London fun

We have just returned from a wonderul mini-break in London! I had loads of play time with Granny, Grandpa and Aunty Emma, in particular playing with leaves, walking sticks and my new bike! My new words in English and Spanish are tumbling out daily, I can say "agua", "llave" (key), "jugo" (juice) and "asno" (my toy donkey) and digger, Emma and I am trying to say "abuela" which means Grandma. Phew, that is a lot of information processing! I have recently discovered that throwing little tantrums is a brilliant tactic to get my own way, Mama seems quite exasperated however! Enjoy the videos and new photos. All my love Joseph xxxxxxxx

Back in the saddle

We're back! Mama has had a moment to look up from her studying to update our blog! Well I am very happy to report that I am back in the saddle at nursery, there are no more histrionics now when Mama drops me off. I have discovered that I have a creative streak as I enjoy painting and making creations out of sand - both of which are a messy business! Mama and I are really well settled now and we have worked out a good routine. We have been back to Nanny and Grandad's in Shrewsbury a few times as it is so close and Grandma Sandra has visited us too which was great fun. It is starting to get a bit cooler now (hence my Inca hat and gloves) and all the leaves are falling from the trees which I love to collect on my way to nursery.
We send you lots of hugs and kissy from rainy Manchester! xxxx

Tiny Dancer

Hello

The last week has been a rollercoaster of emotions as I am settling into nursery. The first week was quite a novelty and I enjoyed playing with the other children and playing in the sand pit, but last week the novelty wore off and I soon realised that I would be coming here most days. I am just so used to being with Mama that I only really want to be where she is. I suppose it is a transitional period for both of us. I still love music and dancing and I am even singing along now, Mama took this video of me yesterday dancing to our Indian music. As you can see I am nothing if not a multitasker as I manage to dance and turn the lamp on/off - fun fun fun!

Northern cool

Our discovery of Manchester continues apace. We have settled well into the flat and I have now, rather satisfyingly, explored every cupboard and wardrobe in our new home. I started "settling in" to my nursery this week. I just go for an hour for the next two weeks but on day 1 I hit the ground running and didn't give Mama a backward glance and I raced over to the painting easel and got stuck in. I was too fast for the nursery staff and had painted my jeans before they could get my apron on! Ha ha! The nursery is full of fun things for me to play with, there are mostly boys in my group, there is even another Joseph which is a little confusing for me. The main toys I like to play with are a calculator (a career in accountancy maybe?) and a kettle (erm?), I have even been pushing a pram round with a another little boy. Fun fun fun. Each morning after nursery we hit the Manchester bus network and explore. We have visited a couple of galleries, an arthouse cinema, and of course some clothes shops! Dadda is here tomorrow - hip hip hooray. Let's hope he brings some sunshine as it has been raining every day.....! xxxxxx

North by Northwest

Hello

We have been busy bees since I wrote last week. I have helped Mama move our things up to Manchester, to our new home in the North. I even tried to climb into the removal van, into the front and the back! My efforts were not in vain as I did help Mama and Nanna move a bedstead, I was even huffing and puffing with my exertions. Our new home in "The Cube", is perfect for us. I have my own bedroom with all my books on display and my lovely toy chest which is just big enough for me to sit in. My little taxi takes pride of place in the living room too. We have been exploring the city on the buses and have discovered how to get to my nursery and Mama's university. I start nursery on 5th September and bought my very first little school bag today in preparation. I have been pottering around the house with it on and discovering how the zip works. I Can't wait for Papa's visit next week to show him round our new home. Lots of love xxxxxx ps more updates once we have moved in this weekend - yippee!

The Great Outdoors

Hello everyone

Life is ticking along well in Shrewsbury. The great event this week is that I saw my beautiful cousin Ava before she returned to Italy with Tia Faye and Tio Gian. We had so much fun playing in their van which Faye and Gian had driven all the way from Italy! Needless to say I was in the driving seat and just loved the big steering wheel and the hazard lights! Mama took me to the beautiful National Trust home, Attingham Park, this week, I played in the sand pit, played with the giant chess pieces and loved seeing the cows in the field. My favourite game was chasing Mama round the big oak trees, oh, and I also tried to eat a ladybird, it was just to pretty and climbed onto my hand so I thought I would give it a go. Yummie. My other big "first" is that I can now say "Dadda", "Nanna" and "Ba Ba" which means "bunny" and I say something which sounds like "all gone" but I just need to work on that pronunciation a bit more! Nanna took me on a Rupert Bear toy car at the supermarket the other day, I loved it, I actually loved it more when it was stationary. As you can Rupert Bear made a cuddly passenger. I miss Dadda lots and can't wait until he visits us in Manchester, there are so many new things I want to show him. Love you lots Dadda, Mama and Champ xxxxxxx

Champ takes to the streets in his own car!

