ALL GOING SWIMMINGLY Dearest Family and Friends
57 Cumberland Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone Number: +1 415 738 2112
Skype: nadinemellor
July Highlights
Esme
Ten Months
Her expressions range wider as emotions swing more suddenly,
and as her face becomes more mobile; tears and smiles appear within nanoseconds of each other. Eyes crinkle with delight when you copy what she does, especially when grinning, throwing head back and puckering up.
More and more interactive on a daily basis, she's given up sliding on her back or front on the floor.
Crawling is where it's at.
She still kicks like a little frog, and rocks herself back and forth as if about to take off.
Downward dog, the spoon trick and clapping hands are still favourite fun.
She’s not shy to wrest playthings off Soren, other children or adults - in any situation. She had a hilarious tussle with Marcus in the park one afternoon.
She’s now very aware when you take an item away, not so easily mollified with another object in its stead. 
Tears can spring from such frustration, as well as hurt or hunger.
Sometimes she gets upset when Lelli (here with Marcus in the park) leaves, other times she's happy waving byebye.
She's definitely got lots to say - squeaks, yelps, gurgles, cries and chatters all day long.
Although we're keen to hear her first words, we suspect that they will unleash a
never-ending stream of babbling prose. 
She clings like a bush baby, especially when dancing around the sitting room. She loves dancing – just like her mother.
The practice of singing for every occasion has paid off - she's starting to warble back - her favourite current song is Old Macdonald Had a Farm - the animal noises make her squeal and wriggle with delight.
She's eating more finger food, and the top 4 teeth are starting their descent - little gnasher!She lunges at me, mouth gaping, a ravenous beast.
She happily takes medicine or food from my mouth, like a fledgling, when required.
At home she tells us when she has peed more than when she's about to - when we're out of the house, she's very good at waiting until she is peed.
She still loves her swimming lessons, trying goggles for the first time and learning not to struggle when lying on her back.
And we've had great fun on swings in various parks and playgrounds.
She adores it when you count 3, 2, 1, and then launch her off into space.
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July Events
Tom and Kim hosted a fun Independence Day garden BBQ party - nice to meet some new folk, including the movers and shakers of San Francisco's beating activist heart.
One of who was peddling the petition to rename the sewage plant
after George W Bush (see previous blog entry) – much to Tom's disapproval.
Esme wore her special 4th July outfit of stars and stripes. And was the only Yank at the party wearing patriotic colours! 
We invited a few friends over, including Adam and Jen, Laura, Delfin, Jen, Amy and Geri. Naturally we were the last up with the hosts, all rather sozzled by the end of the day.Our Gig of the Month had to be Stevie Wonder,
at the Shoreline in Mountain View in the South Bay, a surprise for Colman although he guessed en route. It was fantastic to see the legend in action. The stars were magnificent – we witnessed a conjunction of Mars and Jupiter close to the crescent moon. I'd forgotten just how many amazing songs Stevie has in his repertoire (we were spared to just 2 choruses of I Just Called To Say); we were humming and singing all the way home - Jenn being amazingly forbearing of the drunken rabble in the backseat.
The San Francisco Moment of the Month was when we took Tony & India into Dolores Park on their first afternoon to see the locals at play. We came across the Box Wars tribe who call themselves a post-post modern art movement enjoying punk rock recycling fun. 
This takes the form of dressing up as a warrior in an elaborate costume made entirely of cardboard. We saw a Gladiator, a Ninja, a Knight on a Box Horse and a Sumo, plus others, parade round the ring before a horn sounded and battle commenced! A few lessons in gladiatorial combat wouldn't have gone amiss as the combatants' tactics seemed to consist of whacking each other with their cardboard knives, maces and shields with random and gay abandon. Priceless.DLG Event of the Month
I know received opinion, far and wide, is that us beautiful ones in the fun-lovin' DLG are collectively already at the peak of our physical allure. However, to test this theory, we had a jolly makeover evening courtesy of Benefit Cosmetics. 
As you can see, our natural charms were transformed into even more ravishing splendour with the aid of a little artifice, some smoke and mirrors, and judicious application of wine and canapes. It was very good fun - I'd never had a brow wax before – good stuff! Isis the only member present with such perfect skin as to be in no need of make up.We all rolled into the nearest bar afterwards to put the world to rights. Definitely experienced that hangover Friday...
