Watching grass grow

For the last few months Rob and I have been watching the grass grow in our front (and back) garden, moreso in the front garden though. We didn't have a lawnmower until today (I took my dad's old one out of his hands) and really there is supposed to be a gardener for our square who cuts the grass in the front gardens of the 15 houses looking into the square, however since we have moved in (last Christmas) it has been cut once by the gardener. And now today once by me! Here's some kind of before/after pics: