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Flowers
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Making muffins
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Burn’s morning
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Skating at Somerset House
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New Year’s Eve
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With Anastacia
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February 28, 2006Today was our Communications directorate away day. I set off in good time, but could tell something was up the minute I got to the tube. There were too many people travelling up as I rode down the escalator. There was a full train sitting with its doors open on the platform and a strong burning smell. Everyone was asking each other what was going on. Someone said there was a fire on the train, and then an alarm started. A mini stampede ensued, with people who hadn’t run in years, running up the escalator in their rush to get out. I hadn’t noticed the smoke, but you could see it as you rose up.Hung around a while to see what would happen. The bus to Camden takes so long that it’s not to be undertaken lightly. After about a half hour we were given the all clear and headed back down. The trains were packed, but I managed to fight my way onto the third one. Changed at King’s Cross for the Piccadilly line, only to discover that “due to a person under a train at Russell Square” the Piccadilly line was suspended. Took the Victoria line back up through Euston to Oxford Circus, and finally made it to Chancery Lane. An hour and a half to do a forty minute journey… It’s Shrove Tuesday, and Adam made pancakes with Nova and her friend Joshua who was over for a playdate. I made blinis with smoked salmon and beetroot purée for us, which we had with a split of champagne. I’m starting “fat club” again tomorrow, with Pasc and Alicia this time. I actually weigh about ten pounds less than when the last fat club finished, but Pasc is putting it back on, and Alicia wants some help fitting into her ski suit before her Easter holiday. |
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February 27, 2006Back to reality…, meetings, deadlines, work… |
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February 26, 2006Sadly, I woke up at my usual time. Michaela managed an extra hour, but we were up and out by 8:30am…A light snow was swirling around us as we set off. Ate our breakfast at Cafe Marly, a smart place facing the courtyard of the Louvre. Café creme for me; a pot of tea for Michaela. (She’s a committed tea drinker, and actually attempted to order a cup of tea from room service at the hotel yesterday. Needless to say, it wasn’t available…) Had a plate of viennoiserie as well — little croissants, pain au chocolat and pain au raisins. We walked down rue du Rivoli, and through the Marais to Picasso Museum. There was an exhibit on Picasso and Dora Maar. It was busy, but we were ahead of the curve, and by the time we left the line to get in stretched round the corner. Had a quick coffee in Place de Vosges, then took the metro to see Sainte Chappelle. There was a high level security check to get in. Their metal detector was set so high that my cheap watch actually set it off, which has never happened before. I’d always assumed it was plastic. Ate lunch in one of those anonymous brasseries with the plastic wicker chairs — toasted cheese sandwich and a couple of glasses of wine. It was time to head for Gare du Nord after that, by way of the hotel to pick up Michaela’s bag. Snoozed most of the way home. Nova was happy to see me but didn’t seem to have missed me much, which is good. I’ll have to do it again! |
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February 25, 2006No trouble waking up this morning, with a trip to Paris on the agenda! Michaela is not a map reader. This became apparent in the half hour we spent wandering around trying to find a hotel that was five minutes from the metro station. The Hotel Malte Opera was basically a building site. Funny, they didn’t show any pictures of that on their website… The lobby wasn’t too bad — walls stripped back to plasterboard and plastic sheeting on the water feature, but behind that facade was all wet plaster, drying paint, and exposed wiring, and room numbers stuck to the doors on post-it notes… It took fifteen minutes trailing around behind an Algerian builder and Polish maid through an absolute rabbit warren of corridors to locate room 213, cunningly concealed on the third floor. The room itself was very nice. Small, but freshly decorated and nicely appointed. As we are renting the room not the hallways, we decided not to worry about it. I took over the navigating, and led us to Gallopin, our chosen brasserie. It was a wonderfully authentic, old style place, elegant and comfortable. Most of the customers could have been character actors in a French film. We ordered the from the set menu: half a dozen oysters, duck breast, and creme brulee. The house wine was Mouton Cadet, and I had no idea it could taste so good. I wonder if they keep the good stuff for the home team… Spent the afternoon shopping, and picked up little presents for our girls. Had an hour’s rest at the hotel, then headed out for dinner. We went to a place called Willi’s Wine Bar, which had gotten good reviews in Michaela’s book and was conveniently located across the road. It was a very different sort of place to Gallopin, and again the food was very good. Drank a terrific bottle of Crozes Hermitage to accompany our two and a half course meal: mixed antipasti; roast cod and Puy lentils; and a shared cheese plate. A girl could grow accustomed to this lifestyle…;-) |
