PIG ON A PLATE

I think I'm turning into my mother. We can always rely on her to put her foot in it at least once during Sunday dinner. Yesterday we were having baked ham and I could see that Oscar was eating everything on his plate - except the ham. So to encourage him (looking back it seems so stupid) I told him that the pink meat on his plate was a piggy like Peppa Pig. Everyone round the table gasped in horror and Oscar's face crumpled. I quickly said that it wasn't Peppa Pig, just like Peppa Pig. "No, is Peppa Pig" said Oscar. pushing the entire plate away from him. So that's ham off the menu.

HELLO BIG PANSY

Oscar was admiring his mummy and daddy's daffodils when I picked him up yesterday. I showed him the baby pansies in our hanging basket. He said he didn't like them so I picked one and showed him its little face - he backed away and I'm not sure if he thought grandma had gone batty or if he expected the flower to talk. Later, when we went to the village he spotted a window box outside the local Italian restaurant. He stood in front of the flowers, by the open door,  shouting "Hello big pansy" - I don't think we'll be booking a meal there for some considerable time.

IT FITS!

Hurray - the Peppa Pig jumper fits and I have a feeling that Oscar's daddy had a little word with him before he came to play because as soon as he bounced through the door he said he wanted to wear the Peppa Pig jumper! While he was with us we visited great grandma, who at 80, performed a Highland jig and then pushed Oscar round and round her flat in a pretend boat.

Oscar pulls great grandma's teddies around in the pretend boat.

PEPPA PIG

I am putting a picture of the jumper I've just finished on the blog without Oscar in it, because I have a feeling he'll never be in it! I made the mistake of showing it to him while it was still on the needles - mainly because I wanted him to know that I wasn't just knitting for the new baby. I said to my husband "it's going to be too big" not really thinking that Mr Sharp Ears in the corner would be taking it all in. The next time I got it out Oscar shouted "too big grandma" so the odds of me actually getting it over his head tomorrow are small. The trouble is, when the time comes that it actually does fit him (probably about age 6) Peppa Pig will just be an embarrassment!

THANKS BRIAN

Next Sunday night I'll know better - I'll tape Brian Cox and his wonders of the universe and watch it first thing Monday morning because I've been tossing and turning all night after what seemed to be an hour-long  black comedy. With his eerie grin still in place, he told us how the universe will end; of exploding stars, of things being sucked inside themselves; of dying suns and crumbling worlds. Ok, he was talking trillions and trillions of billions years hence but nevertheless my remains will be on this dying planet and I have an interest in their future. There's one thing for certain, I'll no longer be worrying about how to make my housekeeping stretch a full month - oh no, I have much bigger things on my mind now.

WHERE ARE THEY?

Our son in London was in Zurich on Friday for work. Our daughter in Hull is now in London meeting up with our son. She was at the NBA game at the O2 Arena last night and will soon be jetting back to Hull for a Punt and Dennis show tonight (I've just read on Facebook!). I actually thought she was going to see John Bishop tonight - no that's Wednesday, she responds when I query. Meanwhile our other son has been hotel hopping in Edinburgh. Phew - I'm glad I've written it all down.

The London son and his fiance's wedding plans are taking shape - I hope! Because the wedding will be in his neck of the woods there's not much I can get involved in - so frustrating! I've started looking for an outfit, but I've still got a few pounds to lose before I can start trying on - and then I'll just have to hope and pray that I can keep that shape for another 14 months!

ADAM

We're really looking forward to meeting Adam when he arrives (hopefully around May 5th). We feel as though we already know him, after our introduction through the wonders of 3d scanning.

He looks a lot like King Oscar the 2nd to us - we shall see!

My trusty old computer finally died yesterday. I'd used it every day for ten years and I felt sympathy pains as it aged and became slower and slower. Our three children had been telling me to replace it with a newer model for years, but I was too loyal. I'd got to know all its little ways and for the past six months I'd been very patient when it refused to start breathing for at least 30 minutes after being switched on. And when it did  it sounded like an asthmatic steam train.  So it was with a heavy heart that I gave in yesterday and visited Argos. I'm now the owner of a very smart model that does everything I ask of it at lightning speed. But something is missing - and I think it's the noise.

Oscar is very old-fashioned in his ways and instructed his grandad to be "very careful" as he opened the patio doors last week. Then as he was leaving for home he almost went flying as he ran down the hall. He turned round with a wise old expression and said: "nearly".

We had a day in the Trough of Bowland this week - what a beautiful area it is. We made a real find - a pub we'd never come across before (and that's saying something). Tucked down a narrow little lane in Wiswell is the Freemasons Arms.

We had a drink beside the fire and studied the menu. We'll be back.