I was talking to LagosDad about how sad I feel that V has not been to London since he was eleven months old and doesn’t remember anything about it.

We spent a lot of our holidays in London while we were growing up and I’d like V to have some of the same memories that I have.

I’ve talked to V about London buses, the Tube, London Zoo, feeding the ducks in the park and Hamleys.  He got quite excited about it and has now started asking me to take him to London (pronounced Yondon as he can’t say ‘L’ at the beginning of a word).

LagosDad mentioned that he had a couple of (European) work trips lined up in February.  I came up with the bright idea of coordinating and taking V to London at the same time for a week or ten days.  He’s overdue for a couple of check-ups anyway and although it will be freezing, we could have a nice time with just the three of us.

LagosDad said, ‘Yes, it’s a good idea.’  But we make a lot of plans and most of the time they don’t happen!

Now, what I wasn’t aware of while we were having this conversation – was ‘Big Ears V’ listening in.  He started saying that he wants to go tomorrow!

I told him I’d take him next year – and then had to start prepping him.  He’s not used to wearing coats, scarves, gloves, hats, etc.  In fact, he hates anything going round his neck or being zipped up to the top.  I think this is because the cord was twice round his neck when he was born…

Anyway, I said to him, ‘Listen V – I really want to take you to London.  But it will be very cold when we go.  So you will have to wear a coat and a scarf.  And gloves and a….’

He interrupted me, ‘No mama.  Wait.  See.  I can’t go there.’

‘Oh?  Why?’  I thought he was going to start making a fuss (already) about wearing all these extra clothes.

He replied, ‘Because I don’t have a coat or a scarf or gloves!’

I told him not to worry and that I’d buy them all for him.  He was absolutely thrilled.

A day later he overheard me on the phone.  I was telling a friend that going to London was a potential plan, but that things always change with us so I really didn’t know if it would happen or not.  I also told her that I’m not sure if I wanted to go there when it’s so cold!

V was in and out of my room during that conversation.  And once I hung up, he came back and said to me, ‘Mama, when we go to London who is going to wear gloves?’

I told him that he was.  And a hat and a scarf and a coat.  He was smiling from ear to ear.

I later overheard him talking to the nanny.  He said to her, ‘Yaya, ask me if I’m going to wear a t-shirt when I go to London.’  She asked him.  He said, ‘No!  Don’t you know it’s very cold in London?  I can’t wear a t-shirt.  I’m going to wear gloves!’

I really, really hope this plan works out!