Empathy is no mean feat

She is 14 months, and just learning to play with inanimate objects and "pretend". She knows the WORD "pretend", as I use it everytime she starts to eat playdoh! I care for her three days per week, and her imagination has just taken off. It helps that she has an older sister. She responds to the pretend train sounds, but the tracks are pointless. She just rips them up. The train-shed is a different kettle of fish. It had not occurrd to me, but the shape of the train-shed and the baby-cradle are similar.

On the same wavelength

Rushcutters Bay playground, Monday afternoon.

Happy first birthday

Some of you may recognise this young lady from my family blog. She turned one year old last Friday.

Happy birthday Alannah Jane!!

Sunday in the park

After a slightly crisp start, the day blossomed fine and warm with a light nor'easter rustling the trees. An autumn Sunday, but not just any old Sunday. This was Mothering Sunday - Mothers' Day. And this year, we had two mothers to be feted.

I was very impressed with the parks of Paris, but suspect the parks of Sydney are winning in their own way. This was taken in Centennial Park, beside the children's playground. More as the week progresses.

And thus begins a most surreal week. I compose this as I stand vigil for my father making his final journey, expected early Monday morning.

Playgroup

Crawling the floor with a dozen children under 12 months is something I have not done since the '80s when I was a Long-day-care Director. Crawling the mat around one's own grand-daughter is a joy. This was followed by lunch in Tiger Mottle across the road from St George Anglican Church at Five Ways.

Ooo ... I love Fridays.

Winter's afternoon in the park

As the shadows lengthened, a nip gathered in the air, and people gathered sweaters around them. Chatting people, walking people, sipping people, running people. People in pairs, people in families, people in teams.


All readying themselves for the homeward journey and the Sunday evening roast of lamb, with baked potatoes, baked pumpkin, steamed baby peas, and slivered carrot, with a gentle spray of mint picked fresh from the window-sill.