Guest of honour

Back at school again on Friday, two very tall policemen visited my school as part of this term’s “People who help us” theme. I had my photo taken with Mr Policeman, and also with me sitting on his motobike :-)

Finally, I was guest of honour last night at the special dinner Grandpa’s friends had organised to celebrate his birthday. Again I impressed with all my party tricks. I’m so exhausted it is a miracle that I’ve had time to grow 2cms and put on 2lbs – I’m now 89cm tall and 30lbs.

Black eye

Since my last entry, I sustained a black eye and learned to say my name. I have once again had the most exciting and eventful week starting on Tuesday when Papa celebrated his birthday. Gugu had taught me to say “app-e-bird-e” to Papa, who was very thrilled.

Today, I skipped school to attend my Uncle Des' wedding (by the English reckoning, he's not really my Uncle but my first cousin once removed). I was a bit shy at first, but soon confidently started to perform all my party tricks including speaking in English, Français, Cantonese and Putonghua to keep the grown-ups amused while they were queuing to have their pictures taken with the bride and groom. I love Auntie Kinnie, who gave me an hat - she's beautiful and always comes to play with me.

My second Christmas

I've taken to pointing and saying "more" when I want something. It's a useful word to ask for and get given more food, easier than naming the object; the grown-ups usually work out what it is I want. But they try to teach me to say 'please' each time......

I was most pleased when little Gugu arrived from England on Sunday to spend a few months with us. She says she has missed me, Va and Grandma. Papa has had a few days' break for the holidays, so he took me swimming, and to play in the park.

My Christmas stocking was put out several days ago for Santa. On Christmas day, I knew instinctively to look in it for my presents: Santa had given my two more choochoos to go with my little wooden Thomas :-0 . I love Santa! Right now, I'm wondering what sticks my choochoos together, and not understanding why my other cars don't do the same. Papa explains it's called 'magnetism'.

Lots of people arrived in the house for Christmas lunch yesterday, and they all brought me presents. My new Aunty bought me a ball pit; Gugu gave me 2 railway tracks to help build my own private railway. Grandma's friend gave me a little tricycle which makes lots of noise, so grandma can always find me ;-).

House is back to normal

The house is back to normal: the furniture is back in its usual place; Papa comes home most nights now; Va left hospital only after being there a few days. The doctors took some black bits out so Va would feel better, but he's still on a liquid diet.

Today was the last day of term. Papa took me to school, where we had a Christmas party. We all took along some snacks to share, and I grubbed up well (as usual). A big fat guy with a white beard and a red suit gatecrashed. We were all slightly bewildered, but I was the first one to get a present from him :-).
I then spent most of the afternoon wearing Papa out around the house. I also waddled around in Va's slippers like they were a pair of skates.

I'm still a man of few words, but "Dub-a-dub-a-dub" has been a favourite phrase for the last two weeks, while "ehn, ehn" has fallen off the top slot. Of course it means "Stop it, Stop it!", from when the grown-ups see me throwing things ;-).

I can now identify belongings : cups, bottles, shoes.... etc. One day, I burst into tears when I saw one of the helpers wearing Grandma's slippers. Grandma told me she had given them up to her, but it didn't make me like it any less :-(

A little cockney thug ;-)

Since my last diary entry, my hair has been cut very short again. I was having a laugh with Gugu and Va in the bathroom when heard this buzzing sound around my head. Next thing I knew, there was hair in the tub behind me and my neck started to itch, I realised that it was too late :...-(

My vocabulary has grown quite a lot. I can identify many objects and say a lot of everyday words now, but always dropping my aitches: I say " 'ead", " 'at", " 'and" and " 'ot", so I sound a bit Cockney. I am very strong, and I like moving my furniture about in the house. My favourite is tipping the tables and chairs over, sometimes while Bear is sitting in the chair in question. With my skinhead cut and behaviour to match, Gugu is now calling me "a little thug".

The house is in a state because we have all had to decamp into half the usual space during renovations, so Papa has been sleeping over at the hotel where he works; I miss Va because he is in hospital for an operation.