Baby, did you give us a scare

Toddler’s ‘escape’ causes family panic

FOR mums of babbling toddlers, the sound of silence can only mean one thing … trouble.

Brisbane mum welcomed Toowoomba sister over for their semi-regular catch-up to allow Toowoomba sister to get the obligatory crooning and cuddling out of her system.

After a day of slow-paced activities, nothing is ever done at speed with a toddler, noticeably tired sisters set about making dinner together while Brisbane dad took on the men’s duties of feeding the dogs.

Now, also tired dad had a big day as well, and between the swing set, the playground and the grandparent visits, it had been a long Sunday out.

But back to the sound of silence.

Babbling toddler is now walking, which means grabbing things out of low-reaching drawers, deconstructing the pots and pans cupboard, and generally finding things for teething on.

These noisy activities are matched with the sounds of tiny, though bouncy, footsteps that tell Brisbane mum where Lily is at all times through sound awareness alone.

While the dinner preparing continued, dad now in another room, Brisbane mum paused.

Between the sharp sounds of chopping there was no accompanying clatters, babbles, or light stomping.

Nothing. Everyone paused. Lily was in the kitchen just a moment ago.

Toowoomba mum cuts the quickest lap of the living room, kitchen and dining room on record before she looks outside in the dark.

In the time it took for Brisbane dad to step outside and fill up the dog bowls with Chum, Lily had followed him out unnoticed. She’d been locked out of the house and was sitting at the back door sharing a meal of dry, yet slobbery, dog food with the hound. One for you, one for me.

With relief, and the “what if ” panic that sets in as both parents realise the power of one minute of alone time for a toddler, the family settled in for a more civilised meal, Lily in her high-chair where dinner is usually served.

A LOT ON HIS MIND

FIFTY-something staffer of an inner-city Toowoomba office cops more than a little flack from his younger colleagues about his advancing years.

And, he copped it this week when he was sitting at his desk trying to remember what he had forgotten to do.

It was 2.15pm when it suddenly dawned on him that he was supposed to meet a lady friend for lunch at 1pm.

Adding to his woes was that, despite having the lunch date written on his desk calendar, he’d forgotten and had gone to a cafe at 1pm to buy lunch which he had back in the office.

The thing is, as he was buying his lunch, his lunch partner was in the same shopping complex at another cafe waiting for him.

Oops.

WEDDING CRASHERS

PLUMBER was doing some work at his brother’s Toowoomba home on Thursday and during a chat discovered he had more in common with his sibling than he thought.

Older brother was explaining how he and his wife had gone to a friend’s wedding recently but when the bride walked in she hadn’t looked familiar at all.

A quick glance to the altar and the couple realised they didn’t know the groom either.

After realising they were at the wrong wedding, the pair shuffled out of the chapel quietly and headed for a nearby church.

After learning of his brother’s wedding mishap, young brother confessed he had had a similar experience.

He had walked into an inner-city Toowoomba bar to find it quite packed but the bar serving free drinks.

“No wonder it’s packed,” our man thought as he ordered another free beer.

A little later he couldn’t help notice the crowd forming a circle and by linking hands creating an arch.

He then watched as the bride and groom walked through the arch of well-wishers.

“Until then, I hadn’t realised I’d walked into a wedding reception,” he said.

“I finished my beer and slipped out quietly.”