Enjoying the attention (while I still can)

Greetings, subjects,

Well, I just turned 18 months old, and I don't feel a day over 19 months. With this new age comes new wisdom, but not, apparently, the ability to use a spoon properly.


Dad is very proud of me, claiming that I am, after all, his own flesh and blood, due to the fact that I love sausages, popsicles and peaches, and hate celery. I like to make dad happy.


My intended sibling continues to hog mum's attention - here is one of the latest pictures of him, her, it...


Looks pretty freaky if you ask me.

My parents are still indoctrinating me with their insidious religion, here is my new ride (courtesy of Aunty Melinda). She don't look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid.


Actually, I rather enjoy this inflatable hunk of junk - and frequently use it during my t.v. viewing sessions.


It helps that Bruce's mum and dad sent me this awesome flying jacket too!


Recently, mum took me to Lucasfilm in San Francisco. There she posed with the most evil force in the galaxy. Oh, and some bloke called Daft Hayder or something.


Actually, I think their brainwashing might be working, as the more astute among you (and by astute, I mean nerdy) might tell from this next picture.


Well, I've got to go. I need to return these new shoes mum bought me - honestly, I think this pregnancy has fried her mind.


Back to the drawing board!



HJB out.

The Second Coming

Greetings, minions, and a Happy New Year to you all!

I'm back in the US of A and I have a lot to share with you - so hold onto your potatoes, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

Flying is fun. Providing you are a baby, and not the owners of a baby, nor the passengers in the immediate vicinity of said baby. To be fair though, I thought my behavior was pretty good, not like the old lady in front of me who threw up all the way from San Francisco to London on the way out, or the man doing sneaky bottom burps behind me on the way back. Actually, during the stringent security check on the way to the States, I got my first ever frisking.
Needless to say, it was an enjoyable moment for both parties, and phone numbers were exchanged.

So, what went down in jolly old England?

Well, it snowed. Interesting stuff, snow. Kinda fun, kinda wet. The jury's still out on its usefulness.


It did teach me a thing or two about the hardiness of the locals though - although some might mistake this for stupidity.


It was fun seeing Nanny Annie again. She taught me how to use dangerous implements to mark furniture,


and introduced me to her pet fox in the back yard.


The best bit about the trip was being able to catch up with friends and family in order for them to fawn all over me and shower me with praise and jaffa cakes.
Here I am with my auntie, uncle and cousins...


...mum and dad's friends, Geoff and Sui, and Bruce...


...grandad Baker...


... and all of us tearing into our pressies with auntie Christine and uncle Dave.


We went to Christine and Dave's house for xmas dinner, which was a lot of fun.
Mum led me to their house, which is about ten houses up the street from Nanny Annie's place.


It was here that I encountered my first full turkey dinner. Blimey - I could get used to this! Cheers!


Unbelievably stuffed, I took a moment to relax at the table...


...before indulging in a spot of cat-tormenting.


I got some great presents for xmas, not the least of which was this knitted stealth cardigan from uncle Dave's mum. Unfortunately, its powers of invisibility are only effective when I am standing in front of Dave's mum.


Wow, this trip was such a lot of fun!
I played with auntie Julie a lot...


...until it all ended in a punch-up.


I read my Star Wars book with Bruce...


And got mercilessly tickled by Sean.


I especially enjoyed indulging in a spot of English television. I'm really not sure what these CBeebie programmers are on - but daddy wants some.


I had many likes and dislikes during my stay.
I loved dad's bizarre, yet barely attempted, party balloon animals...


... but wasn't so keen on some of the stuff that passes for baby food over there. That said, if you've got any spare Farley's Rusks laying around, feel free to send them my way!


I was delighted and touched by the huge supply of toys and equipment that had been rustled up by mum and dad's family and friends...


But I didn't like the idea of having to renounce my nationality while living under Nanny Annie's roof.


All in all, I had a splendid time, and was sorry to say goodbye.
I can't wait for our next trip over-seas.
Having said that, it was nice to get back to the balmy weather of San Jose, and go for a walk in the park with uncle Paul upon our return.


We had a lovely time over the holiday period - thanks to everyone who made it so special!

I'll leave you with the reason for my excited face...


I'm getting an apprentice!



Happy 2010, y'all!

HJB, out.

Afore we fly.

Greetings minions and evil-doers the world over,

As some of you may already know, my parental units are taking me to one half of my ancestoral home at the end of the week, and I shall be celebrating the holidays in jolly old England. Can't wait to meet family members I never knew I had, and charm the pants off mum and dad's friends. All that and turkey too - smashing.

Before I get too carried away though, I must apologise for skipping a month. There's no excuse, so I won't make one. That said, I'll now flood this blog with photos capturing the last couple of months in all their glory - lots of stuff happened, and I'm sure there was a purpose to it all...

Well, Halloween came and went (as did the chocolates I collected - thanks Uncle Paul). Dad carved a groovy pumpkin for me, befitting my dark side.


I got all decked out in my best space smuggler gear - just call me 'Han'.


I wowed the chicks.


Before hitting the town with my best buddies.


And counting my ill-gotten gains.



Also that month, I discovered the joys of brisk walks on crisp evenings. Mum and dad took me to a new park and we all had fun.
I looked at the birds on the lake.


Then dad showed me the art of swinging.


And then mum helped me up and down the stairs - all in all a most productive evening.


November swung around, and with it came butterflies and Thanksgiving.
We went to see the butterfly migration at Santa Cruz, but there weren't very many to see. Luckily I had Uncle Paul on hand to point out that the clusters of dead leaves we were looking at were, in fact, Monarch butterflies.


Not dead leaves


Saw some cool caterpillers though.


And then we went to the beach where everyone took turns to pose with me, thus making them better citizens.
First Mum.


Then Dad.


Then Uncle Paul!

We also went to some friends' house for a Thanksgiving meal. I gave thanks for the opportunity to do a bit of housework, although I needed a Dyson if I was going to suck up that paper airplane.



Towards the end of November, we all went for a jaunt to the Star Trek exhibit at the Tech museum in San Jose. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw people actually dressed up for this event - surely Star Wars fans would never be this nerdy...


It was here that I gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'Captain's log.'


As usual, I'll leave you with some random images that sum up the past couple of months for me.

Dad's pointing lessons were going poorly.


I discovered that leaves come many different colors, but mum still makes me wash my hands whether they be green or red or brown.


Sometimes a t-shirt can say a thousand words.


I am experimenting with different looks for my dark lord outfit. I call this one "you want fries with that?"


But I think this is the winner. Darth Tater won't miss his mask.


I am also working on building a real lightsaber. OK, so it's a flashlight, but it is purple.


I have discovered many new games to play.
This one is called 'couch chewing' - it helps me soothe my four new teeth that are causing me so much grief these days.


I call this one 'Mummy's little helper'. They don't seem to find this very funny though.


Finally, I'll leave you with me and new best friend. When he asked me what I wanted for christmas, I said 'world domination' and then peed on his leg. I don't think this guy's going to be checking his list twice this year...



Happy Holidays!!

HJB