The observant of you may have noticed that the blog has been significantly lacking in input from Mike. Mostly this has been because he's been very, very busy at work. But this week it's going to be due to a complete absence of Mike. Until next Wednesday he's going to be off in the States at a conference. I'm not dreading it quite so much this year. After all, we're not having the whole central heating replaced, and Bridget is rather easier to handle. Given that I'm at work for three of the eight days and I'm going to be staying with my parents for four more it should be really quite tolerable, possibly even fun. The only worrying bit this time is going to be driving up to Stoke on my own with Bridget. It'll be the first time that I've been a long way without Mike to help out so it's a little daunting, but I'm sure we'll survive.

Bridget is very much enjoying playing with the car that she got for her birthday. She likes sitting in it (sometimes) and being pushed around by a parent. She likes pushing it around herself, honing her walking skills, with a parent at the other end to steer and make sure that it doesn't go too fast. But most of all she likes the music it makes. It plays fifteen different tunes, mostly in tune and none of them, thankfully, 'Twinkle, twinkle little star'. Bridget has got to know them so well that she will turn back to the keyboard when the end of one tune is approaching to make sure that the next one comes on as soon as possible. And she has taken to kneeling on the floor next to the car and jigging from side to side in time to the music. Sometimes she will do this while she's standing, holding on to the car, but generally the kneeling position is favoured.

Still no signs of letting go yet. We've obviously got a very cautious little girl here.