second toughest in the infants

One a penny, two a penny...

2008-03-22T11:13:00.003Z

There's something very theraputic about making Hot X Buns. I love the way the glaze made them all shiny... like I'd varnished them!

Recipe from http://tinyurl.com/2tc6ty a really fab bread book

Tulips (from my friend Liz) to add to the Springness...

Happy Easter

Sid & Dot again...

2008-03-22T11:11:00.003Z

Sid & Dot

2008-03-22T10:54:00.003Z

Caught by the same midwife... and the bestest of friends!

The Cat and her Kitten...

2008-03-10T09:11:00.002Z

Inseparable... Even at bed time...

Click below if you're a Mum and need a laugh...

2007-10-04T14:54:00.000+01:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anSpBUxsgAU

Tale of two chocolate cakes...

2007-09-17T12:07:00.000+01:00

Jude was seven on 9 September, and he requested a chocolate cake to celebrate...

Then on 15 September he went on his Birthday Treat to see Millwall* with some of his friends and then came home for a Birthday Tea... and another chocolate cake (with white mice and lots of Jazzies!) Well it's not everyday you're seven.

Happy Birthday my Lovely Boy... xxx

(*shame they lost 2-1 to Walsall)

My Prize Tomato...

2007-09-17T11:57:00.001+01:00

... isn't it gorgeous!

... you're only one step away from youtube...

2007-09-16T14:53:00.000+01:00

I come on the computer to (maybe) start an essay and before I know it, I'm watching this...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KpWJRNuLHmM

some feat TBH because you can't get much further away from writing about Reflective Practice than Mr Lydon...

Oh it takes me back... I spent hours, and I mean hours listening to him in my past... enjoy!

and then...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PF0OjrFIVWY

Gorilla

2007-09-11T08:30:00.000+01:00

... one of the best things on telly at the moment, watch and enjoy...

http://www.aglassandahalffullproductions.com/

(apart from Brian winning ... it was the finest bit of the BigBrother Finale - what a canny bit of marketing...)

In training for 2012 Olympics...

2007-09-05T15:37:00.000+01:00

... well maybe not - but after the August break - it's time to resume a new term of gymnastics...

http://www.ladywellgym.com/

She's been going since she was 18 months so maybe the 2016 Games??

and... it is the ONLY time we ever have hair tied back...

Best Pizzeria in Town!

2007-09-03T22:08:00.001+01:00

By the end you couldn't see pizza for olives... but never mind!

Strawberry Jam...

2007-09-03T22:08:00.000+01:00

Last year's supply was dwindling - so it was time to make some more!

SO there are now about 18 jars to keep everyone going (plus the Blackberry jam we made last weekend)...

A back to nature sort of day...

2007-08-28T13:54:00.000+01:00

Yesterday we had a lovely day out at the London Wetlands Centre

http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/119/london_wetland_centre.html

Southbank, Antony Gormley & Ramen Noodles...

2007-08-28T09:18:00.000+01:00

A short bus ride for another day out by the Thames...

Isle of Wight...

2007-08-22T11:57:00.000+01:00

27 July - 11 August 2007

Another fab two weeks was had by all...

My friend Janine...

2007-07-26T12:53:00.000+01:00

I haven't posted for nearly a month. I've been busy with children, writing assignments, MSLC meetings and the usual of lifes ups and downs...

Every now and then something happens that stops you in your tracks, and makes you wake up to what you have in life.

My friend Janine gave birth to her little boy Jamie on Monday 9th July at 12.30pm.

He had an osoephagheal atresia and the surgeons operated that night. The operation was not a success, they were not able to sew together the two pieces of tube as the stitches kept coming apart.

He also needed heart surgery which took place two days later. Surgery was only supposed to last for a couple of hours, but it turned into twelve, and sadly this operation couldn't help Jamie either.

Jamie died at 10.35pm on Thursday July 12th.

He was three days old.

Campaign to stop formula advertising

2007-07-26T12:43:00.000+01:00

My life before children, and my life now are joining up!

Whilst wearing my Graphic-Designer-Hat-Pre-Babies, I worked for Save the Children... and they are now joining forces with NCT and UNICEF on the never ending battle with formula advertising. Good on you SCF!

Not quite sure about the animation tho'... Little Jack's breastfeeding position seems a little odd, and it seems he can feed through his Mum's dress... but still the message is what counts!

http://www.nct.org.uk/microsites/littlejack/

and PLEASE do click below and sign our petition...

http://www.advocacyonline.net/eactivist/user/userJ.jsp?CLS@CGO6JEiS71obZy93uD

A Wet Sunday...

2007-06-27T07:48:00.000+01:00

A good (and free) thing to do on a rainy Sunday with kids...

http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/eventseducation/families/startweekends4617.htm

(Take a picnic and eat it in the Turbine Hall!)

