My Favourite Things

Or 'Best ways to annoy those I live with'

Originally published 20 August 2015

Unravelling half the roll of toilet paper onto the floor, throwing pieces of dinner across the lounge, kicking my legs about when my nappy's being changed... there are so many enjoyable ways for me to pass the time. There really is never a dull moment when there's Mummy and Daddy to torment. But since these generally make them both turn red in the face and get all shouty, I have a few other favourite things that are less likely to cause a Hartland meltdown. These are the ones at the top of my list.

1. Reading - ever since my first book, 'My Day' ("Time to eat; yummy lunch, shiny bib"), I've loved to read; or at least, have books read to me. Most days I'll start demanding a book just after I've woken up, and request a small handful just before bedtime. Books with animals have always been favourites, as have ones with lift-up flaps and funny textures, but lately I'm especially enjoying some about dinosaurs, pirates and robots. Not all in the same book - though that would be a great book!

2. Trucks and other vehicles - I'm not sure where my interest in vehicles comes from; maybe from Grandad or Grandpa, as it certainly isn't from Daddy. I'm not sure he knows one end of a car from the other; there's as much chance of me changing a spark plug as him. But despite this I love playing with my ever-expanding collection of trucks and cars. The green rubbish truck and red fire engine from my birthday are my current faves, but I'll try to get as many out of my toy box and onto the lounge carpet as I can to play with at the same time.

There's a rubbish truck that goes past our house every week, and I always rush over to watch it from the windows. Driving that does seem a pretty cool job, even if the men don't sound their horn or blast any sirens as often as I would if I were behind the wheel.

3. Helping in the garden - we've got a pretty big garden, so there's always something that needs doing in it and that I can help with. Daddy often complains about how much work it is to maintain, saying that at one time there were 11 different trees or bushes on the front garden alone to have to mow the lawn around. Moan, moan, moan...

So I help as much as I can, using my trusty trowel and green wheelbarrow. I'll watch Mummy and Daddy pulling out weeds from the garden, so I'll use the trowel to do the same - even if it's often digging up dirt or the lawn itself. The wheelbarrow is handy too, but the rides when I sit in it and Daddy pushes me around are even better.

4. Cats - if there's anything I love (or just love to torment) more than Mummy and Daddy it's our 3 cats. It's a bit of a one-way love affair though, as while I'll yell out their name and rush over to them when I see them, they tend to look startled and rush the other way. It could be due to my tendency to lean, lie and sit on them whenever they're not quick enough to get away. But if they didn't want to be treated like that, then they shouldn't feel like comfy fluffy cushions.

So those are some of my current fave things to do. I'd make a longer list but I see there's a new toilet roll on the holder that needs to be unravelled...