Sunday at Stephen's

It was a really bad start to the day. I woke up still thinking about a major disappointment at work and a hefty unexpected bill that arrived last week. I checked the news on my iphone and wished I hadn't. The latest effort to contain the oil spill in the gulf had failed. Prostate cancer had felled the Godlike genius of Dennis Hopper. That despicable rag, the Telegraph, had taken it upon itself, in the country's greatest hour of need, to remove one it's most able, elected, politicians, in the most sleazy and wretched way. And to top it all - Guillaume Del Torro had pulled out of filming the Hobbit. Not a good to start Sunday.
So lunch at Stephen and Christophe's was really welcome. Their generous hospitality, freindship and great humour was the best possible antidote for my melancholy. It was also wonderful to see my old friend Kay, looking absolutley amazing, and sharing with us some really happy news.

Food

Last weekend felt particularly good for food, trying to use up as much as possible from the fridge rather than trips to Tescos. The breakfasts were particularly good. Ruby and Ibolya has boiled egg and soldiers on Saturday, I had poached egg and sausages. On Sunday we had creamy mushrooms on muffins - yum. Saturday lunch was fish finger and rocket wraps. Vittoriano and Lorena came over on Saturday night and brought Italian cheeses, tomatoes and I made home made pizzas. The feasting culminated at Stephen's for Sunday lunch with Christophe's french sausage, chicken and salad. On Monday I made a big, bank holiday, frugal pasta bake for lunch and rounded the long weekend with Delia's, Waitrose, roast whole duck, with cherry sauce.

Week 34

This was Ibolya, resplendent and beautiful, on our lawn, last week.
It's the final countdown! As I write this, we've actually only got 4 weeks and 5 days until little bubba arrives and we're both getting tremendously excited. But anxious too about everything that's got to be done and arranged before then. Even more so as it's quite likely we'll opt for a c-section, which usually happens a week before the due date - so, we're only talking 3 weeks off!
We've brought down all the new-born clothes from the attic, our bags are packed for hospital and all non-essential social engagements, that aren't very close to home, have been suspended, apart from our friend Sarah's 40th in a couple of weeks.
Still no decision on potential boys names but more have been ruled out recently, including Herbert, Albert, Caspar, Edwyn and Alwyn. I heard a good one this morning though, 'Kenton'!
My Dad's a massive Stan Kenton fan so I'm sure he'd like it. Could 'Kent' work well for short?
Bubba's got very little room left in Ibolya's tummy (she's now 2.4kg and measures around 46cm from head to toe) and you can clearly see her movements, let alone feel them. There are arms and legs sticking out all over the place. She now has fully grown fingernails and toenails, fully developed pair of kidneys and her liver is processing her waste. In no time at all we'll all be face to face with each other and a family of 4.

Very Hot Sunday

I was so very darn hot on Sunday, apart from a glorious 2 hour, family, kip in the morning, we spent pretty much the whole day in the garden. Ruby loves her igloo tent.
Track of the Day and our musical accompaniment for the whole day was the Sunday output from BBC Radio 6. It's just stupendous on a Sunday - wall to wall, quality music and has become essential to our Sundays. We start at 10.00 with, the delightful, Cerys Matthew's show, which gives way to the fantastic musical selection of Adam Buxton's mix tape, then Huey (from Fun Lovin Criminals)show, Jarvis Cocker's 'Sunday Service' and finally, at Ruby's bathtime, Stuart Maconie's 'Freak Zone'. I can't believe I only got into Radio 6 a few weeks ago and it'll be going soon.

Very Hot Saturday

It was a proper, hot, summer's day on Saturday. After breakfast, Ibolya and Ruby went summer shoe shopping at Westfield, while I gave one half of our front hedge a well needed trim. In the afternoon we hung-out on Kate and Dan's decked patio, had a BBQ, and the girls cooled off in the paddling pool.

Chemical Brothers

We went to see the Chemical Brothers at the Roundhouse on Saturday night. It was absolutely brilliant! First time I've ever seen a gig there and it's an incredible venue. Amazing building, great acoustics, plenty of space and an ace roof-top bar.
It was a spectacular audio-visual experience. Powerful and euphoric music, accompanied by huge, eye dazzling images, lights and laser beams! I still get very excited about laser beams. They played most of their new album 'Further' in the first half and greatest hits, in the second.