I write this at 8.40pm, missing the last day of the Edinburgh fringe festival, my bottom lip jutting out in disappointment – so near and yet so far. We are staying in Kippford in the Scottish borders, a good 2 hour drive from the land of the fringe.
But this is a lovely part of the world to be in – staying in a beautiful holiday home with a fantastic view of the estuary and rolling hills, with yachts, a kite buggy and waterskiing in view and a shell beach accessible from the property’s front garden it is idyllic for Dillon’s first holiday.
Bottom teeth
Dillon has a second tooth visible already and he’s not yet 5 months old. It is happening so quickly!
High pitched
Dillon has been babbling for a while but recently he has started high pitched squealing, sounds like he is practicing to be a choir boy or piglet.
Car travel
It took us 7 ½ hours to get to Scotland including a stop at services, which was very close to how much time it should have taken. All this was thanks to Dillon being very well behaved on the drive. We seem to have learnt from our previous mistakes – we can’t leave him in the back seat unattended, he needs to have his mum there with milk, dummy, teething materials and anything else he may require to hand. Then we have a good journey.
Infacol
The baby has been crying a lot in the evenings and we think this had been caused by wind. Although it takes some getting used to, giving Infacol to Dillon before a feed seems to have helped his digestion and temper a great deal.
Nose and Gums
I love the triangular shape of the underside of his nose and the top set of gums in his mouth. When he was smaller his chin quivered. The skin on his cheeks is so soft I’ve never felt anything like it. These traits are common to all babies, I never realised how adorable I would find them. His smile and laugh light up the room. Sometimes I want him to stop growing and just stay how he is – perfect. But then I’m so sentimental I cried at Abba’s Slipping Through My Fingers (Mamma Mia)before I had him. I can’t get over the thought that once I was his size, once his grandparents were, once everyone was a tiny helpless baby – even the biggest, toughest, wealthiest, tallest, most beautiful, oldest, powerful people were tiny, possibly breastfed and wet themselves.
There is no internet connection here so I don’t know how long it will be before I can get this online.
Frost and MUZU’s music video experts have been busy researching William and Kate facts and debating song choices in order to come up with the ultimate street party playlist for the royal wedding on Friday.
We have selected songs that will most resonate with William and Kate, and which may even be among special requests given to Guy Pelly, Prince Harry’s close friend, who will be DJ-ing at the reception.
http://www.muzu.tv/wedding/. There is also a competition to win a £100 gig voucher. We’re inviting people to watch our first dance playlist and vote for the song they think will be Will and Kate’s first dance http://www.muzu.tv/wedding/1st-dance?channelId=818636).
Here’s our MUZU.TV royal wedding street party playlist:
1. Adele – Make You Feel My Love
This song was originally written by Bob Dylan, who has an honorary degree from St Andrews University, where William and Kate met – at breakfast. Adele made the song famous again with her debut album ‘19’.
2. Paul McCartney – Dance Tonight [Video ID 215641]
It’s widely reported that William and Kate have asked Macca to sing some Beatles classics at their wedding. Sir Paul does have a tradition of performing for royalty and was a highlight of the televised concert to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. There’s another connection: cakes. Fiona Cairns, who is making the royal wedding cake, also supplies Paul McCartney with a Christmas cake every year.
The team wanted to include at least one Abba song for Kate who loves the 80s Swedish band. She also looks a little bit like the young Frida Lyngstad (one of the two girls that made up the band).
4. Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling [Video ID 482065]
The Black Eyed Peas performed at the 2007 Diana Tribute Concert and it’s rumoured that they’re invited on Friday. Looking at their schedule they certainly don’t have any live performances booked…
5. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life [Video ID 54057]
…as featured in the classic 1987s films, Dirty Dancing, starring Patrick Swayze. William loves 80s dance music and the couple have been snapped smooching on dance floors in the past… perhaps he plans to surprise his bride-to-be with his own version of ‘the lift’ on Friday?
6. Dancing in the Street – David Bowie / Mick Jagger [Video ID 34355]
The British public voted this as their number on street party song for the Royal Wedding, according to a PRS for MUSIC. Also Mick Jagger serenaded William and Kate and a crowd of people at a party to celebrate the famous Basil’s Bar on the privately owned island of Mustique in 2008. Flamboyant owner Charles Basil is said to have been invited to the wedding.
The band met Harry backstage when they played London’s O2 last December and drummer Nathan Followhill thrashed him at table tennis that same night. Nathan has since said he’d be delighted to play for either brother’s weddings. We’re not sure he made it onto the guest list for Friday though.
8. Elton John – Candle in the Wind [Video ID 236869]
Three reasons for picking this song. First, Sir Elton John is a solid friend of the princes, and has been invited the wedding. Second, the song is closely associated with Princess Diana after he sung it at her funeral in 1997, also in Westminster Abbey (the single went on to sell more 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in history…) And third, it was voted top choice for the couple’s first dance by the British public according to PRS for MUSIC.
George was a close friend or Princess Diana’s but we’re told he didn’t get an invitation to the wedding. He has however recorded a cover of Stevie Wonder’s romantic 1972 track ‘You And I’ for the couple as a wedding gift! It has reportedly been given the royal seal approval from the Palace. The team chose the 80s classic Faith, in tribute to Williams love of 80s music – we’re sorry we didn’t have more space for Spandau Ballet, Culture Club, Wham…
A great celebration track. Katy Perry says she plans to gatecrash the wedding, with Russell Brand dressed up as the Queen. We’re not sure they have our blessing…
11. Marili Harwood – Billy William & Kate’s Royal Wedding
The 36-year old singer made history this month when she became the first woman to secure a maternity clause in her contract with a record label – in her case, Island records. She won’t work more than 20 hours a week in the second trimester of her pregnancy and can stop work on 1 July (her baby is due in August).
James Blunt is taking a day off from his North American tour to be at Westminster Abbey April 29. Blunt and Will both served in the British army’s Household Cavalry, though not at the same time. Instead of the obvious ‘You’re Beautiful’ we chose one of Blunt’s new songs. The lyrics are pretty appropriate for the end of reception: “I hope you stay the night, the morning on its way, our friends all say good bye there’s no where else to go, I hope you stay the night…” We reckon she probably will, Will.
The baby has been crying a lot in the evenings and we think this had been caused by wind. Although it takes some getting used to, giving Infacol to Dillon before a feed seems to have helped his digestion and temper a great deal.