Hey Santa!

I met Father Christmas yesterday. I was a little shy but we did end up having a chat after he asked me what I wanted him to bring me for Christmas. He gave me a present to take home with me. I believe I am going to like Christmas very, very much.

To Winter...

Today, I took mummy for a sled-ride in the snow. It was a real effort.

From Autumn...

A week ago I was out in the garden sweeping and picking up leaves...

Down On The Farm...

On a beautiful Autumn sunday morning, with the trees all russet and gold, my mummy and daddy took me to Cholderton Charlie's Rare Breeds Farm. We were able to feed the pigs and goats and ducks and sheep as well as visit the bunnies and chickens. I saw some "shorsheys" or horses as big people call them and I played in an indoor playground with a huge slide and climbing frames. It was really, really fun and I hope I can go back again soon. Here is a picture of my mummy at the farm - she is the one on the right wearing the black hat!

Sparkle!

Last Friday, November 5th, was Guy Fawkes Night in England. Its when we celebrate the failed attempt by a man of that name to blow up the Houses of Parliament, several hundred years ago. We went to a bonfire and fireworks display at my cousin Josh and Harry's school, just as we did last year. It was very noisy with all those bangs and cracks of fireworks exploding in the night sky, showering the heavens with brightly coloured sparks - but it was fun and I even held my own sparklers.

Everyday Was Like Sunday...

A nice, sunny Sunday and we're on the road again. This time my mummy and daddy took me to Clarence Pier - an amusement pier in Portsmouth, Hampshire. It is located by the Portsmouth Hovercraft terminal. According to Wikipedia, unlike most seaside piers in the UK, the pier does not extend very far out to sea, instead goes along the coast.
The pier was originally constructed in 1861 and boasted a regular ferry service to the Isle Of Wight. It was damaged by air raids during World War II and opened in its current form in 1961.

I had a great time riding on the carousel, the swirling teacups, the balloon ride and the track with different kinds of transportation - I picked a train. Afterwards we went across the road to a park where there was a playground with slides and swings. I wish every day could be Sunday!

Singing In The Rain...

Stop! Police!

Here is a picture of my mummy's friend Anja and her police dog Iro. They appeared in a newspaper in Sweden recently. You may remember I told you about them in a post last year when I went to stay with them where they live near Lulea in north Sweden. Anja is my friend Sanna's mummy. Sanna is going to have a baby brother or sister soon. Congratulations!

More Beach...

The weather was absolutely glorious last weekend so we went to the beach at Bournemouth - after we had the ride on the train I told you about. It was very warm for the time of year - 23 degrees celcius! Naturally, being a bit of a surfer girl, I headed straight for the sea - but a big wave took me by surprise and I fell flat on my face - but that's ok because as usual mummy had a spare set of clothes - although I didn't fancy going back in the ocean again. Instead mummy wrapped me up in a nice towel, daddy bought me an ice cream and I played with two girls who were building a sandcastle together. They didn't seem to mind me gatecrashing their party.

I Like Trains...

I went for a ride on a miniature steam train last weekend. It blew it's whistle and went through tunnels and belched white smoke as it rattled and rolled along the tracks at Moors Country Park at Ringwood near Bournemouth. My nanny and mummy rode the train with me and we had to change at a little station and catch another train back to where we started.

Somewhere Over...

I always find it sad when the summer is over - even though I have only really experienced three but I don't remember much about the first one because I was much littler than I am now and I was sleeping a lot more then. But I like being outdoors in the warm sunshine, going to the beach or playing in my paddling pool, sandpit or going to the park to play on the slide and swings. It is going to be while before the flowerbeds and wild hedgerows buzz with the sound of bees and the birds sing so sweetly waking me up in the early morning sunshine or singing me a treetop lullaby in the dusk.
Autumn is here with its bruised skies, windswept fields and leave-strewn streets. And its rainbows. This one appeared over the garden a couple of night's ago.

Back On The Beach...

Went back to the beach last weekend. We went to Bournemouth for the day and it was surprisingly warm for a late September day. In fact, the moment I saw the sea I just knew I had to go in - so I did and it was good that mummy brought a spare pair of trousers and a top for me.

Best Dad!

It was my daddy's birthday a few days after we returned from France. I opened his presents for him and gave him a special badge to wear. I asked mum if we were going to put candles on his cake but she said the fire brigade would have to be present if we did that. I don't know how old my daddy is but it is a lot.

Memories of Summer...

Sorry for the lack of updates folks - it's been a busy summer which included another trip to France so I have been spending more time out doors rather than typing away on the computer. But I have lots to tell you about so I better get on with it.
As I mentioned we went to France with some very special friends - Steve and Darlene who came all the way over from Florida. We went by car ferry from Dover to Calais late one Friday night and drove all the way down to Montalivet in South-west France on the Atlantic coast. I slept most of the way while my daddy drove.
I went to a playground everyday that had a big pirate ship to climb on and slide down. We also went to the beach every day and went on bicycle rides. But best of all was spending time with Steve, who is a doctor, and Darlene who was always ready to play with me or read me a story - and especially eating pain au chocolats or "chocalatines" with me for breakfast. I hope they can come back next summer or that daddy can take me and mummy to Florida.

Down On The Farm!

We went to Finkley Down Farm today where I fed the animals and got to hold a little chick and a bunny rabbit. I saw horses, calves, pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, donkeys, sheep, tortoises and peacocks. Plus, they have a play area with trampolines, swings, slides, climbing frames and roundabouts. It was a lot of fun.

My Fit Mummy!

