The unkindest cut of all

Ninja's been to the vet today, and he isn't feeeling all that great. He's had a full anasthetic and is still a bit woozy. You can't see his scars because he's sitting on them. Tomorrow he'll feel a lot better, and on Saturday he can go out in the garden again. After that hopefully all forgiven and forgotten.

Nicholas North

This is my one and only son-in-law, and as sons-in-law go, I think I picked a winner. My daughter Tamsin couldn't be in safer hands. She's loved and cherished, treated like a lady and maybe even a little bit spoiled.

We spent three weeks in their company earlier this year, and the prospect of having anybody to stay for three weeks can be daunting, but Nick remained polite and considerate, patient and caring, even when we all got a tummy bug! He's a prince among men, and I love him to bits.

Have a very happy birthday Nick!

Skyping with Espen (and Tamsin!)

I haven't held him in my arms since May, when he was only 12 weeks old, but thanks to Skype I see him every week, he hears my voice, and now I think he sees my face and we have begun to communicate. When he was tiny, he looked round to see where the voice was coming from, but now he seems to know. Through the wonders of modern technology I've been able to watch his growth and development. I've seen his first tooth (with accompanying grumpiness, red cheek and dribble) I've seen his triumph at being able to turn himself over or reach for a toy. I've heard his giggles and chirps. I can see when he's tited, almost before his mother.

His eager expression in this picture is not entirely for Granny, more for the computer with exciting cables and keyboard. I don't mind - I can see, from the other side of the world, that he's a chip off the old block.

Meet Ninja

Jeremy's beloved cat, Little Black, has been missing for over a month, and is sadly missed. A week ago this little chap appeared on our veranda, peeping in through our windows and miaowing pitifully. He was very thin, so Jeremy took pity on him and gave him some milk. We asked around if anybody knew where he came from, but drew a blank. Once inside the house he has blossomed. He is happy and friendly, confident and extremely energetic. Our white cats are not too thrilled about him, but manage to co-exist. We've chosen to call him Ninja, because he's a slinky little assassin, dressed in black

Little Black is a hard act to follow, but our Ninja has certainly livened up our household.

Jeremy meets Bethany Daisy Mary

While in England we met my nephew/godson Robert, and his little family. I last saw Bethany in March, when she was only 3 weeks old and slept all the time, so I noticed a tremendous change in her. Jeremy had never seen her, and never got close to a small baby before, so we plonked her in his lap. He was terrified to begin with - Bethany took it all in her stride.

A lovely holiday

Having my two favourite men ( after George Clooney, Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt, who couldn't come with me) with me in my favourite place - St Ives - in beautiful sunshine, which we reached with a magical trainride along the coast, was like a little bit of heaven. Yes, it was full of tourists, and yes, you can smell the suntan lotion everywhere, and yes, the seagulls will try to snatch any foodstuffs you might unwisely carry in the street (like a scene from "The birds"), but the sheer beauty and charm of the place make it all worthwhile.

The streets are very winding and narrow, and cars do try to push their way through the crowds of pedestians, the houses are whitewashed or built of granite, with no room for gardens, but make up for it with an abundance of pots, window-boxes and hangingbaskets. There's even an old boat overflowing with flowers.

The blue of the sea, and the gold of the sand are breathtaking, and there are three sandy beaches right in the middle of town. We ate our lunch in a pub which was built in1312! It's right across the street from the beach and is probably the most well-known building in St Ives, although those interested in art would know about the Tate of the West, Barbara Hepworth's house and Bern

ard Leach's pottery.

Sorry to sound like a tourist guide, but this is a wonderful place that I love - a lot!

Holiday

We're all going on a summer holiday

No more working for a week or two

Fun and laughter on our summer holiday

No more worries for me and you

For a week or two...

Today we're off to England - Reidar, Jeremy and I, all together, for the first time in many years.

We're borrowing a car from my brother-in-law, David, and will drive down to Cornwall tomorrow.

(Little bubbles of excitement! Tomorrow!)

Beautiful St Ives is one of the places we'll visit. You can't go to Cornwall and not go to St Ives. So think of us, raise a glass to us and wish us a lovely time!