Yesterday was pleasant. I sat on the train for half an hour of blissful peace with just my ipod and book for company. I breezed through the Underground unencumbered by a buggy or a dawdling four year old. I reveled in the liberating experience of entering a public toilet cubicle, solo. I drank a coffee at a leisurely pace in a cafe which probably didn't have baby changing facilities or highchairs. Finally, I ambled purposelessly around shops, just browsing. It was refreshing and something I intend to do every once in a while now I have regular hospital appointments in central London.
Today was fun. After scraping breakfast off the floor, I bundled up the kids and dashed out of the door to the station, loaded down with buggy, snacks, nappies and all that other, day out sort of paraphernalia.
Both of them love trains. Louis enjoys the mechanics, the noise and the motion. Tilly enjoys intimidating strangers with her stare, clambering over the seats and pointing at things out of the window. They were delighted to see my dad and even feigned a (very) slight interest in his work. Louis documented the trip taking photos of other passengers, pigeons and his shoes. They ran around and collected figs and sticks in the courtyard at the Arts Bar and Cafe at Tonybee Studios. Tilly squealed with happiness when Ed came and found us waiting for him in the gardens near his office. We ate a lovely lunch in the very kiddy friendly Giraffe. And Louis reported that daddy's office was messy and his chair was broken after nipping into Ed's work for a wee (probably the highlight of the day for Louis.)
Ok, so we struggled on escalators. Tilly attempted to deface artworks with her sticky fingers. There was orange juice spillage, the threat of an accident when Louis decided he urgently needed the toilet and there were complaints when little legs got a bit weary. And of course, there were overtired tears by five o'clock, but not mine, honest!