My mummy has just been named "Andover's Fittest Woman" after she entered a cross-fit competition put on by the Alternative Fitness gym in Andover and came first. Well done mummy, I'm proud of you!

Matilda, Ben & Jerry

We went to say goodbye to my aunt Linda a few days ago. She is going back to Sweden where she has been offered a job in Stockholm. I am looking forward to visiting her there. We went to Windsor and while mummy and Linda looked at the clothes shops me and daddy went to visit our friends Ben and Jerry. Good luck auntie Linda, keep in touch, love you. Matilda.

Swan Wake!

We went for a walk in the water meadows at Stockbridge last Sunday. I took some bread with me thinking that I would see some ducks - but a family of greedy swans showed up and showed the ducks who was boss!

Matilda Sóley Cake!

It was my birthday a couple of days ago. I am now two-years-old. I got lots of presents including a tricycle, a sand pit, baby dolls, an animal puzzle, books and clothes. My friends Tryggvi and Arni Bjartur in Iceland sent a video message singing Happy Birthday to me in Icelandic.  That was way cool!
My mum made me a chocolate birthday cake and my dad helped me blow out the two candles.
I want to thank everyone for my presents and cards; Nanna and "Mike," Amma and Afi in Sweden, my auntie Linda, my nanny's sister Jenny and her husband Mike Cole, Mike's secretary Angie and her mum, Jenny and Rob from next door,  and of course my mummy and daddy. Oh, and thank you to Noah in Iceland for sending a message to my blog. Thank you all so much.

New Dress!

My next door neighbour Jenny kindly bought me a dress a few weeks ago. It's a lovely, light summer dress and perfect for the warm summer we are having here in England.

I Love Zoo!

My mummy and daddy took me to the zoo on Sunday. We had a great time riding a little train around the park and seeing all the animals. There were so many: Zebras, monkeys, tigers, cheetahs, rhinos, antelope and many, many more. I think I really liked the giraffes best, though.

Baking Day!

I baked my first cake the other day. I wasn't sure about the ingredients at first but mummy said that carrots are good in cakes. The best part about making a cake though, is licking all the icing from the spoon and bowl!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

It was my Nanny's birthday yesterday. I wasn't able to bake her a cake or give her a birthday card because she is in the South of France having a little holiday. But she comes home tomorrow and I might let her give me a hug and kiss because I did miss her a little bit. She is always ready to draw and colour with me and reads me stories and makes me breakfast most mornings so it will be good to have her home. Happy Birthday Nanny!

Tales of the Riverbank!

While mummy was doing her cross-fit training yesterday evening me and daddy went to feed the ducks at a nice little spot on the river we know. It was very peaceful sat there on the riverbank under the cooling shade of an old tree - and good to get out of the sun as it has been very, very hot here this past week. I had a big bag of bread to share with the ducks - although they weren't too amused when I fed myself a little too often for their liking.

Father's Day!

It is Father's Day today and I gave my daddy a present for being the best dad ever. I decided to get him a book because he is always reading. I think he liked my choice!

Matilda's Clubhouse!

Welcome to Matilda's Clubhouse, a little house constructed for me by my Grandad, Mummy and Daddy and painted by me! It is made out of the cardboard boxes that Grandad and Grandma's new garden furniture turned up in. The outside is painted the same colour as my Grandad and Grandma's real house - the inside is all my own work!

Íssssss!

Whether you call it Ís or Ice-cream it is soooo good!

Bounce!

Bouncy Castles are one of my favourite things to play on. Here I am at the Hatherden Fete today.

A Winner At The Fete!

Went to the Hatherden Fete today at the Wildhern playing field, where I usually spend quite a bit of time on the swings and slide. But today my playground was a lot different with carousels, bouncy castles, tombola, a dog show, tug-of-war for the big people, and lots and lots of stalls where you could buy sweets and cakes and second-hand books. And you could test your skill. Of course I won a football when I kicked the ball into the goal and I won a penguin on the tombola. I had lots of goes on the carousel horses, so many that my dad said it would have been cheaper for him to have bought the whole machine!

Cool Pool!

With the lovely warm and sunny weather we had in England on my return from France it wasn't long before I was back in the pool. Well, the paddling pool! But who cares if it didn't give me the opportunity to do a few laps, it has been a great way to cool down and enjoy the start of summer.

Matilda Soleil!

Just back from a month of sunning on the French Riviera. Plenty of beach trips, pool-time, fresh fruit, baguettes and just as toasty weather.
And the scenery! Wow! Which even from the vantage point of my car seat as we meandered along the shining coastline from St Tropez to Toulon, was just breathtaking.
I can't wait to go back again to feel the warm sun that turns my skin brown and my hair golden and the sea-lapped sand beneath my feet.
Oh to be serenaded by the chorus of cicadas and take in the sweet and smokey scent of the Pin de Parasol pines! I could move there in a heartbeat. Dad, can we?

Easter By The Sea...

I had a great Easter Sunday, a real "Old Blighty" experience! It started with a ride on a miniature steam train at Moors Country Park at Ringwood before going to the seaside at Bournemouth. I went with my mum and dad and my Grandma and Grandad. We had fish and chips for lunch, went for a walk on the beach where I built a few sandcastles with my new bucket and spade and waded into the sea a little bit. After that my mum took me for a ride on a carousel horse before we all went home. But that wasn't the end of my treats for the day. When I got back to my Grandma and Grandad's place I had a few Easter Eggs and presents waiting for me - including the Icelandic Easter Egg that I won at the Egg Hunt I told you about.