May 2011

May 31, 2011

Took the girls to their tennis lesson after breakfast. We’ve signed them up for the initial two days — if they really enjoy themselves, we can always add more. Carried on into Crouch End to shop for bathrooms. We want to install some bathroom furniture this time — enclosed toilet, cabinet under the sink etc — for a more modern look. Ended up going with some oak stuff we found at The Bath Store. Also bought two toilets, a sink, bathtub, tub panel, shower, glass wall, and mixer tap. As you do…There’s a nasty food scare out of Germany at the moment. Dozens of people sick and dying of e. coli, which they currently suspect is linked to cucumbers. Even though ours come from East Anglia, felt a twinge of anxiety buying them. My girls eat so much cucumber…

Our IKEA kitchen was delivered this afternoon. It was meant to come by 5pm, when the builders were there to receive it, but they were late. Poor Adam had to race down to meet them, and shlep the boxes in himself…

Had my friend Joyce round for dinner. Since we finished our course last year, she has left the church where she was minister and returned to social work. Funny how many of us have made significant changes to our lives after completing that course.

Kept things simple on the food front: tilapia fillets with green beans, new potatoes and salsa verde; strawberries and lemon ice cream for dessert…

May 30, 2011

Received an enormous parcel a couple of days ago from my cousin Terry in Kelowna. It contained two landscape paintings by grandma Ivy, carefully bubblewrapped and enclosed in packing pellets. Terry’s mum was Fern’s cousin Pat. Since her death in 2009, Terry has downsized and is trying to clear out possessions. He didn’t want to take the paintings to the Goodwill, and was happy to find a home for them.I’ve hung one over our chest of drawers, displacing a pastel sketch of a woman doing her toilette. “Why do you have that picture of a woman doing a poop on your wall?” Lyra asked this morning. I’d never thought that before, but I can see what she means…

Lyra has submitted some drawings to the Nick Jr channel, in the hope of having them featured on Wake Up World. Personally I don’t fancy her chances, but she’s been optimistically tuning in since the day she posted the envelope…

A real house day — haven’t had one of those for a while. I realised we haven’t had a family dinner for a while either, as we sat down to our meal of chicken drumsticks and rice. So nice to be sitting round the table with our two lovely girls.

Gave Lyra a massage after her bath, the way I used to when she was a baby. Still using the same bottle of massage oil I bought when I did the baby massage course with Nova…

May 29, 2011

Morning came too soon… “Too tired to talk,” I mouthed to Adam when the alarm went off at 7:30. I haven’t slept that well on this bed — the pillow is no good, and the pillow is what anchors you to the bed. Also, the temperature of the room is not right, or the weight/dimensions of the bedding are wrong somehow. Curious, as it all feels perfectly comfortable when you first lie on it…After coffee at the local cafe, we caught the metro to Gare du Nord. Our train journey was eventless, which is generally the best way for travel to be. We didn’t enjoy the comfort of our upgraded journey out, but it was pleasant enough.

Took a taxi home, arriving just as Freddy and Beulah pulled up with the girls. There was just time to wrap a birthday gift before we headed to the Nolans for Rory’s 7th birthday lunch. It was looking like a family affair — grandparents, aunt, uncle, two little cousins and us — until Christian Bale arrived with his wife and six-year-old daughter.

Felt a bit strange talking to him at first, but he turned out to be a really bright and funny guy. More politically engaged than I would have guessed as well. He always seems to play such strange, tortured characters, and I think I expected he’d be closer to that in person.

Spent a very nice afternoon in their garden — drinking champagne and eating homemade lasagne, moussaka and salad, followed by pass-the-parcel, birthday cake and ice cream floats. Lyra was very taken by the Bale girl, who had involved her in some complex rock collecting game. Home about dinner time…

May 28, 2011

What a delicious treat to wake up slowly, to lie in comfortable quiet in bed, gathering your thoughts before having to engage with anyone… That said, it’s pretty lovely to start the day with a cuddle from your four-year-old daughter as well…Passed on the hotel breakfast, opting for a coffee and croissant at the local cafe instead. Chez Prosper is set back from the Nation roundabout with a great view of the columns. Adam and I stayed with friends in this area years ago, and there was a nice feeling of familiarity to be here again.

