Al and Don (Uncle Shrek)

A memorable day ... Mummy's ambition was fulfilled and we got a photo of Al on Don's knee! Al had a really happy time round at Don's, chasing Pusscat (who didn't hang around) and testing out the cat flap. He was most pleased with himself when he managed to turn on the radio on the stereo and get some sound out.

You can't tell by looking at this photo, but after we took it Don told us it's the first time he's held a baby like that. Looks pretty natural considering it's a first in 69 years!

So Don, did you wear your Tasmanian Devil sweater especially for the photo???

Chicken Pox

Seems to be a bit of an epidemic in our village. Al is very spotty at the moment but we've given him Tixylix to help with the itching and covered him in calamine lotion after an oatbath. He is getting lots of cuddles and fuss so that makes up for not being well! He's still managed to have a social life, since the babies and children we know have either already had / got the pox, or their parents would like them to.

Don't believe it when people tell you children are fine once the spots come out ... Al has been really poorly and feeling sorry for himself so the photo is a rare moment when the spotty boy was enjoying a new book and suddenly remembered he can still wave!

*edit* ...and of course chocolate makes everything feel better ...

Daddy's hero

OK so nothing to do with Al, so not strictly appropriate for an Al blog, but we had to put this somewhere!

After countless live gigs, a couple of book tours, and several autographs, Daddy finally got a photo taken with his hero, Billy Bragg. We went to hear him speak about his book "The Progressive Patriot", all about what he believes it means to be English. It was a really interesting talk and at the end Daddy legged it out of the door and up the corridor. I dawdled behind with Johnny's Mummy and Auntie and got to the book signing table in time to see Daddy grinning like the cat who had got the cream - he was first in the queue! He'd already bought the hardbook edition and had that signed at the last book tour but now we have the paperback version, signed of course! Check out our Billy on www.billybragg.co.uk