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Visitors of the Month
Tracey, Tony and IndiaGood friends from Sydney, Tracey, Tony and India, came to visit from Sydney via LA and the coast. Fabulous to see them and they were on cracking form (though suffering food poisoning they soldiered on as true Aussies do).
India was really wonderful with Esme - feeding her almost every meal, playing with her at every opportunity, and voicing her displeasure at being forced to go sightseeing round San Francisco when there was a baby to have fun with.
On their first day we went with Kristan, Steve and Soren (thanks for the VIP table guys!) to see Rai exponent, Rachid Taha, get down with it at the Stern Grove Festival.
This free festival happens every summer Sunday. The music rocked; naturally I was the first to stand on the benches and groove. Colman took Esme up to the top at the back to save her ears. All the while we feasted on our picnic and drank volumes of wine, great fun.We know Adam through Tracey and Tony, so he and Jen came over for dinner one night, along with Jason and Meredith who they also know from Sydney. Dan and Dayna dined with us another night.
Adam, T&T and I went to see Tom Jones at the Mountain Winery too - what a hoot! He can still swivel those hips, wear a medallion, ham up the lechery, hit those notes, and inspire wobble-legged grannies with hair specially set for the occasion to groove in the aisles while throwing their knickers on stage. We loved it. Adam and I went down the front for the encores - I thought a cartwheel only appropriate under the clear star-filled skies.
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Laila, Rhom, Kallon and Dex
That week, more visitors were in town, this time from London. Laila, Rhom, Kallon and Dex came to see us for afternoon tea.
We went to the playground
in Dolores Park, the boys and India excelling themselves on the climbing frames and hanging bars.
I was amazed at how sweet the boys were with Esme, assuming they'd have far more interesting things to do than hang out
with a baby. They both, especially Kallon, were charming with her. And didn't balk at playing with her baby toys.Restaurant of the Month
Very generously, Laila and Rhom took us out to dinner at Coco 500 in SOMA. A warm and friendly space, Coco500 is run by a top female chef, and specialises in high quality, 'small production' local and seasonal ingredients - classic California cuisine. I had the Smoked Trout with cherry tomatoes and yellow wax beans for starters, following with Sonoma County Duck Breast with mushrooms and faro from their La Plancha section. I loved my summer berry pudding; the boys both went for the vacherin confection, a creation piled high with meringue, almonds and chocolate sauce. But the best thing about the evening was hanging out with them. Sadly they weren't in SF longer but we look forward to seeing them
in the autumn. Thanks a million Laila and Rhom - so nice to catch up!Tracey and Tony also treated us to a superlative meal at Delfina on their last night. We savoured every delicious mouthful, the service was charming, and we had a perfect evening. Thanks so much.
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Tahoe
Expedition of the Month
T&T&I went to Lake Tahoe ahead of us on the Friday and kindly erected our tent for us at Meeks Bay campsite. So we left after work and arrived, after a fraught drive at about 10pm (Esme hot and bothered in her car seat had refused to sleep),. 
Despite the threat of bears we slept well in our Mellow Yellow Dome (as Tony says, very exciting to go camping where you're not on top of the food chain) and woke to find tall trees all around, and the beach just a few hundred metres away.
We hiked, well, strolled, down to Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay. A 1920s summer home with Scandinavian inspired architecture, fixtures and fittings, luckily it escaped the bulldozer and survived vandals when the land was converted to park management.
We did the tour, marvelling at the intricately carved beams, grassed roof, elegant scale and charming aspect on fjord-like Emerald Bay. It was very hot. Esme managed to cope pretty well, the adults around her wilting in the dust on the way back up.
Tahoe shone in bold blues, patches of snow still present on its upper peaks, 
conifers dressed in dusky greens everywhere and anywhere they could establish a toehold.We spent the very hot afternoon on the beach, lounging, lazing, swimming; Colman snoozing to recover after an allergy attack on his eyes.
It was great fun cooking together on our swanky new camping stove - our trip to San Francisco’s camping mecca, object of many a wilderness fantasy, REI had proved very successful.