Started our day at the Musée d’Orsay, where we joined the hordes viewing the Manet exhibition. Actually, it wasn’t just that the exhibition was crowded — the design of the exhibition was a a problem as well. There was no obvious flow around or between the rooms — people just milled about getting in each other’s way.

Ate lunch at a cafe called La Jacobine, off the Rue St André des Arts. Omelette and a glass of wine x2. We opted to talk only french throughout the meal — funny how it changes my personality, even with Adam. The reduced ability to express myself verbally makes me behave in a more ingratiating and comic manner.

We’ve both noticed when traveling in France that our relative familiarity with French (compared to other languages) results in a lot less stress and potential misunderstanding. For example, when a taxi driver refused to accept our fare on our last visit, we understand his explanation of why (he could only carry three passengers), instead of assuming we were being discriminated against because we were tourists.

Walked to Pont Neuf and sat on the pavement with the other flaneurs watching the boats pass by. Carried on to rue Montorgueil, browsing as we went. Picked up a great pair of orange pumps in rue St Denis. (A few weeks back, I saw a woman on the tube wearing a summery blue dress and a pair of orange espadrilles. I loved the look, and have been keeping an eye out for blue dresses and orange shoes ever since. Half way there…)

We were knackered by the time we got back to the hotel. Had an hours’ downtime then headed off for dinner. We had a table reserved at Bistro Paul Bert at 10pm, but as it wasn’t ready, we started with a kir at the bar. The food was as good as billed, and the portions very large, especially at that time of night. I would have loved another encounter with the cheeseboard but not after my enormous serving of pork shoulder, and not at 11:30 at night. Had some blackcurrant sorbet instead, before walking home…

May 27, 2011

With Adam’s (very firm) encouragement, I actually managed to go for a run this morning before we headed off to Paris. That should help counterbalance all the fine food and wine I’ll be consuming in the next couple of days…;-)Adam headed off to Finchley with the girls at 7:30am, and I did the final preparations before departure. We didn’t have much luggage, so it made sense to take the tube. Arrived smoothly at Kings Cross, and checked in without incident.

It was strange not having to establish a base camp for all our luggage and kids, then start doling out the sandwiches, water, magazines, colouring pens, making trips to the loo, retrieving dropped toys, settling disputes, mopping up spilled drinks etc. It was all very calm… and quiet.

Turns out we were upgraded on the train. The first clue was the greeter standing at the door to the carriage, giving directions to individual seats. The next was his invitation to choose a magazine. I was expecting a pile of their company rag, but instead there was a glossy wall with a dozen titles to choose from. Served us a very nice breakfast as well…

Caught the metro to our hotel in Nation. It’s not the heart of Paris, but it’s an area we know and like, and the hotel was lovely. We were on the top floor in a long, narrow room with big louvred windows looking east over the city.

After a bit of a relax and a glass of wine, we set off on foot for the Marais. Exploring a city on foot is what I love to do, and it’s much easier without little lets to consider. Mooched around the Marais, looking at clothes. Adam bought a couple of great shirts, I bought some cheap sunglasses and a chic straw hat.

Headed up to Oberkampf to Astier, the bistro we’d booked for dinner. We went for the prix fixe menu, which included both a cheese course AND dessert. And even better, they brought the cheese board to you and left it there, so you could take as much as you wanted…

Either the cheese or our bottle of burgundy must have turned our heads, because we came out of the restaurant and turned the wrong way up Boulevard Voltaire. The sun was setting, the water of the canal glowing red, and groups of revellers had gathered to drink along its banks. I thought the setting looked strangely familiar until it suddenly dawned on us that we were heading into La Villette, setting for the gruesome French crime drama, Spiral, we’ve been watching these last weeks. Half expected to see Niko skulking along, or Gilou roughing up a pimp.

