Emergency on Market

The fire engine fascination persists. Here's Elliott transfixed by Ladder 23 racing along Market Street yesterday afternoon. We missed the ladder shot but fortuitously (if you're Elliott, maybe not so much for most of you who read this) we have Philadelphia fire engine photos aplenty in the archive. Top to bottom: Engine 24 on Walnut at 11th, Engine 10 on Walnut between 11th and 12th, Ladder 5 on 12th between Walnut and Sansom.

Elton John Jnr

Being the only boy at a little girl's birthday party makes for some interesting party favours. Post celebration, Elliott masquerades as Elton John. And he has them in yellow, too. Our neighbour couldn't resist snapping this shot on her camera phone.

Flamingo garden

To access Forbidden Drive hiking trail, one must pass through the tony surrounds of Chestnut Hill. Think imposing historic homes, expansive lawns, manicured hedges and a veritable army of uniformed men bearing leaf-blowers and rakes. Not sure what the neighbours' take on this garden is but Elliott was smitten.

Train

How to entertain a small boy discontentedly housebound by a raging thunderstorm one Sunday morning? Hmm... Boxes? Check. String? Check. Sticky tape? Check. Let's make a train!

Forbidden Drive

One of Center City Philadelphia's cons is that unadulterated nature is a train ride away (as opposed to at the end of the street as it was in Hobart). But this is where 20 minutes on the R8 will take you -- Forbidden Drive, a creekside trail through Fairmount Park's woods. It meanders alongside Wissahickon Creek and takes a few hours to walk, with such interesting pit stops as Revolutionary War landmarks, a covered bridge and the historic Valley Green Inn with its resident flock of geese out front. We'll try to lure G out for a hike so as to take some photos that show the trail in all its autumnal glory (H not being known for her ability to photograph landscapes). But for now, here's Elliott hiking the trail with his friend Rika.

Nomad

We've been watching (and watching and watching) the BBC's Planet Earth wildlife documentary series. Which animal is Elliott's favourite? H would have guessed the contenders would include such big-ticket creatures as elephants, sharks and lions. Elephants he rather fancies, lions he pays some attention to, sharks are of no interest whatsoever. The animal Elliott wants to see over and over again is... the Bactrian Camel! He is camel obsessed. Here, he's playing nomad, a game of his own invention. He sprung out of bed one morning and said, "Eddie (as he refers to himself) be nomad. Pack things. Go on camel."

Hopping time

Never count on being able to do anything quickly when in the company of a little boy with boundless energy and imagination. For instance, at least 10 minutes should be set aside for putting on a pair of shoes. After the first has been laced up there must be "hopping time". Here's the one-shoed bandit on the lam in the beautiful walled grounds of St Peter's Church.