Esme looks so SWEET in her puffy little sleeping bag, and pretty much slept through the night, breast-feeding is a marvellous invention - just shove the nipple in and boob's your uncle.Desolation Wilderness Hike
On Sunday we hiked into the promisingly named Desolation Wilderness. We had to get a special permit, Esme named as expedition leader, with the tag on her backpack.
The walk started through partially burned forest to one side and lush flower-filled Alpine meadows to the other. We tried, dismally and unsuccessfully, to get to grips with trees: what constitutes a pine, what makes a cedar and what characteristics are manifest in fir. Much scrabbling of cones, examination of bark and perusal of leaves, all to little avail.
Then the trail narrowed, and started to ascend through the forest, getting steep in places. A long and lanky ranger with a shy grin had been collecting rubbish from the trail. He told us there was a waterfall just along. So we made this our destination, realising Lake Genevieve was beyond us. 
Beside the waterfall, we mounted a large rock for views back down towards Lake Tahoe. Poses were struck. Spits of rain started up, and cooled us for the return journey. We were impressed to see 3 generations of one family returning from overnight camping up by Lake Genevieve, especially by their dog who wore a backpack of dogfood - genius.Meeks Bay
The intermittent rain kept Esme inside the tent, an effective playpen. That night she slept brilliantly.
I woke before her and Colman, so went for a wonderful early morning walk by the lake. The light was extraordinary, Jesus rays beaming out from behind swags of clouds, great contrasts of light and shade. Hardly anybody about, it was a gorgeous 45 minutes of solitude. 
We had a last morning down at the beach after packing the tents, the sun breaking through. Tony went for a long swim around 3 buoys, I was then inspired for a massive one nearly the whole width of Meeks Bay and back again.
A much needed workout, and very refreshing in the Alpine crystal clear waters.
T&T&I went on to Yosemite, while we drove home in 4 hours - a dream run and Esme was fine on the journey much to our relief.
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Birthdays of the Month
To the enticing sounding Harlot for Gerardo's Surprise 40th Birthday Party, arranged by Sophia. Very very kindly, Amy and Geri offered to babysit for India and Esme. India had a great time making princess dresses with them.
It was our first outing to a nightclub in a very long time. Gerardo guessed the surprise but didn't realise his sister and nephew
had flown in from Florida. We had a great time, along with dancing away to a mash up DJ who spun dozens of tunes. The downside to mash ups is that the tunes never last very long, the upside that another tune will come along in a minute.
Sophia kindly extended the invitation to Tracey and Tony, who left before us to relieve Amy & Geri, so Colman and I had a late night out for the first time in over a year, rolling home at 1.30. Great! Hopefully it won't be too long before we dance again.
On Tracey and Tony's last day we all went to Isis' First Birthday kindly hosted by Tracey B (or Tracey with the twins as she's popularly known). 
Esme wore a party hat, we were dead impressed that Isis was walking,
gourmet cup cakes were had by all, and India won cutest child award while slithering through the blue tube.
Thanks so much for coming to visit us, T&T&I - we treasured our time together (especially thanks so much India for playing with Esme so well). Until we meet again in Sydney.
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London
Family Time
Esme and I paid a flying visit to London for 6 nights. I was dreading the prospect of a wriggling upset baby for a 10 hour flight through the night, especially when the flight was delayed and she started getting cranky at the gate.
However, my worst fears were not realised – although I only slept for 30 minutes, she slept 3 hours, and spent the rest of the time peacefully exploring either at my feet or in the bassinet, and only cried for 10 minutes or so the whole journey. 
She even slept in the seat during landing. Result!
We were met by my father, who finally got to meet his blue-eyed girl. Esme slept all the way home, to be revived by meeting her aunt Louise, and cousins, Lizzie (4) and Thomas (2), who had extended their summer holiday to meet her - very much appreciated!
Serendipitously, the day we arrived was Dad's birthday so we had a big family lunch followed by a splendid Pavlova birthday cake, and much merriment. Louise, Lizzie and Thomas
It was a very noisy and chaotic few days in the apartment, but enormous fun.
Toys strewn everywhere, children scuttling about under one's feet at every turn, never a dull moment. Esme had a permanent smile.We managed to squash 4 adults and 3 children into 2 bedrooms, Esme sleeping either in the study or living room depending on the weather (it was very sultry for a couple of nights).