Turned ourselves around and made the long trek south — pretty dark and late by the time we got back to the room, but there are plenty of things worse than wandering the streets of Paris of a Friday evening…;-)

May 26, 2011

Started the morning with some tile shopping — kitchen floor tiles, splashback tiles, shower tiles. Before we bought the flat, I never gave tiles a thought — now I’m constantly noticing them. The different sizes, finishes, whether they are stacked or bricked. Pretty satisfied with what we ordered — they should look good.Brought Lyra’s friend Greta home for lunch and a playdate. It was raining at school pick-up, and it was funny how many people were shocked and affronted. It’s been so dry lately, I think they forgot they lived in Britain.

After delivering and picking up the girls from drama, I walked Greta home. Just time for a peek at their new baby and a quick cup of tea before it was time to go get Nova. Ended up leaving Lyra for even more Greta fun…

Nova had Daniella in tow today — a really nice classmate she’s been spending more time with lately. They retreated straight into her room for a Sylvanian session, emerging only for feeding. That’s what playdates should be like…;-)

It gave me a chance to finally get started on my packing. Adam has arranged for us to have a weekend in Paris. His parents are taking the girls, and we are taking the train tomorrow morning for a two-night adventure!

While it’s more straightforward than getting ready for a big family holiday, there is still plenty to organise. As well as our stuff, the girls both need bags packed, things to do at their grandparents, ballet bags for their class tomorrow etc.

I had a number of piles started for various things, and had tucked a little pack of toffees into the girls’ stuff for a surprise. While I was doing Lyra’s bedtime, Nova went through hers and discovered them. “Who are these toffees for?” she burst in to ask. I’m afraid I snapped at her and childishly said they were meant to be a surprise, so now her surprise could be not getting any toffees in her suitcase. Exit Nova in a flood of tears…

Once Lyra was settled, I went to find Nova to apologise. She was in the living room drawing, and silently handed me a note:

You overreacted. I was only trying to help. I didn’t know I was doing anything wrong.

Your not-as-affectionate-daughter,

Nova

PS: Can I have the toffees back?
PPS: Why is Frank here?

Frank was there because we were going out for dinner at Trullo with Will and Sara. Caught the bus down to Highbury and walked two minutes round the corner. Started our meal with an interesting cocktail — a bitters-soaked sugar cube dropped into a glass of prosecco. I had the gnocchi pomodoro and the veal shin, both of which were lovely. The caramel pannacotta was delicious too. Another great meal…

May 25, 2011

I didn’t remember until this morning that I didn’t drink any coffee yesterday. I’m sure that’s what all that exhaustion was about, but I’m surprised foregoing my two cups a day has such a dramatic effect. It’s an addiction like any other, I guess…Had a quick coffee with Birgit in the village, then went for a run with Adam on the Heath. Just like old times… Did a route that had us slogging up the private road, which is always brutal. No escape from running hills around here. For motivation, I tell myself that hills are hard whether you walk or run them, and running gets them over faster…

There’s a sign up at the school about a bike stolen on Monday morning, at the exact time I was talking to that little creep on the path. I now think he was riding past the school, saw a nice bike he could nick, roared over to our street to dump his bike, then hottailed it back to the school. So I actually saw him before he’d done anything wrong…

Spent a few hours at IKEA speccing out the kitchen for the flat: cupboards, worktop, sink, six major appliances. Tiring stuff, but fun too. Also picked up several bags of polar bread from the food section — the girls love that stuff.

