Rest

After going to bed at about 3, up again at 8:30 with the baby.  So had a lazy day of watching DVDs (How to Train your Dragon, The Big Bang Theory), eating and a little clearing up.

Popped out to the farmers market for some interesting cheese, and ran into Norris who had dutifully gone for a swim, and also Andrew and Sarah who were in search of brunch.  Gives you a warm feeling to run into friendly faces while wandering round our neighbourhood.

Waaa-Haa-Haaaaa!

A lazy morning of lying in and setting the house up for Halloween.

After bacon sandwiches (yum!), played Pandemic and Ticket to Ride Europe with Kirsten and Ruth, who decided to join us for the weekend.  Kirsten had done some epic baking, including marshmallow ghost cakes and pumpkin biscuits.

Andrew, Sarah and Alex joined us a little later for pizza, and it was v quiet until about 9 when Greg, Kate, Roger, Erika, Dan, Liam and Norris all arrived.  Was a little odd to learn about Sir Jimmy Saville's death by Dan coming to the door in a dead Jimmy Saville costume (body bag, grey wig, fake cigar and silver foil jewellery).

And after a few hours of chatting, drinking and fun, we started a pretty large game of werewolf.  We made it through 2 games, both of which were close and hard fought.  I don't think I had drunk enough to carry off being a werewolf in the second game, but Dan held the fort well.  Biggest learning?  That Norris and I can see through each other pretty well.

Penny was a delight all evening, going down for a couple of hours of sleep, but being very amenable (if a little scared of zombie Liam) at all other times.

The Help ... and a Missing Floor

Went to the Big Scream at the Ritzy with Fishy as it was his flexiday, to watch 'The Help'.  An excellent film which transports you to 1960's Mississippi and cultural tensions between black maids and their scheming employers.  Filled with humour, tension, sadness and joy, it was a beautifully told story and I would recommend it to anybody.

Had a late lunch in Brixton Village with the NCT crowd, including Charlie and Phil.

Then home to discover that UPS had messed up delivering the last bit of our floor.  Charlie tried in vain to pick it up from Kentish Town, but they also managed to mess up the admin so he couldn't take it with him.  So we instead set up the lounge to hide the remaining small section that still needed finishing.

A quick peek into work

Took Penny into work again, she was an angel, grinning at everybody and being adorable.

Caught up with my old boss Mark for a cup of tea before going to lunch with Rich and his super-adorable 5 year old twin boys at Strada on St Katherine's dock ... "We are 5!"

Then late to meet Erika at Peter Jones on Kings Road for a wander and a chat.  PJ looks v Christmassy, I must make some mulled wine at the weekend :)

Books Books Books!

Chucking it down with rain, but I swore I would get out of the house rather than be consigned to the bedroom all day by lounge floor revival.

Met with Claire and Leo at Brockwell Lido Cafe, much less busy now summer has gone ... a silver lining to the onset of autumn/winter.  Then we got a bus to Piccadilly to visit Waterstones.  I intended for us then to go to the V&A to see the 50 years of Private Eye exhibition, but figured that could wait as we were enjoying the bookshop so much!

Books definitely do have an energy, and it has been a while since I have hung out in a bookshop.  The kids section was fab too, deciding between all the 'That's not my ...' books:

That's not my ... tiger, bear, angel, fairy, pirate, santa, snowman, reindeer, truck, robot, kitty, puppy, elephant, dinosaur, monster, rabbit, lion ...

[We decided on 'That's not my bear', good choice!  Though I do really want to get 'That's not my pirate' for several people I know :)   ]

Then had a lovely dinner at Little Sicily with Theresa, Erika and Gilly.  P was v good in the restaurant, and we left them to go out to their cabaret night to jump on the no 3 bus home.

Wriggle and Bed

Felt much better, after a day of recuperation on Mon.  Joined Jo and Hermione at Wriggle and Rhyme at the library which was v quiet due to half term.  Then to Tesco for a big shop, a little tiring as I was still short on energy.

The lounge floor was being started, as we had spent Mon evening clearing the lounge and wedging the sofa in the doorway of the spare room once it became clear it wouldn't be shoved through it.

So we spent Tues evening consigned to the bedroom, sitting with Penny, watching Life of Brian (very much enjoyed Holy Flying Circus) and trying to ignore the lounge clutter surrounding us.

Sick!

Up a couple of times in the night with P, and felt not quite right, only to find in the morning that my dinner was going right through me.  But we decided to go to Bettie-Lou's Christening anyway, and so pleased we did.  Babies were v jolly, and the after event was held in a beautiful barn.

Felt a bit better as the day went on, only to decline again on the journey home.  So grabbed a couple of hours sleep before popping round for dinner at Andrew's with Mum, Dad and Alex (though I didn't eat)..

C took care of P as I went to bed early.

A Walk in the Woods

Set off from Brixton Station with Greg and Kate, picking up Alex at Herne Hill on the way, to go to Otford for a day of walking.  Submerged ourselves in the lush green trees and general Kentish countryside cleanness, with P being carried along in a rucksack kindly lent to us by Elle and Matt.  Stopped in the Fox & Hounds pub for a well earned break in the middle.

Home at sunset, for an evening of Chinese Food and Pandemic, which we won with 4 players on Easy, Medium and Hard ... hooray!

A Sojourn to Chich

P was v good on the train journey with Mum and Dad down to Chichester to see Matthew.  We managed to get on the early train, so had a little time to jump into some charity shops before a very nice lunch at the Nags Head.  Great to see Matty, who was on good form, and also gave us a 6 month birthday present for Penny ... a big collage of Penny's first 6 months ... so sweet!

Back home for a cup of tea, then an early night as both C and I are a little run down ... phew!

Wriggle and Rhyme and Growl!

Another great Wriggle and Rhyme session with Jo and Hermione at Brixton Library.  It is always so much fun, hilarious that I get so into it (e.g. growling when asked what noise a dragon makes).

After a cup of tea, went home to chill out.  It seemed like we were going to have a ridiculously busy week, but our lounge floor renovations are now postponed to next week, so emptying the lounge and the surrounding chaos can wait a while.

So managed to get a heap of stuff up for sale on Ebay, and had a lovely evening with Mum and Dad as Charlie was out for dinner and a magic show with James F.

Save the World!

Charlie and I spent the afternoon in the Trinity Arms' sunny revamped beer garden playing Pandemic, managing to win on Normal, lose on Hard, and then WIN ON HARD!!!  It is possible ... hooray!

Mr Pucket popped round in the evening to pick up his Pucket demo games and had a quick beer and game of Go with Charlie, seems he is also part of a Brixton based group of board game enthusiasts.

Then we guzzled a delicious roast dinner and the chocolate shortbreads I had made, before C got started on the bike trip video (now his exam is out of the way, it went very well on Friday).

The Week

Spent a lot of time with NCT ladies this week, going to Wriggle and Rhyme at Brixton library with Jo on Tues, then to Burgess Park sensory room with Jo, Sonia and Claire on Weds, and then meeting up with Jo and Kaye at Brixton Village for lunch on Friday.  Otherwise have been doing lots of sorting out.

Penny amusingly spends the whole time now saying "Dadadada", and just grins indifferently when I say "Mamama" to her.

She is at least sleeping through again now, which is a relief and v good for my wellbeing and general mood.

Managed to sort through all the nursery stuff too, putting away all the clothes which are now too small, and getting out her wintery corduroy dungarees and wollies.

... and god bless all who sail in her!

A struggle against the London traffic, but worth the 2.5 hour drive to get to rural Oxfordshire to celebrate the launch of Robin and Marion's canal boat: Many Meetings.

Great to see so Many of the Sundty family there too, Jane and Dave from Devon, Claire from Tasmania, Chris and Gay, and of course Jane N.

After a lovely buffet lunch in the pub, and witnessing the maiden voyage, we hot-footed it back to London so Charlie could run his board game night at the Ritzy.  I joined him for a bit, but went back home for pizza and ice-cream after we were told P couldn't be in the Ritzy after 7pm.

Charlie was v pleased, lots of interest and attendees!

Inside

Had a lazy morning with Penny while Charlie got a bit more revision done, watched the end of Howls Moving Castle which I slept through a few nights ago.

Made some cinnamon biscuits of my own, and spent most of the afternoon trying to write a summary of one of the stories I have had in my head for a while to help move it forward.