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February 24, 2006We had Ruby for breakfast this morning, as Jemima had an early appointment. She and Nova are very comfortable together, with none of the bickering and competitiveness she has with Evelyn.Went to my spinning and body pump classes. It is so cold, that I couldn’t get my fingers to warm up. They were still dead white and my nails blue after thirty minutes of furious exercise. I must have been distracted when I picked up Nova this afternoon, as I managed to her lunch kit and bring home someone else’s water bottle. Adam went off to remedy things, but Nova was still furious with me. “Now I won’t play school with you after dinner!” she yelled, hoping to punish me. “Now I won’t go to Paris with you tomorrow!” She’s got that right… A little later, she told me, “Even when I’m cross with you, I still love you.” I’ve said that to her before, and I’m glad she’s taken it to heart. Had busy afternoon and evening doing all sorts before my weekend away. Yet another way that I’m my mother’s daughter. I remember her saying about my piano teacher Mrs Gauthier, that “She’d go on holiday, leaving a sink full of dirty dishes.” They weren’t particular friends, so I’m not sure how she formed that opinion… Nova did a funny thing at bedtime. She carefully traced a heart around each of my ears with her finger, then said seriously, “Now you’ll always know I love you, until I’m grown up.” |
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February 23, 2006My training course today was on managing change. Interesting stuff, which would have been very useful last spring when we were bringing the team together.Got home about 5:30, and made sweet potato-carrot soup for dinner. Watched Law and Order, though I should say Order really — I’m usually fall asleep by the Law part…;-) |
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February 22, 2006It is fucking freezing today. Woke up with a pounding headache, feeling exhausted after an alcoholic stupor of a sleep, to the voice of our deputy chief exec on being interview on the Today programme. If anything, our agency’s profile is actually too high. We are constantly in the news, generally taking flak for some controversial decision we’ve made. I don’t think my previous organisation made the Today programme once in the five years I worked there.Managed to have Nova breakfasted, pack-lunched, dressed, groomed and delivered to school by 8:50. Adam was working from home, and we had lunch together. Spent the day getting house things done, as I’m off to Paris this weekend with Michaela! |
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February 21, 2006Another crazy day at work… I actually ate my lunch in a meeting. Left about 6:30. I’m not working tomorrow, as I’m on a training course on Thursday.Got home in time to help get Nova to bed, throw together dinner (grilled leek salad), and dash off to Pasc’s. Her friend Sarah is over from New York, and we had a girl’s night arranged. Met Alicia at the Wrestlers, and proceeded to consume far too much wine, two small packs of peanuts, and pack of cigarettes (for them). I inhaled so much secondhand smoke I thought I’d try one for old time’s sake, but it didn’t appeal and I stubbed it out after a couple of drags. I was never much of a smoker… Home about 1am. |
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February 20, 2006Work is very full on at the moment… I get in about 9am, and work straight through until it’s time to go home at 6pm. I usually bring lunch from home, but popped out for a sandwich today.I worked a bit later today, as I’d arranged to go see Katie Stillman play at the Wigmore Hall. I had just enough time to grab a bit at the Yo! Sushi in Selfridges. It’s not the best sushi in town, but it’s convenient and I feel very comfortable eating on my own there. There was quite a good turnout for the concert, part of a series highlight young performers. The opening act was amazing. A pair of percussionists who have arranged piano music for marimbas, which are basically oversized xylophones — Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu, Bach preludes, Ravel, as well as modern percussion works. They provided comic patter between pieces as they shifted their array of percussion instruments around the small stage. I doubt the Wigmore has seen anything like it… It was a hard act for Katie to follow. Her violin/piano pieces seemed a bit staid in comparison. She is an amazing violinist, and played two violin concertos — Beethoven’s No 4 in A minor, and Elgar’s E minor — as well as an astonishingly complicated piece by Witold Lutoslawski (Subito for violin and piano). The Stillmans were immensely proud of course, and her father Martin flew over from Canada specially for it. |
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February 19, 2006Adam was too sick to go running with Javed this morning, and I was too lazy… I spent half the day lying on the couch doing an enormous 4×4 sudoku that uses letters as well as numbers. I could post it in to win a laptop, but I’m probably too lazy to do that as well…;-) |