Had Nova’s friend Mia back for a playdate this afternoon. I gave Nova the task of organising her own playdates recently. It’s taken her a while to get going but she’s certainly got the hang of it now…;-)

Zoe came round for a babysitting/sleepover and we headed to Camden to see the Mountain Goats at Koko. Excellent venue, excellent band, excellent spot to watch them from. Only fly in the ointment was the beer — “What is this lousy beer?” I asked. Turned out to be Red Stripe, and tepid Red Stripe at that…

May 24, 2011

Adam headed off early this morning, and was in too much of a rush to make our usual pot of coffee. I thought about making some, but it seemed wasteful to brew a pot for one person. I thought I might have a coffee with one of the mums, but I didn’t see anyone. So I went without…At lunchtime I went up to the school to pick up Lyra and her classmate Bels, who came back with us for a playdate. She seems a nice little thing, and confident enough not to be bossed by Lyra without it causing conflict. They dressed up, did hama beads, drew pictures, did some ballet…

By the time I handed her back to her mum, I was exhausted. There is something about other people’s kids that can be very tiring. I always have Evelyn after school on Tuesdays, and it was all I could do to generate the energy to do their ballet buns and send them off to class.

Had a brief doze, then roused myself to make cod and moroccan roast veggies for dinner. (Nova was most skeptical of vegetables seasoned with cinnamon…) Adam headed off to football, and I was half asleep by the time he got back at 9pm…

May 23, 2011

Heading out this morning, I saw a young guy come screaming down the path on a bike and roar round the corner. A minute later he was back, and looking like he might cycle up the path again. When I turned to see if he was still behind me, he’d hopped off and was chaining the bike to our rail. Noticing my interest, he said, “Don’t worry! I’m only locking it for five minutes so I can go to a meeting.”If I wasn’t suspicious before, I was now. This kid was in manky trackpants, and had a really shifty look about him. He jogged past me up the path and ran along the road, turning into the side street. When I returned from my run with Trish, the bike was still there. “I wonder if he stole it?” I thought to myself. I even checked that it was locked properly (it was).

Did some image work for Adam in the morning, then took Lyra to Waterlow Park to feed the ducks. She’s a surprisingly good little duck feeder, and parcels out her bread sparingly, spreading it about to ensure everyone gets their share.

Made Japanese curry for Adam and I, with a simple egg-soybean-rice for Lyra. Also made little filo cups from my leftover sheets, and filled them with ice cream and strawberries. Dead easy and very nice — would maybe sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar as well as buttering them next time…

Lyra has given me a little wooden heart she came by somehow, and told me to keep it by my bed so I can “think of Grandma Fern.” Her actual words were: “This heart was wished by goblins and bears a long time ago, and now it is wished by humans, so you can use it to think things about Grandma Fern.” Lovely thought…

May 22, 2011

Managed to get the last of garden in today — that’s it for new planting now, aside from filling in gaps in the lettuces and so on…Our builders Mario and Arthur came round for a meeting to discuss the work spec for the new flat and give us a quote. It was pretty late by the time I got lunch on the table — scrambled eggs and bacon.

Dinner was late too — spaghetti and meatballs. No one could remember who’d requested I made it, but we all enjoyed it. Reminded me of the song “On Top of Spaghetti”, which the girls found hilariously funny:

On Top of Spaghetti (sung to the tune of On Top of Old Smokey)
On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese
I lost my poor meatball ‘cos somebody sneezed.
It rolled off the table, and onto the floor.
And then my poor meatball, rolled straight out the door.
It rolled in the garden,and under a bush,
And then my poor meatball was nothing but mush.
The mush was as tasty as tasty could be,
And then the next summer, it grew into a tree.
The tree was all covered, all covered with moss,
And on it grew meatballs and tomato sauce.
If you like spaghetti, all covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatballs, and don’t ever sneeze.