Merry-go-round

2007-06-18T08:22:00.000+01:00

A Piece of History...

2007-06-17T11:19:00.000+01:00

Jude and Ivo, and their school were the 1st performers in the newly refurbished Royal Festival Hall.

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/news/story/0,,2100303,00.html

awwww it was SO moving...

We're so lucky to live near the SouthBank - it's a magical place...

My Garden...

2007-06-01T10:36:00.000+01:00

I'm sometimes better at saying things with flowers...

Bank Holiday Monday

2007-05-28T20:59:00.000+01:00

We went up to Town on the bus...

It was too wet to hang around Trafalgar Square to watch the Africa Day performances... so we went to the National Gallery instead.

http://www.takeonepicture.org/

Our school had taken part so it was great to see some of the work in the flesh.

What a fab idea this scheme is.
And overwhelming that the work produced this year could FILL the whole of the National! (well if they took the rest of the old masters down that is...)

We went for Dim Sum - the half-term holiday treat...
http://www.chuenchengku.co.uk/index.htm
How many prawn dumplings can a small child eat...?!

A bit of a Rainy Weekend...

2007-05-28T20:22:00.000+01:00

Saturday was OK weatherwise - so we had a family outing to Nunhead Cemetery (google FONC) to pick elderflower-heads (as you do...!) N had finished the last bit of the previous vintage - so it was time to make some more elderflower-cordial before the elderflowers dissappear for another year... Anyway.. another 4 bottles are now in the fridge!

Then it was off to SeaCow (or as Jude calls it... SeaCowBoy) for well deserved Fish & Chips...

All my tomato & pepper plants were planted up in the afternoon - and I just finished before the heavens opened!

Sunday... it was pouring.

We spent the morning making Dalek Biscuits... (Nigella's Domestic Goddess cutout biscuit recipe) with a profusion of green & black (NO - not organic G&B chocolate... but GREEN & BLACK, and lots of it) icing... and silver balls!

Rest of the days was a mixture of drawing, making, watching Incredibles... and ended up (somehow) with a rave in the kitchen;
http://www.leftfield-online.com/
http://wma.juno.co.uk/ASF/SF150444-01-01-01.wma
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59G67qq19e0
etc etc etc... MC Annie-on-the-decks... got them all up on the floor...

Ecological bathing...

2007-05-24T13:55:00.000+01:00

... aka "3-in-at-once"

(Tho' look at the colour of the water...)

Milking It...

2007-05-17T07:20:00.000+01:00

It's shocking...

http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2079864,00.html

Chocolate Mousse...

2007-05-14T09:53:00.000+01:00

... it's been a very wet weekend, and N has been on a training course... so I've been chief child entertainer...

What started out as a plan to make Chocolate Cornflake Cakes... turned into "we want to make Chocolate Mousse"... as Jude & Ivo discovered a picture in our favourite Hugh F-W "Family Cookbook"...

So at 8.20am on Saturday morning - we were whisking egg yolks & sugar, melting chocolate and generally having a good time (albeit at times stressful, as the temptation to eat the mixture got too much for Ivo & Sid...)

The egg-white whisking with the electric whisk was a particular hit... although it did all get a bit "Doctor Who" towards the end of the process!

The end resulting 11 (the 12th was eaten for quality control by 3 small-quality-controllers...) mouses (sic) looked wonderful in their mismatched little bowls...

At teatime- they didn't last long!

Absinthe... (closely followed by Champagne...)

2007-05-12T10:07:00.000+01:00

You scored as absinthe.
you are artistic and creative,
but a little unstable.
you are magical
and can have dillusions,
and are a little mysterious.

absinthe

92%

champagne

83%

vodka

75%

midori

75%

wine

71%

bourbon

67%

whiskey

63%

rum

63%

daiquaries

54%

beer

50%

what alcoholic drink are you (pictures)
created with QuizFarm.com

Mackerel for tea...

2007-05-10T12:12:00.000+01:00

Sidonie and I went to the Horniman Museum yesterday - to celebrate National Compost Week!

We planted a marigold seedling each... she's got the makings of a gardener - and not afraid to get her hands dirty!

On the way home we passed a fishmongers, and Sid decided that we should have fish for tea. She was insistent on us buying 4 mackerel. I think it was the beautifully patterned skin that swayed her.

Anyway everyone enjoyed them grilled with a dressing of lime juice, Nam Pla, coriander and chilli... and Basmati rice.

Not a bad choice for a (just) 3 year-old!

Albany Midwives...

2007-05-09T07:47:00.000+01:00

I went to visit the Albany Midwivery Practice yesterday (research for my presentation on Maternity Services in my local area).

What a fab bunch of women, and SO welcoming... and their birth stats are nothing short of amazing. (47% homebirth rate!)

