BOC, it seems that those novacastrians that don't go to Swansea go to Stockton instead. I haven't heard of the phenomenon anywhere else but up there. Woodberry born and bred, moved into town when I got married and then moved down here to Windsor about ten years ago. Still go back regularly to visit the family. I've even heard of one group of people taking a portable air conditioner along on one of those "camping" trips. I don't get it!

As for the church thing - Sam simply won't sit and play with toys any more. He wants to run around and climb up the stairs to the stage and yell and shout at people... He used to be really good, but is so disruptive now it's not funny! I'm working on things with DH, and if DH doesn't play ball, I'm going over his head and talking to the pastors - if anyone will get DH to step away from the sound desk and give me a break from Sam so I can be in church and participate, it will be the pastors! I hope, anyway!

Grub - the story just gets better and better when you add in the possum! Thank you for being so entertaining to us all! But seriously, Sam's ok at other people's houses - as long as we can take him to a quiet room to settle him. He's ok in the portacot at my parents' place, was ok on the women's retreat I took him to when he was 6 months old (apart from being so overtired that he had to be settled by someone else the first night - but we'd had a shocker of a drive getting there!). He's even slept on my SIL's bed and that was ok - just so long as you can maintain as many of his regular routines as possible. The lack of headspace in the tent would be a serious issue for anyone, I think!

Green - we went through all sorts of fussy periods where Sam would only catnap, or need to be held to sleep (and stay asleep - that period was fun - NOT!). I don't recall any of them at Linc's age though. But then, Sam was prem and it has thrown a few other things out of the regular schedule so we're not a great example. He's always tended to be a sleepy baby, too - sorry I can't be much help!

Kelly - the swimming lessons sound like fun! We still haven't got Sam started, which is a shame. I was too ill last year, and DH just hasn't got off his butt to organise them yet this year. I'm pretty sure there's a place with a heated pool so it won't be too much of an issue for us getting started in the cooler months.

We seem to be having a few issues lately. DH took the opportunity to work yesterday while I'm on school holidays. Sam slept for three and a half hours in the morning! Had a small catnap in the car on the way home in the afternoon and then spiked a scary fever while I was still home alone and DH was two hours late from work! Scary times. He seems mostly ok this morning, wanted his morning nap fairly early again, woke up but didn't want to be awake so is currently sleeping on my lap... and slowly sending one arm to sleep so I will have to stop typing before I lose feeling completely! I'm just hoping and praying this is related to teething (he's working on four molars on and off lately) and not him getting sick. His immune-suppressed mummy can't afford to get sick at the end of school holidays!

BW