Actually, I’m not sure of the logic at the end. If you like spaghetti all covered with cheese, why not sneeze lots of meatballs out the door and start a spaghetti orchard?…;-)

May 21, 2011

Adam claims he heard some thumps and scrambling overhead in the night, but there was no evidence this morning that the mouse had been consumed. Cleo generally leaves the gallbladder, which looks like a dark green lima bean. It’s the only bit she doesn’t eat.Totally cleaned out the pantry cupboard, removing all evidence of mouse, so we’ll know if it’s still about. I spent two hours disinfecting, throwing away nibbled food and sweeping up mouse droppings… Nice…

Drove Nova to her pottery class, the dropped Lyra at Charlotte’s birthday party, before heading to the garden centre. Some of the seeds I tried to germinate failed this year — they were too old I think. It feels too late to start more, so I just bought what they had growing. As a result, this year we are now planting: celeriac, parsnips, red onions and January cabbage…

Also bought a rose to put in the side bed where I’ve cleared a space. When we first came to this house, the whole side garden was a row of rose bushes but over the years they’ve been choked by some lower lying stuff. Not even sure what it is, but there’s too much of it. Spent the afternoon in the garden, planting and weeding. Endless work but satisfying too…

Went out to see Mercury Rev play their Deserter’s Songs album at the Roundhouse. Shared a hamburger on the rooftop terrace before going in. Adam’s friend Adrian — who’s creative director at Jackson’s Lane — was there with his girlfriend, so we stood with them. She’s very short, and for them it made the most sense to stand at the back of the crowd. I always like to be in the thick of things, so I split off for a while and made my way up the side until I was only two back from the front of the stage. Much better, in my opinion… I could now properly enjoy the lead singer’s energy and charisma (in spite of his weird, pointy elf ears…)

May 20, 2011

Attended Nova’s assembly this morning. The theme was recycling, and it opened with a very funny sequence of Nova and some classmates sashaying back and forth across the stage to Roy Orbison’s Pretty Woman, tossing rubbish with abandon.Went for a run with Lynn afterwards then for a coffee. Told her about our mouse problem — the little bastard has moved into the pantry. When I said I was thinking of getting a trap, Lynn said, “Make your cat do her bloody job. Don’t feed her this evening and then close her in the kitchen.” Think I’ll try it…

Make your own pizza for dinner, then settled down en famille to watch National Velvet. Again, I saw it as a girl but didn’t make a lick of sense to me. I had no idea what the Grand National was. Very good movie — Elizabeth Taylor is lovely, and her mum is a great character with killer lines…

May 19, 2011

Spent the morning at our new flat. The previous owner has “gifted” us all his shitty furniture — we’ll need to arrange to haul that away before any work can start. Also the gas and electric meters need changing. Adam got onto British Gas yesterday and arranged the appointments.When the guy came must have lightly grazed the door with his knuckles before scarpering. There were two of us inside — the plumber was able to start this morning– and neither of us heard a thing. The mobile number he left on his “sorry I missed you” card didn’t work, so had to go through the whole booking process again…

Met Michaela at Ottolenghi on Upper Street for lunch. Had a delicious salad plate and caught up on all their news. Had time for a quick bit of shopping afterwards. I am on the hunt for a dress like I saw a woman wearing on the tube the other day. It was a medium blue with just a hint of green, jersey knit, comfortable looking. She’d paired it with orange espadrilles, and I thought she looked wonderful.

I often shop like that. I get an idea in my head of something I want, and sent off on a generally fruitless search for it. My last quest was for a black bodystocking with sheer sleeves that I wanted to wear with something at Christmas. There should be a website called wheresmydress.com to help people find those elusive items of clothing. Maybe there is…

Caught the bus home in time to pick up Nova, fed the family, then headed back to Upper Street to meet Jane at the Almeida Theatre. She’d got us tickets for the Edward Albee play, A Delicate Balance with Tim Piggott-Smith (our neighbour) and Imelda Staunton. Excellent stuff…

