Yesterday was my thousandth post. That’s a lot of posts.
So I’m celebrating my embarcation on my second thousand by bringing you the very first post ever devoted to this blog’s most infamous character.
I speak, naturally, of Big Al.
This morning, my eyes popped wide open and I realised that, subconsciously, I was already planning the day ahead, with the nearest I ever come to military precision.
Because today, Big Al came to stay.
While only two feet tall, and as many years, this nephew is packed with more than his fair share of personal charm, and has the temperament of an affable hurricane. He has two sisters who look like princesses and he looks every inch the little, golden haired, dimpled prince.
His language development is unsettlingly advanced. he’s now at the point where he’s realised that words have a strange power to move adults when nothing else, including a temper tantrum, can. The other night he came downstairs well after his bedtime and declared: “I can’t sleep. I’m not tired AT ALL.”
He said it with a matter-of-fact artlessness which won him his campaign, and he watched sport on the telly with Daddy for a while. Oh yes, words can be very powerful.
He’s potty training right now. He has a propensity to freestyle with the whole poo thing. Often we will be having a sedate coffee at my sister’s house when a child will tear into the room, alerting us to the urgent existence of a poo bereft of its potty.
The most challenging incident occurred when he absent mindedly contributed one while on a large and expensive trampoline. The children are so desensitised to this occurrence that, distressingly, it did not phase them. Everyone just kept on bouncing while their harrassed mother tried to simultaneously clear up and emphasise the laws of physics with regard to semi-solids on a trampoline.
So: this morning, a dog walk and a breakfast later, the front door flew open, and it began. We sent him outside to bounce on the trampoline with his sister (nappy on) while mother and father made a speedy exit. And then I was all alone with Big Al.
First: to the kitchen cupboard, get out the saucepan, a spoon, a courgette, and some dry pasta. We cooked imaginarily for some minutes. This was working. I could do this.
But I had forgotten the attention span of a toddler, and within ten minutes Al was roaming around looking for meaningful employment.
I had a brainwave. Out came the knockout for little boys: the jigsaw-road. Whole villages could be made, civilisations built and their matchbox cars driven endlessly round. But not, it seems, by Big Al, whose boat it did not float.
Then followed a wild series of dogs-leg turnabouts typical of any two year old. We ranged through drawing, dancing and toy box rummaging. We had a short but firm lesson on the fact that swords are not for poking sisters and cousins with.
I looked round. Thirty minutes had passed. The hurricane had trashed the house.
And then I remembered -the playground! Thats what two year olds do!
Angels sang as I packed Big Al, the Princesses and my lot into the dented bus I call car, and we headed off for the park, stopping only to pick up my ever compassionate mother.
As we arrived the first big fat raindrops began to fall. We sat in the car and waited for it to pass. It increased in intensity.
When in doubt , have an iced cream. Indoors. This worked, as did the fizzy drink. The sensation of the bubbles made Big Al’s expression turn, just for a short divine time, to that of a mad axe murderer. We all laughed. He did again to show off. Happiness and contentment reigned.
So this is one of the miracles carbon can perform, I noted carefully.
Since then we have had wraps for lunch, a trip to the charity shop for a new digger, a trip to the park and tea. The Potty Regime is going rather well.
Only another 18 hours left. What could go wrong?
Kate Shrewsday 
such a brave statement – what can go wrong?…..
The thought of semi-solid waste on a trampoline made me so happy I have neither a toddler nor a trampoline
Indeed. It is a hazardous business, Sidey.
hehek rather you than me
Exemplary – you’re a wonder with a children, unlike myself. The grandchildren know me as Grumpy Popsy. It’s sad that the current atmosphere means that one has to be careful not to show a child’s face in pictures. It’s a pretty beastly world in which we live at the moment.
It is, and it’s just a habit I have adopted. Many other bloggers feel fine about showing faces. I’m not sure why, when I share so very much about our lives, I balk at this. Ho hum.
I like your title. I just noticed that tonight my post was number 333. I am one-third of the way to 1,000 :-).
Congratulations, Steven! Quite a landmark! May there be many more posts to come….