She was awake for 3 hours in the middle of the night on the first night, but thereafter had no jetlag, which was great.
Mum cooked up a storm every meal, and was amazingly forbearing of the bedlam.
Esme seemed to take to her mother’s relations immediately. She got to meet cousin Lucy on our first night.
Lizzie was charming with Esme, playing and hugging and stroking. She had created a special welcome Esme picture for her. 
Thomas the wrecker, as fondly dubbed by my father, loved climbing and running and was always grinning with excitement at everything.
The cousins taught Esme how to climb stairs; going back down was more problematic.
The three loved bathing together, water splashing everywhere, Esme showing off her new-found swimming skills.
Our time together concluded with the shock announcement that Louise is having an unexpected third baby in March! Many congratulations to her and Peter for their good fortune.Top
FriendsAs the focus of my visit for the first few days was my family, only a few friends got to meet Esme. Zoe came over for dinner (thanks for the outfit!) and we went to the playground with Lizzie and Thomas,
Esme climbed all over the climbing frame and swung in the bucket swings. 
Moyra made an epic journey to London from Brighton so that Ted could pull Esme's hair; it was great to see her so happy.
Yummy Mummy Catherine very kindly hosted lunch in her lovely home and we marvelled how big Freddie now is.
Siobhan popped over for tea, recovered and back to her old self. Alex, Sonia and Rose came round on another,
very nice, evening, hanging out over dinner and playtime on the floor. Rose is a sweetheart, very loving, smiley and so tall!! Thank you guys for your generous gifts for Esme.Top
Bird of the Month
One Saturday morning I took Colman on a surprise birdwatching trip around the Botanical Garden organised by the Audubon Society, of which I am now a card-carrying member. Esme was initially into the expedition, which explored the nether reaches of the garden, but then became somewhat underwhelmed by the experience, sleeping beatifically on my front after a good feed. Nothing like birding, nursing and walking all at once to make me feel like a natural woman. 
We saw a Red-Shouldered Hawk for the first time, perched atop a tall conifer, squawking loudly at regular intervals. Of course once you see a new bird then they pop up all over the place. And obligingly a juvenile came down to the meadow, very close by; another vocalising on our way back to the car.
We had a weekend of woodpeckers in Tahoe. Rather apt, given the arboreal density festooning the shores of the Lake and clinging precariously to cliff and mountainside. Beside our campsite I thrilled to see new Life Bird, the Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber, spiralling up a scaly tree trunk. Sapsuckers, as the name suggest, don't drill into bark for insects but for the sap. The following day on our walk into Desolation Wilderness, I lagged behind the others on the return journey and was rewarded with 3 new species including the Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus (the other two being varieties of flycatcher) as well as the now familiar 
White-headed Woodpecker Picoides albolarvatus. But for sheer fecundity, Bird of the Month has to be new Life Bird Mrs Common Merganser Mergus merganser who we saw bobbing serenely in and out of the Meeks Bay Marina, with no fewer than 13 ducklings trailing in her wake. We were awestruck.
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Bird Encounter of the Month
Crissy Field, the shoreline next to the Golden Gate Bridge, has panoramic views, so I brought Tracy and India there. Beside the path, just 2m away from all the sightseers and cyclists, was a haughty Great Blue Heron Ardea Herodias (probably the same bird as featured in January 2008 blog entry), every inch of his 46". People were oohing and ahing to see him so close.
Then, moving with determined stealth, he crept down the bank towards us, neck doubling into an S-shape, pointed dagger-like beak to the fore. We watched in amazement as his head shot forward in a lightning split-second to grab a wriggling rodent by the scruff of the neck, a perfect strike.
Majestically he strode back to the top of the bank, the doomed mammal peeing in terror, and stood surveying the scene, to a chorus of 'ohmygaads' ringing out from the assembled audience.
Then in one deft move he flicked his bill and swallowed the furry creature whole. The crowd screamed, stomachs turned by the sight of the little paws scrabbling inside the neck, trying to find a way out of the throat.
Mural of the Month
Stencil of the Month
Bumper Sticker of the Month
Practise Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty
Love and hugs
Nadine and Colman xxx
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