Weaning your first child.

Forty years ago this book accompanied us to the Fijis. At the time Mr and Mrs Talpa, and the book, were in all in their prime. Sadly, that is no longer the case!

The book passed its prime rather quickly after our arrival in the South Seas, a victim of the multitudinous cockroaches that were our constant companions. Cockroaches are omnivorous feeders and just love the starch and animal glue used in book bindings. The marks on the spine of the book are where the cockroaches have grazed away the surface layers.

Talpa the youngest was born in the Fijis. Great attention was paid to making sure that her food and water were always safe and sterile. Despite our best efforts, however, her first solid food was a cockroach. I can still see her crawling across the floor, crunching on the unfortunate insect, a wing sticking out from each side of her mouth. She survived! The map location shows where the meal took place.