"Well then, let's go to Popeye Village!"

Popeye Village, also known as Sweethaven Village, is a group of rustic and ramshackle wooden buildings located at Anchor Bay in the north-west corner of the Mediterranean island of Malta, two miles from the village of Mellieħa.

It was built as a film set for the production of the 1980 live-action musical feature film Popeye, produced by Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Productions and starring Robin Williams. Today it is open to the public as an open-air museum and family entertainment complex.

[Wikipedia]

Last week, on the public holiday, we decided to visit Gozo for the day. We are dying to visit Maureen and meet her beautiful daughters. This Malta-style road trip has been attempted several times but has not yet been successful. Most times it's because we wake up too late. But this time was different. We still woke up late, but decided to go anyway. We were all set, I even had enough bottles and formula for a whole day out ready and packed. We got everyone and everything into the car and set off to Cirkewwa to catch the ferry. But once again it wasn't meant to be - there was a queue of over two hours for the ferry. We turned back.

But instead of going home, we decided to make a day of it anyway and headed towards Popeye Village. David had been before (a long time ago) but I had never been and nor had Emily (or Adam for that matter). I've always wanted to visit. So finally, here we were. 

Granted, he wasn't awake to see much most of the time...

The music was far too loud and she hated it, but she still couldn't resist joining in the dance!

It was quite difficult to not just jump in.

We had no idea there was also a waterpark, albeit a very small one. It wasn't quite ready for the hot weather - or so I concluded considering there wasn't actually any water in it. But there will be soon enough and we plan to return and let Emily go wild. And maybe join in too. 

The short list of fun things to do in Malta for kids is slowly (very slowly) growing!

Information

Website: http://www.popeyemalta.com/

Popeye Village, Anchor Bay, Triq il-Prajjiet, Mellieha, MLH 4808 Malta

Tel: +356 21524782/3/4

Opening Hours: Mon - Sun09:30 - 17:30

Newborn (and Big Sister) Photoshoot

My cousin, Louisa - who is also expecting - came over a few weeks ago to take Adam's Newborn pictures. While we were at it, she also took Emily's Big Sister photos. We had a laugh and enjoyed ourselves, and the result was beautiful. Here are a few of my favourites.

I am utterly in love with the pictures. Emily was 2 years and 2 months in these photos, and Adam just over 2 weeks old. He is now one month old. Not quite sure where the time's gone!

My cousin's website is here: LouisaTonna.com

All images in this post are copyright L. Tonna

Beach Babes

It's not all bad. Last weekend was awesome and saw what was possibly the beginning of Summer. When our plans for a Malta-style "road trip" to Gozo fell apart, we decided to take advantage of the warm weather and drop by the beach instead and introduce Emily to the sand.

I say "introduce" because I refuse to accept that that time at Camber Sands was Emily's introduction to sand (See Disillusioned Med Girl, Meet Sand). It just didn't count.

She loved it. It's the "seaside" to her (how very British), and apparently, we were there with Peppa and George, though she was the only one who could see them.

Adam was less impressed. Especially as it was windy and he just wanted his milk.

We treated her to a new bucket and spade set (seeing as how we'd forgotten to bring one)

 #disgruntled3weekold

#littlegremlin

Soon it was lunchtime which brought about the task of convincing her we had to leave the sand behind. What ensued was a neverending conversation that went like this:

E: I want to play with the saaaand! *whine* *pouty face*

Me/D: We'll go back next weekend, I promise we will. You can play in the sand then.

E: Ooooookay. I happy now. 

Breathe. And repeat (x 9865436)

Naptime didn't come a moment too soon.

Save as Draft

I try not to let much negativity into my blog. I like to look back on posts and have them make me smile, not drag me down. But there is negativity, of course. No one's life is perfect and anyone who tries to say theirs is is just plain lying. So here I am writing this, knowing there is a very good chance I will never have the courage to publish this post, knowing it may be banished to Drafts, that graveyard of blog posts where so many others like it have never - and will never - see the light of day.

There have been bad days lately. Bad, bad days. Days full of short fuses and resentment.

Resentment of Adam for upsetting the perfectly balanced life we had with Emily, for making me feel trapped within these four walls and therefore unable to entertain Emily (and myself) in the way she's used to. Resentment of Emily for acting up every now and again partly because she's battling for my attention and partly because of her age, for her loud and constant voice when she wakes Adam up and disturbs the peace and quiet I've worked so hard to achieve (often in order to be able to give her some attention).

And of course, resentment of myself, for resenting them for simply being themselves.

Resentment of Malta for too many reasons to ever begin to list.

And to top it off, so much loneliness. The feeling of being surrounded by friends who, although they try and are patient, can't quite understand the place I'm in at the moment. Knowing that the two or three people I really would be happy to while away my days with, who really would understand me, are miles away in England (and ironically, Gozo).

Wondering whether I've jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Wondering whether it will all settle and whether I'll ever feel sane again.

"Little cupcake for you"

We made fairy cakes this morning. Emily's first ever baking experience and she loved it. I predict there will be several other baking sessions and lots of weight piled on.

The fairy cake mixture we used (I wasn't about to bake them from scratch, her attention would never have lasted long enough) was a Morrisons one that somehow made it all the way over to Malta with us.

Take one cooperating baby and a very excited, aproned toddler...

And a bowl. A big bowl.

Lots of fun mixing.

Some waiting.

Then a spot of lunch for us all (baby included), some funny faces for the camera

and some big sister attention while the cupcakes cooled down.

Then finally the bit she'd been waiting for all along. She got to sprinkle the flowers on the icing. 

"Pretty flowers for Mummy," I was told. 

She was talking about the fun she had making cupcakes with Mummy for ages afterwards. And she can't wait to give Daddy a cupcake when he gets home from work. And I had to explain that, no, Adam wouldn't be having one this time, but maybe when he's older.

We'll be doing this again, and soon!