Carlosfandango — Writing

Rey

2026-08-23T00:00:00.000Z

The tiny tiger

The price of everything

2022-02-13T00:00:00.000Z

Juno's first 100 words

2017-01-20T00:00:00.000Z

Here's our 19 month old's first 100 words. Roughly in order of appearance. She started to speak with any coherence in November and the last two months have been amazing. It's interesting (to us at least) that verbs, adjectives and (especially) prepositions are starting to appear - enabling lovely little sentence fragments such as "legs hot", "daddy up" and "boobies out" 1. Mummy 2. daddy 3. Doggie 4. Yes 5. No 6. up 7. stop 8. tiger 9. Oops 10. Car 11. Hot 12. Cow 13. Moo 14. Duck 15. Ears 16. Eyes 17. Mouth 18. Nose 19. Teeth 20. Knee 21. Toes 22. Bye 23. Bird 24. Beep 25. More 26. Pop! 27. Bee 28. Mole 29. Step 30. Door 31. Nice 32. Miaow 33. Dark 34. Buzz 35. Ouch 36. Stick 37. Plop 38. Socks 39. Man 40. Shop 41. Lele (ukulele) 42. Snacks 43. Ball 44. Woof 45. Wheels 46. Wee 47. Stick 48. Mouse 49. Doll 50. Shoes 51. Baby 52. Bra 53. Boy 54. Oh no 55. Boobie 56. wash 57. Hand 58. Hat 59. Ham 60. Lid 61. In 62. Out 63. CD 64. down 65. In 66. Off 67. Horse 68. Cheese 69. Whoosh 70. Water 71. Bag 72. Wag 73. Bin 74. Wardrobe 75. Scissors 76. Leaf 77. Lid 78. Box 79. Legs 80. Lucy 81. Nap (nappy) 82. Spoon 83. Walk 84. Zip 85. Lid 86. But = tummy button 87. Lock 88. Wet 89. Pull 90. Push 91. Bag 92. Lila (a friend) 93. Suit (sleep suit) 94. Wag 95. Mud 96. Mag (magnet) 97. Book 98. Bed 99. Scarf 100. Trolley

Juno’s favourite books

2016-09-26T00:00:00.000Z

A great book for babies/toddlers is one that is fun to read again and again. Here’s a list of the ones our 15 month old seems to enjoy the most - often with smiles of recognition on certain pages, or pointing to favourite images. They’re all board books to handle the chewing era. In no particular order:

Horton hears a Hoo

I love the rhythm of the words in this. It bounces along quite nicely and is completely hatstand in conceit. His use of the word ‘lad’ makes me feel qiote sure Seuss has (or should have) northern roots.

A Squash and a squeeze

A fun tale that feels like it ought to have been around for centuries. There is an underlying message about not being greedy, but it’s very subtle and not at all hectoring.

Goodnight Moon

A book for bedtime, this is about 60 years old and - I think - better known in North America. The pace always mesmerises our little one and she invariably sits through it without getting fidgety.

Mog the forgetful cat

Again, this one is usually a complete read-through, which is amazing given the images are pretty plain and the text is plentiful. But the story is lovely and there is the always enjoyable appearance of a big, furry, striped tiger in the middle

Brown Bear, brown bear, what do you see

Simple, hypnotic, colourful and enjoyable to chant.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy

It won’t be long before you know the names and order of the doggies who go for an adventure. A stone cold classic - and our first exposure to the toughest tom in town.

Tiddler

The #1 best kids book we’ve found so far. It’s read every night without fail. A brilliant story, fun to read and full of imagery and wit.

The very hungry caterpillar

A beautiful tale. It was only on the third reading that I realised I’d had this read to me as a kid.

Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack

More Hairy adventures. The wonderfully cyclical tale of a sensitive dog and a keen, but helpful duck. Some amazing writing too - the pace of the running is brilliantly told.