May 18, 2011

Another good night’s sleep, both of which have come after nights with no alcohol. Cooincidence? I don’t think so… Of course, we tend to go to bed earlier when we don’t have a drink, so it’s not straightforward cause-and-effect. I’ve definitely noticed though, that when I have a couple of drinks I’m more likely to wake up in the night.Had a coffee with Birgit after drop-off — part of my new lady of leisure routine. Interesting conversation about schools. A lot of people around here who would have sent their kids to private school as a matter of course, are rethinking that in the current economy. Actually, Birgit and Kiran took the other common route in these parts — moving to Muswell Hill, paying over the odds to buy/rent an house in the Fortismere catchment, then possibly moving again once their child has a place. Worked for them, especially as the sibling policy means their second child automatically gets a place as well…

We took possession of our new flat in Archway today. Adam headed off at lunch to collect the keys. We plan to spend a couple of months doing it up, then put in on the rental market in the hope that the rent will go some way towards replacing my salary, until I start working again.

Zoe came over after school to babysit and spend the night. Met Adam in town to see Terry Gilliam’s production of The Damnation of Faust. I thought it was amazing — he’s recast it as the story of the rise and fall of the Third Reich in Germany, with Marguerite as a Jewish woman. Visually it was great, with wonderful juxtaposition of film clips into the staging. Quick dinner at Dishoom and home by midnight…

May 17, 2011

Had a picnic with Veronika and her girls in Highgate Wood after pickup. The weather was looking iffy, but we decided to stick with the plan and were rewarded with glimpses of the sun from time to time.Lay on a blanket talking while the kids played on the field, then relocated to a playground and resumed our conversation while the girls climbed and swung and dug. There a worse ways to spend an afternoon…

For dinner I made Thai salmon parcels, a Delia recipe that involved basting salmon in a paste then wrapping it in filo and baking it. Sort of a classy spring roll. Nova liked it though she found the Thai seasonings a bit strong. I did a plain one for Lyra who assured me she LIKES salmon now, but it turns out she doesn’t like salmon IN things (like her mouth or her tummy)…;-)

May 16, 2011

Went for a run with Trish this morning. It can be good running with other people, especially when it makes you do more than you would have…Spent most of the day working for Adam, editing a report on ethical finance. Lyra’s playdate at Lotties made it possible. <ac & cheese with a green salad for dinner…

May 15, 2011

When I was in elementary school, there was a girl called Corinne Black in my class. She was a strange little thing with a head of frizzy auburn curls and a face full of freckles. She lived in a tiny brick shoebox of a house right next to the school. Anyway, she would sometimes bring a packet of cake mix to school for her lunch. She’d just rip off the corner and pour the powder into her mouth. I don’t remember any fuss being made about it, but I don’t suppose I would have known if there was. I do remember that we’d all pester her for handfuls…Made Welsh cakes for breakfast at Nova’s request, the spent the morning gardening. Huevos for lunch, then over to the school to work the BBQ at ‘Footie Fun Day’ from 3 to 4. Nova would rather walk across broken glass than participate in such an event, but she found ways to amuse herself.

Demand was outstripping supply by the time I arrived… Birgit was very cool under pressure, and dispatched one daughter to defrost frozen meat in the Science room microwave, and another to the garage shop to buy loaves of bread when the buns ran out…

May 14, 2011

Nova took the bus to pottery by herself this morning (though Adam did pop in to check that she’d made it safely). Picked her up with Pete and Pasc, then drove in convoy to Great Missenden for a bluebell walk. The weather forecast wasn’t promising — there was talk of torrential downpours — but we got lucky.It was somewhat more leisurely than our usual walks. I think we take a more scoutmasterish approach than Pete and Pasc — “C’mon, children! One more mile and we’ll stop for a handful of raisins!” They took a lunch break ten minutes after we set off, and also stopped so Pete could have a little catnap part way round. The walk was lovely, even if bluebells were past their best. I’ve heard it hasn’t been a good year for bluebells — too hot and dry apparently.

