australia day

a beautiful morning here in canberra - just right for a walk with the medcalf family. met near the gates to government house and strolled towards the lake.



nigella stopped for a dip along the way



and tried to strike up a conversation with a passing swan but her friendly overtures weren't reciprocated.



further on we spotted two white cockatoos on the ground and one in the tree above



we stopped at the yarralumla nursery cafe for coffee and milkshakes which edgar enjoyed immensely and then the conversation turned to the methods of holding babies.



i prefer the head-in-the-crook-of-left-arm approach, with doting smile



while adrian swears by the right arm casual hold, with occasional shoulder action.









then eva explained that two hands are best........



and demonstrated this rather unorthodox finnish technique.



fortunately edgar accepted it with admirable stoicism, i suppose he's used to it after nearly seven weeks,




and even agreed to join in a family photo shoot.




nigella, though, had far better things to do.



thanks medcalfs for a fun start to australia day!