Slinky Malinki Early Bird

More from the Maclary stable. This time the cameo cat gets a spinoff. A funny early morning tale that all cat owners will identify with

The Paper Dolls

Makes me cry every time. The bittersweet tale of loss and nostalgia. Just amazing.

Spot Loves his dad

Simple and lovely

The tiger who came to tea

A total classic which, I believe anyway, is actually the recounting of Sophie’s dream about a tiger that she’s prompted to tell when she sees a stripey cat in the street.

The snowy day

Didn’t like this at first, but I’ve come to love the flow and wonder of this American tale of a magical snowy day.

Pantone colour books

These are six super simple, short books about colour. Each page has an item in that colour and our one year old loves them every time.

Stick man

More classic Donaldson - with a contrived but clever twist

Room on the broom

I just love doing the witch voice (and not just when reading this book)

Zog

Girl power

Beauty without vanity

2016-09-05T00:00:00.000Z

Near this Spot are deposited the Remains of one who possessed Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the virtues of Man without his Vices. This praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery if inscribed over human Ashes, is but a just tribute to the Memory of Boatswain, a Dog who was born in Newfoundland May 1803 and died at Newstead Nov. 18th, 1808 When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth, Unknown to Glory, but upheld by Birth, The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe, And storied urns record who rests below. When all is done, upon the Tomb is seen, Not what he was, but what he should have been. But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to defend, Whose honest heart is still his Master’s own, Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone, Unhonoured falls, unnoticed all his worth, Denied in heaven the Soul he held on earth – While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven, And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven. Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour, Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power – Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust, Degraded mass of animated dust! Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat, Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit! By nature vile, ennobled but by name, Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame. Ye, who behold perchance this simple urn, Pass on – it honours none you wish to mourn. To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise; I never knew but one -- and here he lies.

Remain in light

2016-06-22T00:00:00.000Z

I ought to vote to Leave. In my middle age, I'm sceptical of bureaucracy and a believer in free enterprise. I love the plurality of culture in Europe but I'm wary of hitching our economies together, three-legged race style. But I'm also afraid of rising nationalism, isolationism and blaming other people for our problems. Let's not retreat and hide bitterly indoors, it's better to contribute to our community and change things for the better. Remain.

Roy of the Rovers lives

2016-05-02T00:00:00.000Z

St George's Day

2016-04-23T00:00:00.000Z

Australia Day, St Patrick's Day and July 4 all suit their nations' perfectly. And so it is with St George's Day - we English find it all very awkward and would rather not make a fuss.

The Woodentops

2016-04-22T00:00:00.000Z

Went to see the Woodentops last night. They were doing a play-through of Giant plus greatest hits. It was lovely nostalgia. I maintain that the first time I saw them in 1988 was the most fun I ever had at a gig.

Must-listen

2016-02-22T00:00:00.000Z

Sacha Baron Cohen on WTF. Easily one of the most entertaining and jaw dropping podcasts I've ever heard. Enjoy. https://overcast.fm/+Y2EyUQ

World's best train platform view

2015-11-26T00:00:00.000Z

Blackfriars, platform 1

Temptation

2015-11-24T00:00:00.000Z

Winter is coming

2015-11-20T00:00:00.000Z

I tell people that my birthday marks the day when it suddenly starts to get cold. I'm not being an old goth - it's true.

He saved every one of us

2015-11-17T00:00:00.000Z

The Beehive

2015-11-04T00:00:00.000Z

On an awayday at the original Gatwick main terminal, built in art deco glory in 1935. You can just imagine the cocktails and glamour.

Handling Halloween

2015-10-31T00:00:00.000Z

For the front door tonight

Wide woods

2015-10-30T00:00:00.000Z

Autumnal beauty

2015-10-25T00:00:00.000Z

Sunset from the Shard

2015-10-03T00:00:00.000Z

Taken using my new Sony A7R II. Loving the dynamic range (that you can see the sun and also the hands of Big Ben)

Big Ben

2015-10-03T00:00:00.000Z

Handheld 200mm/f2.8 at 1/3200 ISO 100