Arrived at Jane and Steve’s about 5pm. Paul and Alicia were already there, plus another couple we hadn’t met. That made nine for the children’s sitting, and twelve for the grown-up meal. We’d arranged for each couple to do a different course. I was on dessert. I’d made a couple of sponge cakes yesterday, which I split and filled with sliced strawberries and cream. Simple but effective…

Once the kids were fed, there was just time for a quick swim before we sat down. Masses of food — roast chickens, bean stew, multiple salads, my cakes, an apricot flan, and a big plate of cheese. It was like Christmas dinner, and I ended up completely stuffed.

We’d debated whether to stay the night, and decided against, but it turned out that Fay had arranged to stay without her parents, so of course Nova wanted to as well. I was agreeable to the idea, but when I came upstairs to check on them I found all the kids sprawled out together watching the Scooby Doo movie, while Nova sat across the room with her back to them reading a book. I thought she might as well come home with us… In at 11pm, and put the girls straight to bed before we made the mistake of “just watching a bit of telly”…

May 13, 2011

Had a very nice morning with Adam — coffee in the village, a bit of domestic shopping, some socialising with other school parents. Sort of what I was hoping being at home might be like…Picked up Lyra at 11:45 and returned home with Alice and Christine for a little lunch and play before ballet. Went to the library so Lyra could choose a dvd. She picked the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. What a great film. I must have seen it as a child because the Oompa Loompa song was instantly familiar, but I didn’t remember anything else about it. Gene Wilder plays Willy Wonka with a genuine sadness behind the silliness and comedy that was heart twisting…

May 12, 2011

After breakfast with Tina, we caught the tube to Victoria for coffee with Lou, our old boss. Her organisation is just starting a major restructuring as well. It’s everywhere at the moment…Swung by Marlebone High Street on the way home to spend the Divertimenti coupons I got as a leaving gift from work. Ended up buying some high-end baking sheets, a jelly roll pan, and a meat grinder.

Got back to Highgate in time to pick up Lyra from drama and bring her home. Unfortunately I completely forgot to pick up Nova. She very sensibly got a friend’s mum to call and check what was going on. She also used the time to arrange an impromptu playdate with Sarah — felt too guilty to say no, even though it meant driving Sarah home afterwards at Lyra’s bathtime…

May 11, 2011

Busy day — actually they’ve all seemed pretty busy since I left my job. It leaves me wondering how I ever found time to work…;-)After dropping the girls at school, we headed up to Edgware to see Adam’s account Terry. I’ve decided to register as self-employed rather than going on the dole. That way I can do bits of Adam’s work (and invoice him for it), or pick up contract work elsewhere. Terry is all for it, as it will help reduce Adam’s taxes. He also suggested we arrange to do a bit of work when we’re in Canada this summer, which would defray the cost of our trip. Food for thought…

Cajoled Lyra into accompanying me to Waitrose in the afternoon. I’ve noticed that they put different items on sale for midweek shoppers than they do for the weekenders. Interesting…

Flew into cooking mode when I got home, as I had Tina coming for dinner. Made a sortof bibimbap with marinated beef and asparagus, plus lemon custard pots for dessert. The girls were very hyped at seeing Tina and it was an achievement to get them into bed, especially with Adam out.

We were just settling down for a well deserved drink and chat when Cleo came jangling upstairs with a mouse dangling from her jaws. I pounced on Cleo, who dropped her prey. The mouse — miraculously unharmed — scurried behind the bookcase. Tina and I spent the next hour trying to catch the damn thing. The little sucker was lightning fast, and we’d lose track of it, in spite of moving every piece of furniture.

