Party Day

Ella had her big party yesterday when many of her little friends (of about the same age) came around to celebrate the occasion. Her parents did a marvellous job preparing the excellent food and drink, arranging the seating, setting up play equipment and so on.

The cake was an elaborate affair in the shape of the number one and one candle was duly lit. Ella had no chance though of blowing it out as it was a windy day. I was lucky to get a picture when it was still burning!

The little wading pool has filled with plastic balls and these seemed popular, though the balls wandered. Ella, for one, loves dropping objects from her stroller or high chair ... or on this occasion the 'pool'.

Actually, the water action surrounded Ella's new water-works. The item shown below receives water deposited by a kind parent or scooped from the bottom reservoir with the cup provided. It then drops down through a water wheel on one side or a slide on the other into an intermediate level and this, in turn, lets the water cascade down a slope into the reservoir. The idea is simple, but provides the first scientific insight for one-year olds about gravity, flowing liquids and alternative sources of energy!

All told the party went on for over 4 hours with lots have happy children and their parents who, in silicon Valley fashion, had several different nationalities. It was highly successful!

AS