The Daily Splash

Flora enjoyed her first birthday this week on 25th August, with an exclusive birthday dinner at Santanas restaurant in Jesmond. This was followed by a cake eating and present opening ceremony, which sadly had to mostly be postponed since it was past her bedtime by then. Nevertheless she enjoyed it very much and would like to thank everyone for the lovely presents and cards.

The Daily Splash were very pleased to be invited to Simon and Jane’s lovely wedding on Saturday 21st August in Abbeystead in Lancashire. Some pictures here.

The Daily Splash and friends do the Coast to Coast bike ride over three days in July 2010, full story and pics…

It appears the most wanted man in Northumbria has recently extended his vendetta to encompass the Daily Splash who was planning a mountain bike getaway to Europe’s top destination – Morzine. During a routine service the nice men at Edinburgh Cycles realised the frame (or chainstay to be precise) was cracked beyond repair.

Whether this was an act of vandalism, fun jape by Catherine or simply caused by repeatedly having to carry the increasing waistline of the Daily Splash across rugged terrain we will probably never know. Anyway.

Looking for a place to have weekend breakfasts in Heaton / Jesmond the Daily Splash has discovered Cafe One 20 on Heaton Road. Making sure that Belle and Herbs is not missed (no not even the queues and variable service…) and within 2 minutes walk of there, Cafe One 20 serves an amazing selection of sandwiches, breakfasts, cakes, paninis and, in the Daily Splash’s (expert) opinion, the best coffee around.

Not only do they provide the Daily Splash with high quality coffee and breakfast, they are also very welcoming to children. Recommendations:

Bacon, brie and cranberry panini;

Canadian breakfast with bacon and maple syrup on pancakes;

Vegetarian feast (and meat feast);

Peperoni, peppers and mozarella panini;

Cafe One 20 breakfast;

Caramel shortbread or giant jammy dodger (made from the best shortbread around)

Yum!

Evidence was released today of the Daily Splash’s “Back to basics” parenting, involving what could only be described as a cage to keep the young terror Flora from crawling under the furniture and falling off the kitchen step. Unfortunately modern shops don’t sell this essential item of childcare but Catherine has her own prison playpen from when she was a baby and it is now being put to excellent use.

Rumours of a “dirty protest” at the use of the cage are currently being denied by Flora but we have the pictures of its aftermath as evidence, and will use them at an opportune moment.

Flora Emily Alya is 9 months old today….

The beautiful stray cat that was found in the barbeque last week has now turned into a dangerous killer. Despite the provision of a purpose built cat and kitten house made from an indoor cat cage, roofing felt and acres of cardboard box, which she moved into the day after we built it, kittens in tow.

When we discovered her she had 5 little kittens…she has now munched her way through them at the rate of about one per day until we imagine now she feels her litter is of manageable proportions. There is only one left but she (?we think) has now survived solo for four whole days and there seems to be some rapport at least between mother and daughter.

Admittedly we had very little evidence for the cannibalisation of the litter, except for their disappearance of course, until Catherine found a kitten foot near the cat-house. The horror.