They're Back

So this is my grand-dad and grand-ma, just back from Argentina. They’ve been in Argentina for the last five weeks, which explains why they are still upside down.
I hope they will work out how to turn the right way up soon.
It was lovely to see them, and they had some fabby Argentinian presents - I am looking like a very suave little boy now.

Unfortunately if turns out that my grand-dad is just off to South Africa – on business this time, though I suspect he might find a few moments to enjoy a decent bottle of South Africa's finest vicutals.

Spot the Media Superstar

So, this is my dad looking fondly at his good friend David.
This is David looking fondly me.
This is me looking fondly at David and Lucy's son Zac.
And this is Zac busy muging the camera.

They're a bit of a go ahead family, those Leighs,

Still good to have someone point the way for me in search of media superstardom.

My favourite Godmum

So, we Jews don't really have Godmum's, but I have Susannah and she got to carry me in for my brit (I won't hold it against her). That makes her my kvatterah, but that seems a strange word, so she's going to be my Godmum anyway.
The plan is I will grow up with poetic inspiration and love, from her and loads of people.


Hello Carmi

Well. I figured that it's time for me to add my ha'penny's worth and as you'll soon discover I like to talk, and write... anything with words really. There'll be poems aplenty coming your way.
But this time I will keep it short and sweet to say... Welcome! I think it's genius that your dad has set up a blog for you. He's amazing like that (also bakes bread as I discovered today). Wish I had a blog, but I'm a bit of a technophobe. No doubt one day you will be teaching me how to use some new fathomed technology.

I was with you today briefly and you were SNOOZING. You looked very peaceful. I hope you like to sleep. It's one of my best hobbies. And dreaming, there's the rub, as Mr S said. I've got lots of Mr S quotes to teach you over the years.

Not sure how to sign off - wonder what you'll want to call me? For now here's to say welcome to the world. Your parents are very thrilled. We all are. Lots of joy and fun and wonders in store.
With love,
Godmum Zan.

And Henri, who is a fabulous artist made this. Acutally it was once a cheap and cheerful IKEA nasty plain pine chest of drawers. It is now a luxury, designer, unique object d'art, state of the art nappy changing installation.

And with Henri I got to meet my fourth Aunt. Not bad for a little fella. She usually smiles more than in this piccie. It is not one of her best. So at the Brit Jeremy Bard came up to my dad and excitedly told him that he knew that I was going to be called Henry. That is before I got called Carmi. But there is only one Henri - and she holding me tightly in this piccie.

A Brief Excursus - From my Daddy

Kohelet Rabbah 5
It was taught; at the time a babe is formed in the womb of its mother it has three partners in its creation; the Holy Blessed One, its father and its mother. Its father implants the white that is in him – the brain, the nails, the white of the eye, the bones and the sinews. Its mother implants the red that is in him – the blood, the skin, the muscle, the hair and the black of the eye. And the Holy Blessed One, may God’s name be blessed, places ten things within him. And these are they; the soul, the spirit, the lustre of the visage, the ability to see and the sense of hearing, the speech from the lips, the strength of the arms and the legs’ ability to walk, wisdom, understanding, counsel and intellect and might. And when it comes to the time to pass, the Holy Blessed One, takes back His part and leaves behind the parts of the mother and father before them. And the father and mother weep.

As Shakespeare said, we are such stuff as dreams are made on and our little lives are rounded with a sleep. And in the space in between what more could we wish for than to celebrate our embodied dreams while we can.

My parents even let me use the camera myself. Actually I haven't quite got the hang of this whole photography business. The exposure and shutter speed technicalities all seem fairly straightforward, but at the ripe old age of 10 days, I'm finding holding the camera the right way up a little tough. Fingers are too small, you see.
Actually the other good thing about this photo - other than my mastery of exposure and shutter speed conrols - is that you can see how wonderful my mummy looks. That exhausted look of 'thank goodness that is over' from the brit on Monday, has passed. 