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February 18, 2006Pasc is on holiday in Madiera this week, so I went for a run on my own — two laps round Highgate Woods. For some reason, my GMS thing measured the distance differently this time. I’m wondering if it makes estimates in spots where the signal is weak? Seems odd…Adam’s cousin’s son Alex had his bar mitzvah today. It started at 11am, and it was a bit of a rush getting everyone brushed and dressed and out the door on time. The service, which was held at a synagogue in Finchley, lasted more than two hours. Nova was very good, and amused herself with books and the odd snack, but Doron and Antonia only lasted about 40 minutes with their kids before giving up and taking them to the park. There was a lunch afterwards at a restaurant up the road. I’d assumed that it would be a buffet kind of thing, and we’d make an appearance then head back to meet up with Jules and Mary. In fact, it was a formal, sit-down affair, with champagne cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a three course lunch, and a raft of speeches. Doron and Antonia were late to arrive, as Marni had fallen into a puddle in the park, and they had to buy her a new outfit. Antonia found it all too stressful and didn’t stay long, heading home with Marni before the first course arrived, but Doron and Oliver stayed for lunch. Got home about five… We didn’t bother with dinner, though Nova snacked on an apple and some cheese. To bed at 10:30… |
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February 17, 2006After breakfast, Nova and I headed into town to spend the day with Mary and the kids. We met at the London Eye at 10:30am, and as well as Mary, there was also David, Jo, their three girls plus an extra, and Charlotte and her two boys (more friends of Mary’s from Suffolk).Nova was very excited about the London Eye, and impressed me by picking out Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and St Paul’s. It’s the clearest ride I’ve ever had on the Eye, and I was able to see the St Michael’s and St Joseph’s church spires in Highgate. We went for lunch en masse at Wagamama — all fourteen of us. The adults were seriously outnumbered by children, and even in that refectory style din, our table seemed to be making an inordinate amount of noise. There was nothing for it but to order a large glass of wine… After lunch, Mary, Jo and I took Nova, Anna and Rollo to the Aquarium while the rest of them went off shopping. There was a long queue to get in, and large crowds in front of the shark exhibit. We didn’t even think about trying to get a position at the touching tank. The kids really enjoyed it though, especially the stingray who rubbed up against the side of the tank, showing us her sweet little face. Taxied to Selfridges to pick up Bella from her shopping spree, then took another home. Jules and Adam arrived shortly after from work… I threw together a quick dinner for the children, then got busy putting together another for the adults: lamb burgers and grilled leek salad, with two of our Valentine’s chocolate pots to share for dessert (plus some banoffee truffles they’d brought). To bed about midnight, somewhat worse for wear… |
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February 16, 2006Swapped childcare days with Adam, as I have plans with Nova on Friday… I spent most of the day trying to sort out my iPod. It’s been skipping and freezing and doing other odd things lately. First I tried to “reset” it, which ended up deleting all my music. Next, I tried to “restore” it, which resulted in it disappearing from my desktop. I did have any more success in “rebuilding” it, and think I’ve managed to corrupt essential operating software now… I found a iPod diagnosis site, and it sounds to me like it needs a new hard drive…:-( I went to the drycleaners to pick up a skirt I was having taken in. I’d specified that I wanted them to take an inch in on both sides, which would involve resetting the zipper. Instead, they just took in two inches on one side, and now the darts sit oddly. They’re going to try to fix it… Adam took me out for dinner at Fig — a local restaurant in Barnsbury. Quite informal, and really nice food. I had a spicy pork spring roll, followed by roast cod with red lentils and coconut sambal, and we shared a great bottle of Gewurtztraminer. Really nice evening, especially after the Salt Yard experience… |
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February 14, 2006
Adam was sleeping in the flat, and I thought the best Valentine’s present I could give him would be letting him sleep as long as possible. Made Nova heart shaped toast for breakfast, and gave her a valentine and tiny little box of chocolates. She also got a valentine from Ceinwen, which she was very pleased with. Adam gave me a beautiful necklace, made from gold chain, different colours of silk thread, garnets and little pearls. Lou called in sick, which meant I had to attend SMT (the directors weekly meeting) unexpectedly. I think I did alright, and am definitely feeling more confidence in my role. Nova was exhausted this evening. She’d been to the park and the theatre with Simonia, which involved a good mile of walking. I’d made her some raspberry jello in a heart shaped mold as a Valentine’s treat, but when it was time to serve it, I could not get it to come out. Nova said consolingly, “That’s okay, mum. You can try again next year…” Adam and I put together a Valentines dinner for ourselves: oysters on the half shell; cheese fondue; a green salad and little chocolate souffles with melted chocolate centres. They didn’t come out of their molds so well either, but tasted great. |
