and had a snack from the Snack Box Van, and took it to eat on the lawn at Darwin College.  Bernard has just learned to JUMP and it was very amusing to watch him jump like a kangaroo all the way over the wooden bridge and back.

at the green man

in grantchester.  ong ba ngoai came to visit, and Fenton, and we had lunch at the Green Man.  Must get the fridge more prepared for family to drop in at random moments!

nursery school

17 Oct was Bernard's first day at nursery.  His teacher is called Andrea and his nursery is a tiny Montessori on a farm slap bang in the middle of nowhere.  It seems to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet.  I drive ten minutes away from town and I am there.  There is no sign on the entrance.  Sometimes you can buy farm fresh eggs for £1 a box on the driveway.
Bernard said he had a nice time at the nursery, and he played with a boy called Alex.  The toddler class is also the toilet training class (!), so often when I arrive one or more of them are running around without trousers on.
Bernard is learning to sit on the potty now, and he is doing very well; I was very impressed at how much easier it was this time round.  He is quite proud of his peeing prowess and he has had a few al fresco pees in fields too: all very challenging for the first timer!

solar panel

Sorry about the sideways photos lately; it's my phone - but hopefully I have managed to rotate this one of the brand new solar panel on our roof.  It works along with a spaceship-like installation in our airing cupboard, and hopefully it will reduce our reliance on the oil in a way that won't require a lot of maintenance.   The cylinder is well insulated anyway so it seems I just put the hot water on once in the day and it stays hot all day and night with the help of the solar.  Jolly clever.