Visiting the grandfolks

Easter 2012 involved trains and cars, dogs and hamsters, and assorted relatives. In addition, on Easter Friday we participated in the Walk of Witness local to Nanny. Possibly other participants thought I was terribly moved by the occasion given the tears at the stop at St. James' Church, but this was really because I took the opportunity to visit the grave of a school fellow (d.1988), the only prior occasion I had been in this church being for this boy's memorial service. Lunch followed at the cousin's, being mainly memorable for meeting Flora the Gnawer (the hamster).

Easter Saturday saw us trek to Birmingham to go the Sealife Centre. The main attraction for the boy was a particularly stompy bridge, and some attractive buoys, but I managed to get him to take some interest in the clownfish and turtles. Nanny and Mommy hung out in the cafe at St. Martin's in the Bullring as the boy had, thankfully, finally deigned to fall asleep. A walk in the afternoon took us past a cockerel ("cockalaw" who said "cockalaw-doo-doo").

Easter Sunday took us to Baddesley Clinton and an Easter Egg trail, and a revisit to the hamster. The small boy's attempts to herd his relatives into the same place were greatly frustrated on this occasion, even more so than in the previous few days. The herding instinct was pushed aside however once a pretend priest hole that children could fling themselves in and out of was discovered.

The Monday took us to the Midlands Arts Centre for a dance and music workshop based on William Blake's Songs of Innocence. Ambitious, perhaps: the small boy certainly spent the whole time clinging on; but Mommy enjoyed it.