My uncle, Daniel, and me on Kenwood. I'm gonna call him Dod Dan - Dod being Hebrew for Uncle, actually I am probably going to call him De De for a while. This Kenwood trip was my last chance to see him before he heads back to Israel until Pesach. Next time he sees me, I'll be taller than he is.
Kenwood was lovely, the brightest of skies, the freshest of days (I know I don't have so much experience to go by, but this was lovely) 

Happiness is a full tummy, an empty nappy and lots of love to wrap me up. I'm so blissed out out on milk, not even the flash is gonna scare me. 

Sleep - who knew

Yum.
Just got up - two lots of four hour sleeps overnight!
Gevalt. I woke to see happy parents, smily faces and breakfast on tap. Must do this again some time.

My papa. we asked him to say some words about Corinne at the brit. It was tears all round. He spoke beautifully. He also did a great job as Sandak. Holding me carefully. I'm very grateful he held me so carefully. Very grateful. 

me getting my name from Rabbi Jonathan. i was surrounded by Rabbis at the brit. Not only was Rabbi Chaim there to lead services, but Rabbi Joel made it. Fabulous. 

my mum at my brit looking more relaxed than she (or any of us felt) 

Auntie Pip and Uncle Daren - who were fantastic in getting everything set up for my Brit, thanks 

Just been snipped. The mohel - Dr Spitzer is getting me drunk. What kind of a religious example is that?! 

my malka, she's been amazing all week, feeding my parents while they've (well she's) been feeding me. 

Uncle Daniel - looking pensive. He did a beautiful job reading Torah and leading Bircat Hamazon 

Me and my Daddy, my daddy and me. We're 'bout as happy as Daddies can be, tell old man worry to go climb a tree. 'Coz I've got my Daddy, I'm with my Daddy, Look at my Daddy and me. 

Auntie Isabel and me 

Bob and I - guess who is making the ga-ga sounds 

Some thoughts on my name - Part II

And a middle name - Zac.
Basically my parents just really like the name.
They are still not quite sure how to spell it, but seem to have settled on the
'c.'

It's kind of there as a fall back. In case I grow up and don't like Carmi.
It's Hebrew for 'pure' which might set the bar a little to high, but you have to start as you mean to go on.
(parental attempt to get me to turn out well, Volume I)

And as a second name in Hebrew - Zachariah - remembered by God.
One of the Hebrew prophets - Dad is a Rabbi, go figure!

But a pretty lively prophet. He had a wild vision about chariots appearing from mountains made of copper and used to hear voices of God and Angels.
It might make a decent counter-part to the purity thing.

Some thoughts on my name - Part I

So Carmi.
The story went something like this.
My mum was very pregnant. I didn't want to come out.
My dad was bunking off going to shul. He was fairly convinced I was going to come out the minute he left the house.
So he was reading the parsha at home when he saw the name - Carmi. He interupted the shower to tell Josephine that he liked the name. She paused, liked it too and that was the beginning of the tale.

It means - my vine. Which is fun. Particularly bearing in mind that I ust got to taste some wine at my brit this morning. Yum.

It also sounds like Corinne, the name of my mum's mum.

So, Carmi. I like it. Unusual, means something, has a good masorah, and feels lively.
My parents have been worrying that it might be a bit childish. But then again it sounds a little like the Ghanaian name, Kwame - which served Kwame Nkrudah pretty well, and Kwame Kilpatrick - who is mayor of Detroit.

So Carmi it is.
Michael slightly misheard, during my naming ceremony and introduced me to the masses as 'Tummy' which I suppose is going to be setting a trend of mispellings, mispronounciations and more, but Carmi it is.

Me wiv my mum and dad. This is the day I was born. You can kind of tell that from the completely spaced out look on my parents' faces. I think, looking at the background of the picture, this was even taken in the delivery suite. Wow! Intense intense intense, what can I say.
But eventually, I made it, now here is to the rest of my life. Lchaim.