What a milestone – congratulations and may there be thousands more 🙂
Thanks, Wanderlust 🙂
congratulations to you both 🙂
A thousand posts for you, and Al moving beyond freestyle poo!
We never thought we’d see the day, Fiona 😀
Congratulations on your 1000th post!
Trampolining poo – sublime 😀
Thanks, Linda. I like to think so 😀
Twosome tiresome! I’m sure you slept soundly last night 🙂
It’s a repost, Tandy – but I did that night, you are quirte right!
Is Big Al napping with Clive? Wonderful photos and narrative!
Big Al lives down the road but he adores Clive in an extremely active way. Needless to say, Clive gives him quite a wide berth.
Here’s to your 1000th post and to Big Al! I love that guy!
Alice, thank you so much 🙂
1,001 posts! That’s an amazing accomplishment, Kate. And I’m very pleased you celebrated with an Al post from the beginning. I think I came in somewhere when he was around three–what a dynamo! Such a lovely family, each of you! 🙂
Thank you, Debra 🙂 I love to hear tales from your neck of the woods too. Loved the lastest one on Darwin! What a star!
Wow, what a journey you are on. I look forward to your next 1000.
And I to yours 🙂
Thanks, as long as the sun shines, the flowers come up in the spring, and Starbucks doesn’t run out of chai, I think I’m going to keep the stories flowing. 🙂
Excellent news 🙂
Take a bow for 2 notable accomplishments: shepherding Big Al and 1001 posts! 🙂
Thanks, Hope. Al was the task which needed the greater endurance 😀
Congratulations! Now if only I can get that trampoline scene out of my head …
Yeeees. Sorry about that.
Congratulations on this milestone, Kate. Big Al is the perfect way to celebrate. Cheers!
Thank you, Andra 😀 I shall tell Al his lizard-in-the-toilet lady sent her regards.
Congratulations on 1000! Enjoyed this Big Al tale — took me right back MANY years to memories of a couple of 2-year old boys who once inhabited my space; thankfully, both were NOT two at the same time! 🙂
Two at the same time – the very thought sends shivers down my spine, Karen 😀 Glad your timing was right, though I can imagine it was still exhausting!
Congratulations on #1000. Wowza that’s a heck of a lot of writing.
I love this little post on Big Al. That’s England eh? rush off to the park and it starts raining! How old is Al now?
I also can’t get the picture of the poo jumping up and down on the trampoline out of my mind. 😀
Al is now five years old, Rosie! He has a diminutive school uniform and heaps of enthusiasm. He’s still Al. the difference is, he can frame his one-liners much better these days.
Kids grow so quickly its wonderful that you’ve captured these moments.
A perfect repost of Big Al’s freestyle potty training challenges. 😀
Congrats on the BIG 1000!!!
Thanks, Nancy 😀
Congratulations on hitting a milestone. Big Al sounds like a typically, cute, lovable tyke. I recall those years well with my two little, active girls. 🙂
It’s an inexorably exhausting time, isn’t it, Judy?
Yikers! 1001! That is quite amazing, Kate, and what a fitting way to celebrate!
My most favorite of all of Big Al’s photos is the one from the back of the train. Congratulations, dear one.
Thank so much, Friend.
1,001 posts, that’s quite a number Kate, especially since they’re all so meticulously crafted. Congratulations on your achievement.
Thanks, Lame. It’s an addiction, really.
Big Al is my fave rave.
Mine too 🙂
That is a LOT of posts! And all of superlative quality, too. Congratulations!
The lowlight here is definitely the emotion caused by the motion in motion.
There is another not-quite-two bugging me horribly at the moment. If I do anything to discourage her behaviour I am emphatically instructed to ‘Go aWAY!’ You seem good at this. Volunteer?
Col, they make the rules up as they go along. Exhausting. Big Al is our family’s youngest: I don’t suppose there will be another come along in his wake. He is our swan song. Your grandchildren are only just starting out! Part of me envies you; part quite likes the extra time I have these days…
Congratulations on the 1000 Kate! Big Al is the perfect subject to mark this awesome milestone 🙂
Congratulations! 🙂