We love our cats - mostly.  A week or so ago, though, they brought us a present that we certainly didn’t want: fleas.
Katya got the worst of them - bites all over her ankles.  The kids had a bite or two; and Andew got one on his forehead! Yikes!
So - Friday turned into a disinfect-the-house [...]

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I gave Tolii my old Panasonic Lumix FZ5 camera back in May. He’s been taking photos off and on with it for a little while. Its great to see the world through his eyes…

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No sooner had grandpa arrived that he departed…for a splendid day out on the Mid-Hants Watercress Line!
The weather, was bland, bordering on pouring rain (luckily not until we got home).  However, that made for some great lighting for my photos — see our gallery!
This is a steam train line that has many engines and rolling [...]

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Today, Grandpa flew home to Toronto.
We are all sad to see him go, and not just because you cannot find a better carpenter to shore-up a sagging shed roof, no-sir.
His grandkids will miss his playfulness and great Canadia presents (hockey sticks!).  Katya loved coming downstairs in the morning to a spotless sink; and Andrew loved [...]

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One of Tolii’s Christmas presents was a book of tickets for various experiences. One of them we cashed in last weekend: a trip to Portsmouth harbour to visit HMS Victory, Nelson’s ship at the Battle of Trafalgar.
A little research beforehand would have revealed that it wasn’t run like the sister ship Warrior: it was [...]

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Late the yesterday evening, Tolii and Tosha watched out their window to see Santa come visit. He didn’t at all look like Tosha’s best friend’s daddy, Kudrat.   And neither did Andrew look like Santa when Joshua reported seeing Santa at his house!
Santa picked up the carrots that they left out for the reindeer, [...]

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Andrew  ( , )

is a group leader at
was the photograph editor for the Whitchurch Design Statement
was educated at and
grew up in Whitby, Ontario, Canada
lives in Whitchurch, Hampshire, UK
met Katya through Entertaining London

Katya Popova

is a research scientist at
loves to model (oceans)
has read every Harry Potter book at least 10 [...]

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Grandpa, Mummy, Seva, Tolii and Tosha all went to the Portsmouth aquarium on Sunday. Highlight of the place were the otters!

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Grandpa and Daddy took Tolii and Seva to the Intech science centre near Winchester today. A good time was had by all.
Seva really liked twisting the handle of the screw lift to bring up the pellets to the conveyor belt, where Tolii shot them along into the hopper.
Tolii enjoyed playing with the beach ball [...]

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The Christmas 2006 festivities started on Christmas Eve with a BBQ.
Tolii and Tosha had a wonderful Christmas day. But mummy had a cold, grandpa had the coughs, Seva was recovering from a cold, granny Angela just started her cold and daddy was having back pains (from carrying Tolii around London museums!).
Dinner was authentic Russian [...]

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Grandpa put together Tolii (and later Tosha’s) bunk bed!
Tolii sleeps on top; and sometimes on the bottom.

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Last weekend, Tolii and Daddy went out to find a Christmas tree. A short drive into Basingstoke found a bunch being sold in a field beside the road. Tolii picked out a really nice one; and £35 later it was in our car and on its way to our house.
Yesterday, Grandpa and mummy [...]

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Grandpa (aka Brian, aka Andrew’s dad) arrived at Heathrow this morning from Toronto. Tolii and Tosha were extremely excited by his arrival.
His flight was delayed leaving Toronto by 20 minutes because some loser didn’t retract the gangway properly and the plane snagged it when it started backing away. Who do they employ at [...]

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