Vrooom, vroom

Hello everyone

We have been back 2 weeks now and I am readjusting remarkably quickly! I have been up to Manchester with Mama 3 times this week, flat-hunting, and I am so happy that we have now found somewhere called "The Cube" on the outskirts of the city centre. I am so pleased that we will be living there as there is already a big teddy bear on my bed - I love him! The flat is on the 3rd floor, no balconies and no monkeys, so we will be safe. It is only a short bus ride into the city, Mama's university and most importantly, my nursery. I can't wait. As Nanny has broken ribs she is mostly bedbound, so luckly for me and Mama, Mama is insured on Nanny's mini - oooh, I love it! My favourite sound is "broom, broom" and I love getting in the driving seat and pressing all the buttons, levers and especially the hazard lights! Shhh, don't tell Nanny!

I'm so excited as Mama told me that Papa is visiting in only a few weeks, it will be so much fun to explore Manchester with him and take him to my new nursery. I love you Daddy and can't wait to be on your shoulders again! xxxxxxxxxx

Water baby

10 hours was just not long enough to explore every nook and cranny on that plane! I kept Ma really busy by racing up and down the plane the whole way, I kept everyone amused. Strangely Ma looked really exhausted when we arrived....It is so nice to be back in England, the sun is shining for me. Granny bought me a paddling pool yesterday and I had SO much fun splashing around - as you can see! We love you loads Papa, Mama keeps showing me photos of you which I love to kiss xxxx

Homeward bound

After 4 years in India, Mama and me are coming home. We will certainly return to Mysore as it has been our first family home, but for the next year, our sights are set on Manchester. Our bags are packed, Mama has had to sit on each of them to close them! We have said our goodbyes, to the; vegetable market men, the Barista boys, the charming girls of the Green Hotel (who were very sad when we left), the Rajasthani moustache man who waves to us every morning, our tailor Madhu, our ironing wallah, and of course the wonderful, warm, happy Anita. We shan't be sad to say goodbye to the monkeys who have terrorised us every day for the last 3 weeks! Mama will try to keep the blog updated as much as possible in between lectures, studying and looking after me! xxx

Comings and goings...

Hello everyone,
I hope you enjoyed my new video performance! As you can see I am as active, inquisitive and happy as ever. This week Mama celebrated her 35th birthday and even Papa was able to take the day off which was just lovely - I didn't leave his side all day! We had a great day together; we had a delicious lunch at our favourite Italian cafe then we went to Karanji Lake which is a beautiful park surrounding a lake which is home to a vast array of tropical birds and butterflies. I was really fascinated by the butterflies as they were so big and were fluttering around my pushchair - maybe they thought my orange pushchair was a big flower? This week we also said a sad goodbye to Mama's good friend, Kim, who is returning to Denver after many years in Mysore. "Kim Aunty", as she is known to me, has been great fun and we have loved every minute of her company! Mama has told me that we are returning to England in a few weeks' time to set up, temporarily, in Manchester where Mama is starting a new course. I am excited about being back near family again but I know that we will miss Papa and he will miss us, thank goodness for Skype. I love you very much and will see you soon! Champion xxxxxxx P.S Here are some photos of me with Kim Aunty and my Indian Mama, Anita!

Happy boy

Jingle jangle bangle

To infinity and beyond!

Hello everyone!
I know it has been a long time since we have signed in, we have been on holiday in England for a month and only returned to Mysore a couple of weeks ago. We had wonderful time at home, we spent some time with Nanny, Grandad, Aunty Faye and Ava in Shrewsbury and some time in London with Granny, Grandpa and Aunty Em. I also had TWO parties when I was there; one for my Christening and the other was my first birthday party, I ate lots of cake - yummie. My journey of discovery continues apace and has indeed gathered pace since I have started walking with earnest! What fun! Naturally, I was a bit shaky at first and found that leaning on "Henry the hoover" for support was genius, but now, I have found my feet and love nothing more than walking around, I even point out my feet when Mama puts on my shoes - taking off the velcro straps also gives me endless distraction! My other big news is that I have started attending a nursery next door to our house, I go for an hour every day and I love it! I am the youngest there and the only boy so I am in my element. Mama's friends' children go there too so we have lots of fun together. At the end of playtime we sit down and share our lunches, today I launched forward and grabbed someone's biscuits and a big slice of cucumber. I was too quick for them and the girls looked on shocked and a little forlorn - I devoured it quickly! Here are some photos of the christening and some more of me (of course) since our return to Mysore. I love you lots and miss you, but don't worry, I am very happy and keeping Mama on her toes! xxxxxx