The Boys ..........

That's become the accepted way we talk about Molly's rats now. Buzz and Woody are settling in nicely - they've grown already and Molly's loving them......

Bruton Mansions hears the pitter-patter of tiny (very tiny) feet.....

Introducing Buzz & Woody......



After a lot of work on Molly's part, she's finally saved up the money and convinced Louise that rats would be a perfect pet for her to have. It's mostly my fault to be honest - I planted the seeds in Molly's mind quite a while ago. The idea of a cute rat or two nuzzling into your shoulder, smart, fun, lovely clean things - we were both sold. Louise, not so much.

So we first started talking about it a long time ago, and I think Louise was hoping a little that Molly might just forget about it, or that it might be a passing fad. But over the months she kept coming back to it until eventually it couldn't be put off anymore.

Off to the pet shop, where I began to regret the pledge to match Molly pound for pound....



And these are Molly's boys: The brown and white one is Woody, the plain white (or slightly light brown and white) one underneath in this pic is Buzz.....










Woody's a bit more outgoing at this point, hence more pics. Buzz comes to life later on at night. Molly absolutely adores them. Not too keen on the poo, and still a little reluctant about the inevitable nips she might be getting in the next few days as they settle in.

But it's all she talks about to her friends and she could sit up watching them and chatting to them late into the night.

We're not at the chasing around the room, sitting on the shoulder stage yet, but Molly really can't wait for that to happen.

This week I have mostly been reviewing.........

Easter Holiday 2010: Butlins Finale....

One thing we did do this holiday, that we always meant to do in previous years was a Mikey photo guide.

There are two main time frames in Bruton mansions - pre and post Mikey. Pre-Mikey all of the photographs of Molly that contain a cuddly toy have different ones, the flavour of the moment toys. And Post-Mikey everything changed. Mikey is Molly's favourite (even though we're not allowed to say it in front of the others).

Here's Mikey........

Easter Holiday 2010 - Brutons Do Butlins Pt 5

HOLIDAY DAY 5 - BUTLINS DAY 4 - THURSDAY

The last full Butlins day. And we made it a full one. Started off on the Aerial Ropes course, which although Molly didn't know it, was a test to see if Molly was going to be up to the courses she's going to do later in the year with Guides and then school at two trips to outward bound centres. The ropes course was great. Molly was brilliant at it. Froze just once, really early on, but got herself together and did it not just once, but twice. Very proud.

Then funfair again. We managed to gain a huge bloody stuffed frog that we're trying to convince Molly to leave at Butlins but that we fear will be coming home with us. (It did and it's currently sat in Molly's room - big and horrible).

The night-time was meant to be me going off writing again. But it didn't work out that way..... I was persuaded to go along with Louise, Molly and friends to the last night Butlins Reflex night. Starting out with a kids disco, then on with an 80s tribute band, although not really what I'd think of if someone said 80s tribute band. Like we agreed at the time - more an anything after 1987 that counts as soft rock and the two female pub singer belters at the front could bellow out. So we get Heart, T'Pau, Bonnie Tyler, Journey, Europe and more. The only thing that kept me there, the only thing that made it okay and not something to stick pencils in the ear and push was a great game of "crap 80s songs that could be in the set". That game kept us going for ages, so much so that we made a list and even started enjoying the music, or more accurately just the first 30 seconds of each song, just for the fun of seeing it crossed off the list.

After that, more drinking, more dancing from Molly (with her favourite Redcoat in the world - Curtis) and a complete lack of me doing any writing as I was having far too much fun. Hell, I even rather enjoyed the Bootleg Blondie set at the end.

All part of the Butlin's experience. And all part of the great fun I had there.