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February 13, 2006Starting the week completely exhausted after yet another night’s interrupted sleep… Nova slept in until 9am, which is fine as she’s on half term break. Simonia is doing full days on Monday to Wednesday, while Adam and I work.Drank too much coffee, which may have triggered the migraine halo that appeared at lunch. I had a bit of a lie down, and took a walk round the block to get away from the computer and neon lighting, but I couldn’t shake it for ages, though I managed to put in a full day’s work. Arrived home to discover Nova listless and running a temperature. I gave her a dose of nurofen and a cold compress to bring the fever down. Spent an hour lying on the couch watching figure skating before bed. Simonia had kindly emptied the dishwasher, which meant a frustrating time hunting down kitchen utensils before I could start cooking dinner. I appreciate what a petty complaint that it, but it was an initiative test I could do without this evening. Brought Nova in with me when I went to bed, to avoid the inevitable wake up. |
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February 12, 2006Adam went for a run with Javed this morning. It was pissing with rain, and I was happy enough to leave them to it. Opted to run at the gym instead, while Adam took Nova for a swim. She’s not really well enough to swim, but was so keen to go that we couldn’t say no. I knocked off a quick (for me) 5km, which left me time for a short sauna as well.Spent an hour investigating skiing holidays on the web. We thought we might go for a week at Easter. Most of the family skiing packages are for the French Alps, and seem pretty expensive though. We’re also planning a long weekend in Amsterdam in early May, so we probably should get booking that. Everyone we know seems to book their holidays a year in advance. I guess that’s what you have to do when you’re constrained by the school schedule. We haven’t got into the habit of that yet… There’s a mythical life I aspire to where I have what I need and nothing more, and everything is organised, streamlined, and efficient, but it never seems to happen. The house gets fuller by the month, which seems impossible with the amount of clearing out we do. I suppose we could be developing a lower tolerance for clutter, but I don’t think so… I’m reminded of mom’s struggle to manage the clutter at McBride Crescent. Yet another way I’m turning into my mother? |
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February 11, 2006Went for my weekly run with Pasc. Alicia joined us for the first time as well. I’d discovered that my GMS thing has an autopause feature, which stops the timer if your pace drops below a certain level. I thought it would be just the thing for this morning, where I was anticipating a few walk breaks. It didn’t seem to work for some reason… Maybe I need to set the cut off point really low…A whole weekend with nothing to do, no commitments, appointments or house guests… How delicious… Had afternoon nap, and hung out watching women’s hockey and moguls with Nova. It’s funny how the Olympics make you an instant expert on sports you knew nothing about the day before. Nova was passing criticism on various aerials, and Adam was pointing out minor dips in form. Best of all, Canada won their first gold medal, which pleased Nova no end. |
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February 10, 2006
Went for another run with Adam this morning. Nova had another playdate this afternoon. Went to Brent Cross to buy a black turtleneck and some groceries. I thought about getting some new jeans as all of mine are a bit baggy, but decided to wait until they are really falling off me.
Got home to find a message from dad on the answerphone. I called him back and had a good long chat. We commiserated on the recent Conservative election victory, and I told him about a list I’d seen published in the Guardian of the cheapest presents Bush received from various countries since being elected to office. The list includes:
| Country | Gift |
Value
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| Saudi Arabia | oil painting |
$1,000,000
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| Italy | alabaster sculpture |
$30,000
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| Afghanistan | rug |
$4,000
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| Japan | ceremonial arrows |
$1,000
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| Uzbekistan | traditional Uzbek outfit |
$750
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| England | toilet bag |
$351
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| Poland | paperback book on international terrorism |
$30
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| Lebanon | assortment of dried fruit |
$25
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| Canada | wooden pen holder |
$20
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| Morocco | jar of fish bait |
$3
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Watched some of the opening ceremony from Turin. I imagine it will be a frustrating experience, watching the Winter Olympics in the UK. Endless coverage of lardy Englishmen wiping out at luge, or coming 42nd in the ski jump while Canadian medal winning performances are ignored… I imagine they’ll cover the curling in great detail though, and I’m hoping we’ll kick their asses. Adam was insufferable four years ago when the Brits defeated the Canadian womens’ team…;-)
February 9, 2006
Nova crawled into bed with us at 6am, complaining of a stomach ache. I thought she might have hunger pangs from skipping dinner last night, but within half an hour she’d thrown up into the bedroom sink. She felt a lot better after that, and managed a hearty breakfast. I decided to take her to school anyway…
Went to spinning class and stayed on for the abs class afterward. I need a lot of work in that department… I had just enough time to toss my lunch back before dashing off to the school to pick up Nova for ballet.