Then a lazy evening in front of Downton Abbey ... why won't Mary tell Matthew she loves him!

Penny turned her nose up at butternut squash today, but seemed a little interested in broccoli ... the food adventure goes on!

Autumn Days

Up twice in the night again, so the formula dreamfeed is not flawless.

Decided to give Charlie a lie in, so wrapped P and I up in a blankie and snuggled up in the lounge with a cup of tea and Saturday Kitchen.

Went for a family swim in Brixton.  Slightly cooler than Peckham, but Penny was fine.  She slowly got more tired as we swooshed and dunked and backfloated our way around the other children who were splashing about.

Picked up some homemade cinnamon biscuits at the market, then played 3 games of Pandemic with Norris at ours. Won twice on Easy, but killed 6 bn people on Normal ... rats!

Let Charlie get an hour of revision done for his upcoming retake before dinner and a lazy evening watching tv and playing Scrabble .

A swim and a thought

Had a lovely afternoon with Claire & Leo and Sonia & Clara at Peckham Pulse for a baby swim in their hydrotherapy pool.  Was lots of fun, and the babies all enjoyed themselves.  Went back to Claire's for a cup of tea, as Charlie is out for the evening.

And a quick thought about an incredibly influential man.  The world has been fondly remembering Steve Jobs today: a pioneer, a leader and a man who could see the future.

I think the world has been so admiring of him not just because of his money or even his success, but mainly his love for his career as a weaver of consumer dreams via technology.  The world often seems to equate work with drudgery, but Jobs was a high profile person who said no only that loving your work is ok, but that it is surely the only sensible path for a fulfilling and fun life.  Including the hard bits, the tiring days and the frustration of course, but that overall you are in love with your work.

I wonder how many people will have handed in their notice today ...

Jumble

Decided to have a day in sorting out my ever bursting at the seams wardrobe.  Felt invigorated but still tired after Penny sleeping through, so pleased when she had a couple of hours of napping in the morning while I ploughed through jobs.

And in the afternoon I just couldn't keep my eyes open, so was even happier when she joined me for a nap.

Date Night

Popped to Balham to pick up Penny's Highchair ... very pleased!

Then Aunty Erika came round late afternoon, shortly to be joined by Uncle Dan, so that Mummy and Daddy could go out by ourselves.  So kind of them to babysit.

Was lovely, and quite liberating. Though it also made me realise that we are v lucky to be so happy when the 3 of us are together as a family, chilled and happy and having fun, which I hope will only improve as P gets bigger and more able to do things and join in in activities.

Went to see Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy at the cinema.  Kept having a sneaking suspicion that I was missing out on major plot points, but by the end it seemed I had 'got it', even though some of the detail was not 100% clear.

Then to Fujiyama for a delicious sushi dinner.

P was apparently very good, though unsurprisingly still awake when we got back.  So C and I thought we would try and experimental formula feed, which led to 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep!  Interesting ...

Last sun

Penny's 6 month birthday ... happy birthday Pudding!

A lie-in, after another night of interruption.

Sweet potato for P's 2nd lunch, much of which was sprayed back at Mama.

Had a lovely NCT meet up in Sophie's garden, felt like squeezing the very last drops of sun and warmth from summer '11.  Also had a great chat with Jo whilst walking back to Brixton.

Alex popped round in the evening to drop of keys, and we squeezed in a couple of games of Pandemic ... the second of which we won!  Phew!

Food, Glorious Food!

Penny's First Meal from Charlie Fish on Vimeo.

Penny tried her first taste of apple today!  And she seemed v keen on it ... lots of fun, and mess :)

Popped out to help Norris and Liam move house with the car club car, then home where Charlie was helping his Nomad friend Michelle with her website.

Then, worn out, proceeded to fall asleep to Howl's Moving Castle, only to be unable to sleep for 2 hours on going to bed ... sigh!

Bear and Moons

Matty, P and I met up with Andrew and Sarah for brunch, then having popped into Barnardos I found the BIGGEST bear!

So, he is called Barnard!

V excited to watch the last in the series of Doctor Who ... thrilling and frustrating all at once!

Also got my binoculars out so we could look at Jupiter, and you could even see two of its moons.  Great!