Esther the aggressor

Firstly, some advice readers. Don't take two children on long distance train journeys armed only with a half a bottle of champagne. Make sure you have a least an entire bottle at your disposal, preferably a case if you have space in your luggage. Otherwise when your child ends up topless and covered in stickers you are likely to be painfully sober and thus not in the best place to style it out. Also, when planning, never assume that your two year old will naturally sleep when it comes to her bed time. Like any good civil servant, you need to test your assumptions otherwise you're likely to get found out - Esther didn't sleep. Not even close and the train to Edinburgh is a long one. 

Beyond this travel advice, Esther is still lovely and even if trains are not her natural environment. But alongside this charm has developed a strong truculent streak that comes out when someone tells her no. And then all hell breaks loose. It normally starts with the devil eyes (a mean stare) and then if that doesn't turn the situation to her advantage, she smoothly moves through the gears until she reaches peak jihad which generally involves doing the aerial river dance when picked up and then collapsing into a pile of tears on the floor. We are working on her resilience but it is slow going - she still is not a big fan of no. But then who is.

Esther has also mastered a second form of locomotion - where Nancy took years to master the scooter, Esther can now peregrinate around SoTo on a scooter with an a ease that belies her years. Indeed, it won't be long before she is cycling around with Nancy such is her physical prowess and capabilities. Which will make getting from A to B so much easier and mean that her parents increasingly infirm bodies will be spared long distance carrying.

If only she'd master the potty with the same alacrity we'd all be delighted.