Penny Stafford

Gone are the days when all that was required for a birthday party was cake, jelly and space to run around. Now parties have themes, bouncy castles, party bags and (for the seriously competitve parents) entertainers. Eleanor had lots of fun today at Theo’s pirate party. Penny made her a sword and hat so that she looked the part.

We will have to start planning now for Eleanor’s birthday in February. Eleanor says she wants her theme to be princesses (and princes). So long as we don’t have to hire a palace to hold it in.

Going to the zoo now gives me very mixed feelings. I can share the delight of Adam and Eleanor at being close to strange, exotic creatures. But, at the same time, I am acutely aware that they are being imprisoned in very confined spaces, a long way from home. The behaviour of animals in a zoo had been compared to that of people institutionalised in prisons or hospitals. So visiting a zoo could be similar to the practice of visiting mental asylums to be entertained by the “crazies” in ealier times.

Friends have told us that odd things are happening with plants just now but we were still surprised to discover one of our apple trees in bloom in November!

Is this a sign of global warming?

Welcome to our new site for Penny. Our aim is to establish a place where friends and family can come to share news, pictures and comments. Please feel free to add your comments on any subject.

This is still very much a work in progress as we develop the design and content. For the site’s design (and the incorporation of the photo gallary) we have borrowed heavily from the Worpress community, in particular the Steffensen Family website (many thanks).

One of our tasks is to go through our photographs and select which ones to post here. We have accumulated a lot over the last few years, so this could take some time.