Some versions of the Media Center remote control allow you to learn remote codes for other devices (most usefully for a TV or monitor and amplifier). I've got three Media Center remotes, and only the first one that I got is programmable (labeled "model: 1039"). Deails.

It's been a long time without any news here, but one thing has stayed the same: the girls are still waking me up too early!

Em has been taking Harriet and Lucy to swimming lessons, and Lucy has her 5m swimming badge now. (Her teacher thinks that Lucy is mucking about and not moving on to 10 m quickly enough!) Harriet has lessons on a different day while Lucy is at school. Harriet is learning to jump into the swimming pool all by herself, and Em says that she floats on her back with her arm bands and kicks but doesn't go anywhere.

But basically, Harriet is keen to do anything that Lucy does, and mainly that is talking. Harriet does a lot of talking for a two-year old, and like Lucy did, has made up a few words of her own. Here is are a few key phrase book entries:
Doki - a drink in the blue cup
Doku - an umbrella
I'mam - I am
Ife - knife

Talking of made up words, Lucy has a Polish class mate who does not speak much English. Lucy has obviously heard her speaking Polish though, and has come home convinced that she can also speak Polish. Of course Harriet is impressed with this, and Lucy is happy to teach her, so the two of them sit together talking Gibberish to each other.

"The Chainsaws, the Chainsaws - they cut down all the trees. The Pixies, the Pixies, trashed their JCBs." 1

1. Do or Die, Issue Ten