They are unique - which is sad... all women should be offered this sort of one-to-one care...

http://www.albanymidwives.org.uk/albanymidwiveshomepage.htm

It was an totally inspiring afternoon - and I was invited to sit in on an antenatal drop-in meeting to meet some pregnant mums-to-be, and to hear a couple of birth stories from new mums (and got to cuddle a gorgeous little boy called Troy!)

Party season...

2007-05-05T08:08:00.000+01:00

It's been a busy couple of weeks with parties and stuff... Both Ivo and Sidonie are April babies. Infact they were born in the same week (albeit 2 years apart!) 24 & 27 April...

Ivo celebrated his 5th Birthday with his classmate Freddy on 21 April; that was quite a big party in our local church hall, with over 50 children!

Emily (Freddy's Mum) and I decided that we wanted to make the afternoon like a trip to the Fair - so we had face-painting, icecream cones, sunflower seed planting, team games, and pizza for tea...

All the children went home with a brightly coloured bag full of popcorn...

Sidonie had never had her own party before, she's always shared with her brother. So this was her 1st! It was a lovely afternoon in our garden on 29 April - she and 10 little mates egg & spoon races, had icecreams and planted some seeds to take home.

All the children went home with a windspinner to hang in the garden or their bedroom, oh and a piece of Lola cake too ofcourse!!

& Sidonie's choice was...

2007-04-29T21:07:00.000+01:00

a Lola cake...

I've just cleared up from her party... it's been a busy time with these Birthdays, but more about them later - I have to lie down!

Seahorse Cake

2007-04-23T07:55:00.000+01:00

Every Birthday, each child chooses what type of cake they'd like for their party...

This year Ivo wanted a seahorse and seaweed one...

Justin

2007-04-16T11:26:00.000+01:00

... no not Mr Timberlake (tho' obviously he should get one too for other reasons...) It's Mr Fletcher I'm talking about!

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Cbeebies/

Congratulations to Sita.. on the birth of her baby

2007-04-14T15:57:00.000+01:00

Birth facts issued by Paignton Zoo

Sita's keepers expect the birth to happen during the night
Generally rhinos give birth standing up
Sita is showing physical signs of being ready to give birth
The zoo hopes to let nature take its course
Keepers won't intervene unless they have to
There is no due day

(Hopefully one day all (human) women will get this level of understanding whilst they are in labour!!)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/realmedia/rhino/archive/rhino_birth2.ram

http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/realmedia/rhino/archive/rhino_calf2.ram

Love the Milk You Give

2007-04-13T14:52:00.000+01:00

I just can't believe SMA can get away with their new Logo - as a Graphic Designer-in-a-previous-life I'd say it's very sloppy, and very misrepresentative... or maybe it's just a pure coincidence that it looks like a mother breastfeeding?
...and don't get me started on the strapline "Love The Milk You Give"...
FFS talk about manipulation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Ggb2rQsYk

A Day @ the Tate Modern

2007-04-12T20:36:00.000+01:00

... or more correctly, a day playing-on-the-grass-outside-of-the-Tate-Modern... it was a gloriously sunny day so other than to use the loo, and to buy sketchbooks from the shop (the boys are avid draw-ers)... we didn't go inside in the end!

I arranged to meet my friend Yoko, who was over from Australia, and who I had not seen since 2002. She had never met Sidonie, and the boys were very little the last time she saw them.

Before she arrived;
Jude; "Mum, what does your friend Yoko look like?"
Me; "she's Japanese..."
Jude; "Is that her?" (pointing at one of several Japanese women tourists)
Me; "No"
Jude; "Is that her?"... (another tourist..)
Me; "No"...
Ivo; "Is that her?".... (this could go on forever... we do live in London!)
Jude; "Does she sound Japanese?"
Me; "uuurh no, well only when she speaks Japanese... she sounds English... or maybe a bit Australian, I don't really know..."
Ivo; "what colour hair has she got?"
Me; "not sure sometimes black, sometimes bits of other colours I'm not sure"
Jude "Mum... (impatiently) is THAT her?"
Me "No"
Ivo "Mum is Yoko really a real person? I don't think you know what she looks like...?
Jude "I'm going to say ... onegai shimasu*... to her because she is Japanese"

Just to prove to my children that I do not have an imaginery (Japanese) friend - Yoko arrived, and we had a wonderful few hours catching up on old times and new stuff. It's a magical thing when you feel like you've just started off from where you left off... even if it is a 5 year time lapse. It was like she'd never been away...

The kids played on the beach (OK foreshore... but the Thames does have beaches when the tide goes out)

To end our day with a Japanese theme - we had salmon ramen, ebi raisukaree, ebi gyoza, negima yakitori & yaki soba for tea @ Wagamamas at London Bridge.

* http://www.pacific-aikido.org/glossary.html
Jude is a green belt in Aikido!

A new blog is born...

2007-04-10T10:04:00.000+01:00

It's going to take a while to get going on this - but hey!