Had to reintroduce the cat, who instantly located it cowering behind some books. “How do you usually catch mice?” Tina asked. Not with my bare hands obviously, as we were attempting to do. Actually, I’m not that clear on how Adam deals with Cleo’s livelier “guests” — I’m generally cowering with my head under the duvet…

Nova was woken by the kerfuffle, and came upstairs to “help”.I eventually called Adam, and asked him to come home. He didn’t have any luck either. I hope the damn thing made a discreet exit when the opportunity presented itself (though it’s more likely to move into the pantry)…

May 10, 2011

My sourdough bread turned out really nicely — not as sour as it’ll get if I keep using the starter, but similar enough to dad’s that it brings back good memories… Here’s a photo:

I’ve had a running joke with Lyra for the last few months about her Christmas list for next year. Around the beginning of January, she announced that she wanted 26 presents from Santa next year and that I should write him a letter straightaway. After that, whenever she saw a new toy advertised on the telly she’d say, “Write Santa that I want a gold coin maker please!” or whatever the piece of toot was.

“What about those 26 pheasants I already wrote to him about?” I said. “What’s a pheasant?” Lyra asked. I told her it was a large, mean bird that likes to kick people. “Not pheasants!!” she cried, “I wanted 26 presents!” “Oh, no! I told him you wanted 26 pheasants!” I said. Haven’t got around to correcting the mistake yet, much to Lyra’s concern. I don’t think she entirely believes she’s getting 26 pheasants for Christmas, but she is a little worried…

May 9, 2011

I’d planned to go for a run with Trish, but she’s got a rotten cold. Went by myself, the swung by afterwards for a coffee…Picked up Lottie from school with Lyra and brought her home for a playdate. What a character — she cheerfully conveyed all manner of personal details about her mother’s tattoos, boyfriends, and parent’s arguments (no surprise with all those boyfriends!) A most informative lunch hour…

They play really nicely together — four hours with absolutely no trouble. Headed back to school to hand her over to her nanny and return home with Etta, who was at loose ends because her mom had a meeting out of town. Shame Nova wasn’t around to keep her company…

Made the runner bean chicken salad again — it’s a very nice recipe, and could easily become a family staple…

May 8, 2011

Lazy day… I’m not hungover, just very tired, like I borrowed in advance from today’s supply of energy. Nova had her book group, which involved packing a little case of what she would take if she was evacuated from London and separated from her family. The mum organising went to a fair bit of trouble to make it fun for the girls. After they discussed the book, an authentic wartime lunch was served (with pizza as back-up for the fussier eaters).Speaking of pizza, we ended up ordering on for our dinner, as I didn’t get organised to cook anything. Rallied a bit afterwards, and gave the girls a bath and a nitcomb, put laundry on, and made a sourdough sponge from my vigorously bubbling starter.

At bedtime, Nova did a funny take on Frank’s babysitting technique. “So, you leave and say, ‘Frank, Nova should go to bed about 8:30.’ At about 9pm, I say to Frank, ‘Well, I guess I’ll go to bed now.’ ‘Hmmp,’ Frank says, barely looking up from his homework. And then I go downstairs, put on my pyjamas, brush my teeth and put myself to bed.” That’s why we pay him the big bucks, I told her, and why she should take up babysitting as soon as she’s old enough…;-)

May 7, 2011

Got our car back today, looking better than ever. It was definitely good luck that we were smashed into by such an honest person…Ran into Trish on my run, and ended up spending as much time yakking as running. Had to be back for the girls’ Saturday activities. I did Lyra’s swimming lesson, while Adam took Nova to pottery.

Had a little altercation with another mum in the changing room over who went through the door first. She tried to shove ahead of me, and when I didn’t let her, she said obnoxiously, “Do you MIND?” as if I was the person acting like a rude cow. Unfortunately, a witty comeback didn’t occur to me — just shook my head in disbelief at her behaviour…

Made the girls a “toad in the hole” for dinner, that turned out more like “toad on lily pad”. Definitely not enough batter for the size of frypan. Frank came round to babysit so we could go for dinner at the Porters. Four couples from Nova’s class: John and Wendy, Duncan and Lynn and Becky and Edmund. Edmund was in fine form, squeezing my thigh under the table the whole evening. I think he was giving Wendy the same treatment on the other side…

Home at 1:30, we attempted to watch the final episode of Spiral on iPlayer but only lasted ten minutes…