Craig's New Bed

Last Tuesday, Craig went his parents to Ikea to shop for a new bed. Craig didn't care much about that though, he preferred playing with the plastic tubs that look suspiciously like the tub he has a bath in every night at home.


The bed arrived on Thursday afternoon in flat-packs.


Craig's Mum got busy with unpacking the bed as soon as Craig began his afternoon nap.


She followed the instructions carefully.


And soon had the frame together.


Craig's Dad laid the slats in place.


And then the mattress was put in.


But Craig didn't miss out on all the fun. He awoke and came to play while the covers were being put on the mattress and pillow.


Craig quickly found a weakness in his parent's plan. He began banging a hand on the window near the head of the bed.


So, the bed was moved to the other corner where he won't be able to hit the glass so easily. His bedtime story books were placed at the foot ready for story time.


Then Craig went for a ride with his Dad. Craig was pretty happy to get off the bike and play beside the bike-path.


He refused to sit on the rocking animal in the usual way. He wouldn't turn to face the camera either.


So, the camera had to go around to the other side.


Craig wasn't too happy about going on the ride and his Dad had some trouble getting him back on the bike. Bribing him with a biscuit was the only way to get Craig back in his seat. He then snacked on biscuit after biscuit while his Dad rode for at least 40 minutes. Craig didn't seem to mind, as long as Craig's Dad kept the biscuits coming.


Finally, they arrived back at a bridge near the entrance to the riverside park that is closest to home. The red brick building in the background to the left is the (evil) temple that had the fireworks that scared Craig so badly in the past.
http://craigalexandersworld.blogspot.com/2008/05/fireworks-are-very-scary.html

This is the view from Craig's seat on the bike back along the path that he and his Dad had just ridden along. The picture might not get it across but it was a very peaceful late-afternoon atmosphere.


Later that night, Craig was back at the local MRT station watching the trains. He likes that a lot more than riding on the bicycle.

Lights Out

This is a picture of Craig turning the bathroom light off. He likes to do that when his Mum is in there without him.


There are two switches right next to each other. The second one is for a light right above Craig's head. So, he looks up there to see if he has turned the right switch on or off.

The Birthday Girl and Her Cake Box

This picture was special because Craig had just woken up from his afternoon nap and his Dad was lying on the sofa reading. Craig came over to give Dad a hug. It was very sweet.


A few hours later, Craig and his parents went downstairs for dinner because it was Craig's cousin Soit-Jade's birthday. She has lots of fun playing with her mum.


Soon it was time to light the candles and sing, "Happy Birthday".


Then, Soit-Jade showed some imagination with the birthday cake box.


Craig ate plenty of cake and his parents started to think it might be best to distract him with something else before he took in too much sugar.

Overnight in Danshuei (Again)

Last Thursday Craig and his parents went to Danshuei for an overnight trip. Unlike the quick trip a week before, Craig managed to stay awake all the way there on the train.


It was a very warm, sunny day but it was still surprising to see this dog cooling off in the river, just sitting like a statue in the water.


Craig sat on his Mum's lap while they took a ferry across the river to Bali, or the Left Bank as the Taipei tourist brochures like to call it.


After lunch Craig brightened up a bit and played on a slide while his Mum got sunburned!


Playing on the slide was OK but it was a very hot day (about 35 degrees Celsius) and there wasn't much else to do.


So, it was back on the ferry to Danshuei. Craig was feeling like it was afternoon nap time. The spot on his face just below his right eye is the dried blood from a very big pimple that he scratched the top off. Craig's Dad has never seen such a big pimple on such a young child and it's still a mystery as to why it appeared. Craig's Mum blamed too many french fries at TGI Fridays -- a plausible theory that means Craig won't be eating Fridays for a while so that it can be tested.


Craig was tired and he proceeded to enjoy an afternoon nap in Starbucks while his Dad and Mum enjoyed cold drinks with too much caffeine in them.


Then it was time to put their bags in the hotel room. Of course Craig checked out the view from the balcony.
The hotel website is here.


The glass made it safer for Craig to see the view while standing on his own two feet.


An unusual thing that day was a person out windsurfing right in front of the hotel. In the past, the river was so polluted that not many people were brave enough to get in the water at this spot.


An afternoon walk was then taken to buy munchies and to enjoy the sea air.


Craig wanted to stop at the scene of his afternoon nap.


It was soon dinner time. There was a restaurant right downstairs from their hotel room that has nice outdoor seating and even highchairs for little people! Craig was happy to pose for a picture with his Mum.


But not so happy to pose again with Dad. Craig's Dad thought Craig was hungry.


But he calmed down again when his Mum gave him a bottle to play with.


The view from their table across the river was nice.


And the view down-river towards the ocean was not bad either.


Not long later lights began to appear on the far shore.


But Craig was hungry and needed to chew on something.


The water bottle received a good chewing as well.


But when the chewing continued back at the hotel room after dinner, Craig's Dad began to think that it wasn't hunger that was causing this behaviour.


Craig even chewed the top of a beer can!


He enjoyed his late snack on the bed.


But began to look sleepy before he had finished the fruit.


Breakfast the next day was about the same as the last time they visited this hotel.


The view towards the ocean was bright but there was a stiff breeze blowing.


That didn't stop Craig and his Dad from enjoying the sea air out on the balcony again.


But all good things come to an end and it was soon time to head back to Taipei on the MRT.