Like most little boys Graham really likes bath time. There's something about splashing about in the water that most little people like and he is no exception. If it is the weekend and his Dad is there, Graham can have a personal waterfall to play with.
As you would expect with two little boys, the most attractive thing to play with is the item that is in the possession of the other boy.
Craig has been very generous about sharing most things with his little brother.
Graham is also something of a pioneer when it comes to ways to sit in a pram while going for a walk. His latest habit is to lean out of the pram sideways and try to hang his head upside down. ;)
Sometimes, Graham's Mum will try to work at home. One night, when Graham should have been asleep, he just couldn't be made happy unless he was helping Mum. So, she gave him her mouse to play with while she tried to do some programming. He's a lot of help.
After the long weekend at Baishawan a couple of weeks ago, Craig made no secret of his wish to return to the beach as soon as possible. So, Craig's Dad decided that a long motorbike ride was in order. Craig was warned that it would take a long time to get to the beach and that he would have to get up early in the morning but he didn't care. He was very excited the night before and had trouble going to sleep. But, on the big day, when he saw his Dad getting up before 8am Craig was out of bed in a flash. They departed at around 8:15. With his new sunglasses on to protect his eyes, Craig was still happy when they stopped 45 minutes later for breakfast about halfway on their journey.
Craig made short work of the three tiny pancakes and orange juice that come in a McDonalds breakfast. In fact, he was much happier than the photo below suggests.
When they arrived at the beach at around 10:15am they went up to the end away from the crowds. But, there were so few people on the beach it probably wasn't necessary. There was no crowd to worry about.
Craig and his Dad were all alone; even the lady that rents the little beach tents hadn't arrived yet.
After getting changed and putting on plenty of sunblock, Craig got down to business.
The dry sand at the top of the beach was very hot. So, every now and then, Craig ran into the water to cool off his feet.
Running away from the tiny waves become a game.
He was pretty happy to interrupt the game when asked to stand still for a photo.
And then it was back to building "castles".
It was a really lovely way to spend a morning.
The only small worry was that Craig seems to have lost all fear of water. This was amply demonstrated when Craig's Dad told him to stay on the beach while Dad went for a swim. But, seeing Dad backfloating 15 metres offshore, Craig decided to come and join him. The boy dropped his spade and bucket and walked straight into the water giggling all the way. Dad had to race back into the shallow water. Just as the two of them met, the water was up to Craig's armpits and a tiny wave slapped him in the face, surprising him. He didn't seem to mind, probably because he was picked up quickly and carried back to shore.
So then Dad decided it was time for lunch. Craig doesn't actually try to be cute but the waitresses at Hana's Cafe all seemed to find him irresistible. The two young women that took the order and then brought the food both tried very hard to get Craig to talk to them.
But Craig only had eyes for lunch.
After a long lunch that included two huge mango smoothies they finally decided they had missed enough of the midday sun. Back at the far end of the beach, the tide had gone out very quickly. The roped-off swimming area was barely wet.
Craig and his Dad dug a hole for Craig to play in. He was quite happy there for hours.
Craig got out a few times to get into the water. Once again, he was very careless about the depth and had to be told firmly to stop and come back a couple of times when it looked like he intended to walk to Japan. (The beach faces north.) Then, just when it seemed all the danger had passed Craig's head went completely under water. He was standing where the water was only up to his belly button but a tiny dog was swimming nearby. It wanted to be picked up and swam straight at Craig hoping that he would help. The boy was trying to turn away from it when a wave hit him at just the wrong moment. He fell backwards. Craig's bum hit the sand and the water barely covered the top of his head for a split-second. Fortunately Dad was only three steps away and effected a quick rescue but Craig still threw up a bit of seawater that he had swallowed. He recovered quickly but, after that, was happy to spend the rest of the afternoon in his little pond.
After a bath at their favourite hotel across the road from the beach Craig and his Dad started the long ride home. They stopped about halfway at a restaurant in Danshui for dinner. Craig amused the waiter taking the order by saying loudly in Chinese, "The waffle hasn't come yet." That's his way of asking for waffle for dessert.
He had no trouble finishing his dinner and then eating the whole waffle all by himself. The sea air must be good for his appetite.
The rest of the ride home was uneventful but they didn't get home until around 9pm. It had been a long day, and Craig needed to sleep.
Graham is becoming more lively all the time. He's become a proper rug rat and can be found crawling around on the floor at times. The other night, Dad had just arrived home from work and Graham was playing on his parents' bed with Mum. It was the type of game only a baby would play. First, he would stand up at the end of the bed.
