Toad in the Hole

Last week Ibolya was given some homemade sausages from one of her clients home reared pigs. This demanded I make Toad in the Hole, something I've only had limited success with in the past. I carefully followed a Delia recipe, with the mandatory accompaniment of mash, onion gravy and peas. These pictures show the outcome which I was pretty happy with.

iPad

I think Apple's iPad is everything anyone could have expected it to be and I'm very happy with it. As the first version of the ultimate media consuming machine, it's potential and promise is revolutionary and limitless. It's even got a reasonably nice name, is stunningly beautiful and a lot cheaper than anyone expected. I might though have to be patient and wait until version 2.0 is released before I purchase, as I have with all my other Apple products. I hate to niggle but by then it should carry a camera (for skyping), have a bigger memory, allow multiple applications to be open at any time and will probably be even cheaper.

The New Apple Product

I'm cock-a-hoop with excitement today about the immanent announcement at 18.00 of Apple's new device, probably the most anticipated and speculated product ever launched.
It's impossible that it will live up to everything everyone wants it to be but for me, I'll just be happy if it provides me with the missing link between my Mac Pro and my iPhone. If it's only a bigger, flash enabled, iPhone - I'll still really, really want one. I just hope it will be available in the UK from launch, there's some doubt it will be.

What I hope for most is that it will do for print what the iPod has done for music and that I'll be able to carry around with me not only my own personal book collection but give me access, wherever I am, whenever I want it, to the whole printed output of the entire world.

Whatever it's shortcomings (and the media will be full of those tomorrow) or technological innovations it will definitely be beautiful and the most desirable object you could possibly want.

Nottingham

We took Ruby to Nottingham at the weekend, her first visit to her paternal ancestral homeland. It was a flying visit but we packed in a visit to Auntie Margaret's (the first time Ruby had met her Great, Great Auntie), took a look at Nottingham Contemporary and the inaugural Hockney exhibition, paid a quick homage to the former offices of Watson Fothergill (I'm a very big fan of Nottingham's greatest architect) and we even got to see Uncle Jim before catching the train home on Sunday afternoon. My Mum treated us to a magnificent roast dinner, Sunday fried brunch and it was, as ever, an all too quick visit that always leaves me wondering why we don't get up more often and how much I'd like to have more time with my Mum and Dad and to explore my home town.

The Road

Jerry and I went to see the film of Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road' last night. I read the book, earlier this year, when we were in Spain and although I was keen to see the film, I didn't expect the film to come close to the power and depth of the book. However, the film is extraordinarily good and a very successful adaptation. The story of a man and his son, surviving on a journey through a post-apocalyptic, future, landscape. It's a harrowing and disturbing story but what struck me last night was the life-affirming, optimistic message that 'the family' and the relationship between a parent and child holds the very essence of civilisation and represents everything that is good in the world. The film is immaculately photographed, there's only one shot I could see that relies on CGI, beautifully scored by Nick Cave and has a faultless cast. Viggo Mortensen is absolutely heartbreaking and I loved seeing Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce, Molly Parker and Omar, from the Wire, in cameos.

Just on another note (that I need to record), I took Ruby to Mary's this morning, after going to the doctors for an eye infection. While I was there Ruby held on to the fire guard, let go, stood unaided for a few moments and then made about 3 steps forward before she realised what she was doing and then plonked to the floor. These were her very first, unaided, proper, steps and I was completely thrilled and excited to be there when she did them.

Ruby's New Shoes

We went to the doctor's on Saturday morning for Ruby to have her MMR jab which was a painful experince for a little girl. Afterwards we went on a mission to Westfield to buy Ruby's first shoes. She got measured up, she's a 3 G, had a bit of a cry and then had a walk around, trying her new shoes on. The shoes are brilliant, I love it that they are Clarks, the brand I wore throughout my childhood, and that children's feet are still measured the same way mine were. But I also had a big feeling, when I handed over my card to pay the £22 for her first shoes, how many times in the next 18 years will I do this and how much will I spend, from now on, on shoes for Ruby?
Kate and Maisie came round for a play in the afternoon and we read the brilliant 'Mog the Forgetful Cat' before bedtime.
Ruby chattered so much this weekend. We heard lots of 'ba'for bottle, 'ca' for cat, 'da-da's, 'ma-ma's some 'good-girl's and I swear I even head a couple of 'water's.

Week 17

Week 17 and little bubba is now nearly 11.1cm long from crown to rump,a bit bigger than an avocado,and weighs about 140g.
I'm almost certain we'll have another girl, as I live in such a female dominated household, but it doesn't stop me spending an inordinate amount of time thinking about boys names. I've exhausted all traditional boys names in my head, haven't found one that's stuck yet so I'm now trying out surnames as first names and road names on my cycle to work. I haven't though been able to persuade Ibolya of the merits Talbot, Newton, Chilworth, Craven, Clifton, Praed, Ledbury or Orsett but I've got a feeling this method will eventually throw up a good one.

Godfather Day

Stephen, Mark and I have been promising ourselves a Godfather Day, to see all 3 films back-to-back, since before my birthday and the day finally arrived last Saturday. We started at 11.00, had a fantastic steak lunch and about 9 bottles of wine later, we'd got through part 1, mislaid the first part of part 2, saw the second half of part 2 and after that, my memory fades. We did though get to see the whole of Godfather 2, in all it's glory, on Wednesday night.
For reasons of good taste and vanity, I've excluded pictures with any of us in them.

Breakfast

I love a nice picture of a good breakfast and last Saturday's was exceptional. A big, fat, fried duck egg on Ibolya's home made bread, with sausage and black pudding.
Just wish I'd added a dollop of Coleman's mustard and tomato sauce to complete the picture.