Aunty Nat

I met my best friend, Nat, whilst studying zoology at the University of Aberdeen. After graduating, I headed South and she further North.  Throw in work commitments for us both, and one of us starting a family, and we rarely get to catch up in person.  Nat visited us when Rowan was 8 weeks old, and again when he was 6 months old (yes, Nat has made all the effort in visiting - guilty much?)
This month, Nat had a course to attend down South, so she took the opportunity to drop in for a couple of nights.  I was surprised when I realised it's been 18 months since we last met up, so I was happy that we could catch up.  Despite the irregularity of our meetings, it's never weird or awkward. Somehow, Nat always manages to visit when I need a reality check, or general kick up the arse!  She's such a positive and genuine person you can't help but be at ease in her company.

Being a trio of scientists (well, one active and two relapsed) we decided to take Rowan to At-Bristol on the Sunday.  There was a lot to see there and fortunately lots of interactive exhibitions for Rowan to explore.  I do think he was a tad on the young side to fully appreciate all that was presented to him, but he had fun throwing the plastic femers, ribs and ulnas for the other children to fetch.
He was over-tired, over-excited and coming down with a cold so it proved a challenge in herding him through the displays.

Rowan thought this was a giant hairdryer.

The globe next to Gareth's head is being kept

aloft by the 'hairdryer' 

This is an aeroplane wheel. Huge!

More exhibitions

Rowan's favourite was the large water tank with dams

(and rubber ducks). Lucky he didn't dive right in.

In the afternoon Rowan's let us play with his train set till he went to bed.  Surprisingly, he even let Nat attend his bath, and asked her to read him a bedtime story.  This is highly unusual as he gets upset even if his own dad tries to do this at times.

Aunty Nat!

Partaking in Etch-a-sketch with friends

A tussle over the elephant doodle pen

Rowan enjoyed watching us build the tracks. Then he would sit on

them and laugh when the train crashed into him 

Aunty Nat was clearly a hit.  After I picked Rowan up from nursery the next day he asked for Nat. I told him she had gone back home to Scotland. He paused for a moment, then without any prompting said "move there."
It was great to see Nat again, and I'm hoping not to leave it so long next time.  It's definitely my turn to make the effort.

And Tangent? He liked having the toddler's attention diverted

away from him for a few hours.