the cinema won't allow them in unaccompanied after 8pm

Really? I didn't know that. Are they allowed to discriminate on the grounds of age? (Assuming the movie is rated as suitable for them.)

the commonly-encountered attitude to children in England

We lived in the UK for a couple of years in the late 70s, when I was a preschooler. My father was working, my mother stayed at home and looked after us. She didn't have fun. Part of that was just us, boisterous…

Welcome home..

I also giggle every time I see Alan Bollard these days

Heck, I've even been known to chuckle at his namesake embedded in pavements (oddly to a Pistols soundtrack). Way with words, that Haywood.

I can't work out whether that's good or bad. Good for Bob, perhaps.

We had one particular experience on a train from England to Scotland where the carriage gradually emptied of the English (who'd be staring daggers at Bob, and saying in loud voices "I can't believe people would bring a baby on a long train journey")

I think it is partly because…

On Calton hill, opposite the Castle with the faux temple remnant on it, sits and old observatory and next to it is a tower. Atop the tower is a tall spike with a golden ball on it.

Yes, we spent many happy hours at the time-ball station…

I can see how that would resonate.

Very slightly more on topic, I also giggle every time I see Alan Bollard these days.

the manatees on David Attenborough's Life of Mammals on Prime last night

Saw that and recalled your earlier mention, Hilary.

We nearly lost it giggling. Manatees always remind me of this.

the manatees on David Attenborough's Life of Mammals on Prime last night

Saw that and recalled your earlier mention, Hilary.

In other time related nerdery, I was explaining the time pips to a recent NatRad convert the other day, and how the exact start of the hour [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwich_Time_Signal|coincides with the start of the final…

I'm highly delighted to see that they're now dropping the Lyttelton timeball daily at 1 pm again.

Wouldn't it be great if they also fired a cannon when they dropped the ball? I may have to start a…

I like that these kids relate the human the same as animals

...and inanimate! My 20 month old son treats all alike in his desire to play with stuff ... 'cuddle mummy', 'cuddle pigeon' [real ones – shouting and running in hot pursuit down the beach], 'cuddle helicopter' [at MOTAT,…

I guess, now that I think about it, this must be why they call it the one o'clock gun.

Maybe guns are like some farmers and don't do daylight savings?

Rosie wrote:

That gun in Edinburgh has always been fired at 1pm rather than noon.

Thanks for the correction, Rosie. I guess, now that I think about it, this must be why they call it the one o'clock gun. I have corrected the…

and a plastic statuette of a Marks & Spencer's shop-girl.

The 18 month old that we know,(who constantly makes me think of Bob) has an order of tiger (roar), dinosaur (grrrr) and penguin (no sound effect) but there is a little plastic toy soldier that always goes with the animals.When he…

If it makes Jennifer feel any better I have, on more than one occasion and always with a little trepidation, breastfed a duplo crocodile.

At meal-times, each animal must be offered food before Bob-the-baby will consent to dine. And if any are inadvertently missed — for some odd reason, I often forget the sheep — then there are terrible howls of anguish from Bob, who clearly believes that they might starve to death.

Make…

More shameless exploitation of Kate to illuminate your lives for us.

Wonderful stuff as usual, the world through the eyes of a child is an amazing place.

It's so nice to read something in the morning that makes one smile.

"Plenary" and "visiting professor" are essential vocabulary for everyday life.

Heh, that's going in my book of amusing academic anecdotes.

Good god.

(great stuff)