Beth fresh from her morning bath and hair wash. She has been fairly restless over the last couple of nights and this has left Parkes and I knackered. She still seems to have a bit of a cold as her breathing is wheezey. This picture shows Horace the bear in the background watching the second test match from Trent Bridge. He hasn't really helped out much over the last two weeks - all he does is sit on the sofa and belch.

Since Beth has been born we have been pretty much based at home and while Parkes is losing her pregnancy weight rapidly, I seem to be putting it on. I have also developed a reluctance to take a shower or bath. Strange days.

A Parker-Stringer production. Beth has had a cold for the last couple of days. This has made it difficult to get her to sleep at nights. However Parkes and I have managed to get a couple of hours here are there. As expected her weight has diminished by 5 ounces since her birth but we are expecting it to rockets in the days ahead.

Strings with the spanking new pram that Grandad Strings bought. Smashing day in Rammers on Sunday - even took my shirt off and exposed my man-boobs.

Beth in her super new car seat. It's a little on the large size but she just about fits in.

Beth practising her "Blue Steel" look a la Zoolander.

Parkes and Beth having a moment.

Sleepies for little one.

Hairy Plopper

Tonight at 00:01 the final Harry Potter installment goes on sale. I am looking forward to it - only recently have I bothered reading the books and I found them a very enjoyable read. However I want to read this last one before someone blurts out the outcome and spoils it for everyone. I reckon Harry will finish his schooling with good grades and open a chippy. The end.

Talking of hairy ploppers it is Gay Pride weekend in Thanet with big celebrations planned in Margate. Party on dudes!

Beth looking slightly annoyed at her Dad's handling skils.

Lou and Beth looking bonnie.

Steve Kempton's stag do in Canterbury was super. Lots of pubs and plenty of real ale. Steve also revealed what we had all thought for some considerable time - that he is a superhero and also a super bloke.

Superhero Steve answers the call of a damsel in distress.

KK stands proud outside Simple Simon's public house in Canterbury. A very nice boozer with a good selection of real ales and lots of cobwebs.

Many thanks to everyone who has wished us well over the last few days. Parkes and Beth may well be leaving hospital tomorrow (Weds) but it might not happen depending on whether Parkes is comfortable doing so. We would also like to see how to bath a baby prior to our departure.

The picture shows my beloved holding my other beloved. Happy days at QEQM.

Father and daughter. How mad is that?!

Beth Lucy Stringer

Beth was born at 09:38am on the 16th July (Parkes' birthday) at QEQM in Margate. Fully expecting a child with a dingaling out popped one without!

Parkes had gone into early labour on Monday morning and we arrived at hospital at 06:30am. Parkes was a trooper - she had to withstand lots of poking, prodding and injections and was thoroughly knackered by the time I left the hospital at 09:20pm.

Beth is a wonderful little girl. She has Parkes' nose and my ears and feet (poor girl). The whole experience has left me completely emotionally spent. Better go and get some sleep before more of the same tomorrow.

Beth with Albert and Carmel. Grandparents for the fourth time.

Picture courtesy of Dog of the Day website. Why do dogs decide to wear slippers when they have plenty of fur?

Trains & Kiddies

I started my job in London last Monday. So far the commuting has been a breeze and I put this down to changes in my daily routines. I have cut out coffee during weekdays - I now only drink herbal teas. No bread during weekdays. Getting to bed by 10:30. Only a few glasses of beer on weekday evenings. And since I last commuted to the London I have packed up smoking so I now feel a bit sharper.

Meanwhile back at home we have built the pram purchased by my Dad and Liz. It is very snazzy and very light which should help Parkes get the thing in and out of the car. Parkes had her delivery brief at the labour ward yesterday. We will be going into hospital at 7:30am next Tuesday and the c-section will be performed just after 10am. I will get to wear a green operating theatre outfit which greatly excites me. I will wear my leopard skin thong underneath.

Pregnancy Week 38

Well this time next week I'll be a dad. Pregnancy is similar to pulling out the plug after having a bath. Initially the water seems to drain very slowly - however towards the end it races down the plug hole. These last couple of weeks have absolutely flown by.

Parkes has been remarkably lucky with the weather. It has been cool, wet and rubbish for everyone but ladies in the later stages of pregnancy. With any luck once Bops is born there will be a heatwave and we can all run around naked.

Meeeeeooooowwwwww!!!!!!

This weekend is Power Boat Weekend in Ramsgate. Ding dang do!!! There is power boat racing and a carnival-type atmosphere (like Rio) and it looks as if it will be sunny!!!! Next to the harbour the entertainment will be provided by Tom Jones on Saturday night and Debbie Harry on Sunday. Hopefully there will be a Gadd's beer stall where I can top up my real ale levels.

However on Saturday night Parkes and I will be going to a cowboy wedding. I can imagine it to be like one of the 'Oil Baron's Balls' in the hit TV series Dallas. Big hats and shoulder pads.

Pregnancy Week 37

Parkes' hospital massage didn't have the desired effect. As soon as the baby was moved it swiftly reverted back to the original position. The massage was also causing Parkes lots of discomfort so the consultant decided that it wasn't going to work. As a result we now have a delivery date of July 17th booked - the child to be delivered by caesarean section. The 17th is also the day after Parkes' birthday. We are both greatly excited by the prospect although we realise that a c-section is a serious op and recovery times after the birth are longer for the mother than a vaginal delivery.

The picture shows Parkes plugged into the uterus/baby monitor prior to her massage. Although her expression is a "not impressed" face she was happy for me to take the picture (honestly).

Keith Silk on his way to meet me on Saturday night wearing a very fetching yellow mackintosh.

Up In Smoke

Saturday was the last smoking day in pubs across England. I am quite pleased - it is nice to have a drag with a drink but everyone ultimately ends up stinking of smoke which is not nice. I wonder if it will ultimately make pubs popular again!?

Anyway to celebrate this Keith and I went out on Saturday night to chew the fat. We enjoyed a fair few pints of Gadd's Summer Days in The Rose Of England - a beer I hadn't heard of before. At £2.00 a pint you cannot argue and we didn't.