Then, he would allow himself to fall backwards.
Still pictures weren't really capturing the moment. Video was a much better option.
While he was playing there was no plan to take a second video but Graham kept playing for such a long time that it seemed silly to not record a bit more. ;)
Craig and Graham are not blessed with a young father who can do lots of stuff with them. In fact, their Dad turned fifty last week. To celebrate his birthday, Dad went for a ride on his motorbike (some people call it a scooter). The ride to Baishawan over Yangmingshan (it's a mountain) was lovely. Better yet, the end of the beach where Dad wanted to go swimming was almost deserted.
In fact, most of the beach was empty except for the little patch patrolled by lifeguards.
This is the only picture that was taken especially to commemorate the occasion.
Meanwhile, a few days later, while Craig and Graham's Dad was at work the boys had a bath together without bathing in the same tub. Craig was in his usual tiny bathtub.
While Graham was in a plastic toy box.
Both of them seemed pretty happy with the arrangement.
Craig is becoming much better at sharing things with Graham. The toy box was empty because the plastic balls that it had once held are now in Graham's playpen.
P.S. The times and dates on the photos are completely wrong. Craig often changes them on the phone he uses as a music player/camera. He's unnecessarily clever like that.
The first weekend in June was a long weekend and it was decided that it would be a good time to head to the beach. Great Aunt From the Fifth Floor agreed to lend her car making the trip to Baishawan very convenient. Craig was very happy about going to the beach and made himself comfortable in his car seat before setting out.
After arriving not long after midday on Saturday, the first order of business was lunch. Graham seemed quite happy about not being in the car even if it doesn't show in the photo.
Craig was very hungry and then not too happy that his chips were much too hot to eat straight away.
It took quite a while for the chips to cool down.
Eventually, he was happier about life.
Before getting down onto the sand, Craig and Graham's Mum realized that she had forgotten to bring her swimmers!! So, she had to buy something new. She chose a very colourful bikini but felt that the bikini bottom was a bit too small. (Craig and Graham's Dad thought it was tiny.) Luckily, ladies beach shorts were easy to find.
Craig and Graham both had a good time but they had a little bit of trouble sharing the one and only bucket that had been brought along. Next time, Dad needs to bring at least two.
After dinner Graham relaxed on the floor with a packet of pea crackers.
Meanwhile, Craig had chips to munch on.
The next space is being left blank because Dad isn't allowed to put up a picture of Mum eating Science Noodles.
Meanwhile, Craig and Graham spent some time playing on the bed.
Back on the beach the next day, they went up to the far end away from the crowds. Craig had heaps of fun. The sun was hot but the water was cool. It's days like this make life worth living.
He was quite proud of what he calls "castles".
When walking back to the hotel, Craig's Dad turned back to take a picture of the area they had just left--not many people there.
But in front of them was an open air madhouse. A huge crowd was squashed into a tiny area patrolled by whistle-mad lifeguards. Anyone daring to swim outside of the roped-off area would be whistled at until they moved back inside.
It was difficult to capture in a photo just how silly it looked that a huge expanse of the beach was not being used while so many people were being corralled into a tiny area where the lifeguards could keep an eye on them.
For lunch and dinner the only place to eat was Hannah's Cafe. It is a small family business that has no web presence but it does have a nice outdoor area that face the beach. It's a great place to have dinner--just before sunset after a day on the sand and in the water it's a perfect place to relax.
Craig has a hard time being patient when he's hungry. He couldn't be bothered with looking at the sunset.
But he was much happier about posing for a picture after he'd eaten.
Craig's Dad reckons it took almost half an hour to get a photo taken of Craig to be used for his new Aussie passport. Craig's Mum insists there is some hyperbole there. (Oh, alright, she used the word exaggeration.) Nevertheless, a large amount of time was spent and Craig only stood still after his father had intervened with some strong words.
Apart from that, the result looks quite acceptable. So, soon the photo will accompany an application form to the Aussie trade office and Craig can have a new passport.
As you would expect with two little boys, the most attractive thing to play with is the item that is in the possession of the other boy.
Craig has been very generous about sharing most things with his little brother.
Graham is also something of a pioneer when it comes to ways to sit in a pram while going for a walk. His latest habit is to lean out of the pram sideways and try to hang his head upside down. ;)
Sometimes, Graham's Mum will try to work at home. One night, when Graham should have been asleep, he just couldn't be made happy unless he was helping Mum. So, she gave him her mouse to play with while she tried to do some programming. He's a lot of help.