I made Nova grilled salmon and rice for dinner. She was keen to use her little chopsticks but can’t seem to get the hang of them. I ended up feeding her like a baby bird. Managed to coax her into a bath afterwards. She’s very averse to washing, but I appealed to her vanity, telling her that it would help her hair grow longer. Her hair did look really lovely after a good wash.
Wolfed down lamb chermoulla and bean salad for dinner, before heading over to Pasc’s to babysit. Adam was hosting his “singles club” tonight, and Pete is part of that. I’d tentatively arranged to hang out with Pasc at her place, but she forgot, accepted a dinner invitation from another friend, and — adding insult to injury — actually asked me to babysit.
Watched quite a lame movie called The Forgotten then snoozed on their couch ’til she got back about 11:30. The guys were still in full flow when I got home, sharing their favourite works of art, poems and songs with each other. Left them to it, stuck my earplugs in, and hit the sack.
February 8, 2006
I worked at home today. Adam was home too, which was nice. I did a half day, to make up for last Thursday. When I logged off, we went for a 5km run round Highgate Woods. It was fun running together — seems like years since we’ve done it…
Adam picked up Nova from Sadie’s at 6pm. They’d fed her shepherd’s pie for supper, which wasn’t a big success. She insisted on adding it to her food explorers chart, with the following review: “I liked the mash, but I didn’t like the meaty sauce. And I didn’t know what to put in ketchup!”
They did the story of Jonah and the whale at assembly today, and Nova was keen to recount it to me. She had all the details straight…
Apparently, God wanted Jonah to go to Ninevah, but he ran away on a boat to Tarshish. There was a terrible storm with enormous waves, Jonah fell over board, and the whale swallowed him. It was very dark and cold in the whale, “with no books, or TV, or food or anything. But don’t worry, mum, he wasn’t dead like Grandma Fern.” After three days, God spoke to the whale, and said, “Don’t gobble a chewy child! Bite someone your own size!” (I think she may have ad libbed a bit there…;-) ) And then whale spit Jonah out.
February 7, 2006
Presented the revised designs to the senior management team this morning, and happily they were well received… It was an intense day, with lots of meetings as usual.
Went out for dinner with Tina at the Coach and Horses. It won best gastropub 2005, but maybe we caught it on an off night, because I didn’t think the food was that great. I had the duck breast with lentils and braised fennel, and didn’t bother with starters or dessert. We spent quite a while talking about what we thought motivated the various members of our team, which was quite interesting.
Arrived home a bit tipsy at 10pm, to find Adam still cooking the fake souffle I’d left and quaffing a very nice bottle of red. I inadvisedly had a glass, and promptly conked out on the couch. To bed about 12:30am…
February 5, 2006
Finally got it together to go for a run on the Heath this morning. I measured my standard Heath run with the gms, which I’ve always thought of as six miles, and discovered that it’s actually 5.6. Such estimates are always going to be a little less — I’m pretty good at estimating my pace, but things like traffic lights and hills and mucky patches are going to slow you down a bit.
Nova had two birthday parties today. First up was Alana’s “cool pizza and pop party and disco.” We were the first to arrive for that one, so I helped Emily set up before leaving Nova. We’d arranged for Sadie’s mum to take her to the second party — Josh’s “Scooby Doo party, featuring BooBoo the Clown”. She returned home buzzing from sugar and hijinks. She was pretty clear that she still wanted dinner, so I put together a plate of cold chicken, carrot sticks and olives for her.
February 4, 2006
Went for my usual run with Pasc. I’m still figuring out how my satellite running thing works, and usually manage to screw something up. I think the main problem is that it’s quite hard to pick up a signal where I start my run on account of all the tall buildings.
Went to Oriental City to see some Chinese New Year’s dragon dancing and pick up a few groceries. Ate lunch in the food hall — the usual” prawns on a stick” for Nova, Vietnamese salad rolls and a Thai green vegetable curry for us.
When we got home, I threw together ginger cake to serve when Doron and Antonia and the kids came round for tea. Oliver not at his best… He mostly refused to talk, making grunting or squealing sounds instead, and managed to break Nova’s new toy (a kind of sparkly light thing) within three minutes. Tea itself was a bit of an ordeal… A memorable low was him stuffing Russian dolls into his mouth then horking them onto the coffee table. We’d poured ourselves a stiff drink before their car was round the corner…
In the evening, we met Dave and Emma in a pub in Camden for a quick drink before going to see the new Johnny Cash movie. I enjoyed it immensely, and thought both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon put in terrific performances. Thinking about it afterwards, there were some definite weaknesses with the script, but it was pure pleasure at the time…
February 3, 2006
Went for it at spinning class this morning, though I didn’t quite feel up to staying on for BodyPump afterwards. Came home and watched Sideways instead. A good film, but I didn’t think it lived up to the amazing reviews it received. It was a bit… slight, maybe…
Josh came round for a playdate after school, which Adam took the lead on supervising. Josh is a rambunctious little boy, in fact I think he may have been diagnosed with one of those disorders like ADHD. Oddly enough, he and Nova have always quite liked each other, and the playdate was a roaring success.
Pasc had agreed to babysit Nova this evening, which I hadn’t mentioned to Nova yet. “Okay,” she said when I told her, and headed off downstairs to pack her little bag. Honestly, she is the best packer. She put together a little toiletries bag, and remembered her slippers in case it got cold. There can’t be many four year olds as good at packing as she is…
We dropped her off with a minimum of fuss and headed off to see the school panto of Aladdin. It was absolutely terrific. Highgate being full of luvvies, there were a number of professional actors involved, and it was produced by the wife of the guy who’s head of the National Theatre. Pete had a good sized part as the villian’s sidekick (So Low Li) and did a great job. Our class seemed particularly well represented — there were about five Orange Class mums in the “Yummy Mummies” dance troupe, whose numbers were choreographed and led by Alana’s mum. (Apparently she was one of Benny Hill’s Angels at one time.)
It was gone 10:30 by the time we got home with Nova. Had a late dinner of leftovers and raspberry cream biscuits. To bed about midnight.
February 2, 2006
Man, is it cold these days… My tube train this morning was like a meat locker. The poles felt like they were filled with liquid nitrogen — they were too cold to hold for long.
I don’t usually work Thursdays, but went in this morning to present the design concepts to the chief exec. He’s quite intimidating, and we didn’t get off to a great start. He objected to a terrific image we’d chosen for the home page of a group of nurses chatting. “What are they doing there?” I explained that nurses are the main audience for the site, and that they were a good choice because they spanned both clinical and public health, but he was having none of it. He suggested putting up an image of some of our staff, which I pointed out was rather inward facing. We agreed that we’d source an intergenerational family group to replace the nurses. He did say that he thought we were doing a great job and that the site looks a hundred times better than the current one…
Ballet today. Afterward, Nova and I picked up a couple of things from the greengrocers, where I bought her a little bouquet of paperwhites for her room. We were in the deli deciding which bread to buy, when she looked up at me and said seriously, “I love you, mom.” A special little moment…
Tonight at dinner, Nova commented, “I don’t like garlic because it’s kind of like a white onion,” which I thought was very perceptive of her.
February 1, 2006
I woke up in a bad mood from yesterday’s fight, and did all the getting Nova ready stuff while Adam mooched around not quite sure where to put himself. He suggested travelling in on the tube together, but I was pretty sure that we’d just end up sniping at each other.
When I arrived at work to find Tina sitting in the desk I’d booked, it took great restraint not to rip her head off. We spent a lot of the day in meetings, although I had to bow out of a couple in order to shepherd the design concepts along. They are at that stage where there are a few little changes to make, and it was easiest to handhold the designers through them rather than have endless rounds of back and forth.
Picked up Nova from Evelyn’s on the way home. She’d been unsure about this playdate (Evelyn has been quite mean to her lately) and made me promise to pick her up early. Of course they were having a great time, and I had to tear her away.
Adam was out at an Arsenal match with Dave this evening, so I had a quiet dinner and evening with the Law and Order team. Shock, horror… in the first five minutes of the episode Lieutenant Greevey was shot and killed rather abruptly… I couldn’t believe it… You never actually got a look at him in this episode, as it all happened outside on a rainy night, so I wonder if George Dzundza died unexpectedly or something, and they had to work it into the script? (Easily resolved with an Internet search… <<Well, the Dead or Alive? website has him listed as alive.>>
Anyway, they’ve brought in Paul Sorvino to replace him, who’s a fabulous actor, so I’m sure it’ll be “George who?” in a couple of episodes, the way it was in ER when they replaced George Clooney with that gorgeous Croatian guy…;-)
