Ranos at Caple Road

Hosted the 1st Ranos evening at my house, told Mark our news and showed him and Stephen the pictures of Little Blob.

I cooked the spaghetti recipe that Matthew (my Brother in Law) gave me on Saturday, which was simplicity it's self and tasted superb! Here's the recipe, wish I'd taken a picture.

200g spaghetti
120g tin of tuna
1 tin of anchovies
1 garlic, chopped

Drain off the oil from the tins of tuna and anchovies into a pan and heat slowly. Add the garlic, continue to heat gently. While that's all happening, make our spag. When done, add and toss in the garlicky oil and Bob's your uncle. Add basil, cherry toms and black olives for a little extra fun.

Passed these cars and graffiti, that I liked, on way in today. I'm sure this isn't a real Banksy but funny, none the less.

Sad to lean that Robert Rauschenberg died on the 12th May so here's one he did earlier.

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/obituary/0,,2279700,00.html

St Mary's

Today it all became real! I saw our beautiful little blob for the first time and now I can really start to believe it. It's 48.8 mm long and 11 weeks and 3 days in size. The image on the screen was just astonishing, the little thing was moving around in Ibs tummy and we both waved and called out to our tiny little baby. We heard the heartbeat too!

Ibs looked really gorgeous today in a little red top and skirt, here she is entering the hospital.

Cycled from St Mary's to work and prevented passing Buckingham Place by changing of the guard, a very impressive site on a happy, hot, summer lunchtime.

Passed Channel 4, as usual, on Horseferry Road and great to see the new work which has dressed the iron 4 outside Richard Roger's dynamic building.

3 great songs, from the 80's, in succession on my Ipod on cycle home.

• Forbidden Colours, Sakamoto and Sylvian
• Golden Brown, Stranglers
• Cloudbusting, Kate Bush

Sharnbrook

Glorious weekend of friends, family and sun.

Friday night, popped into the Westminster for Chris's drinks. 2 pints of Star and a lovely chat with Helena about gardens.

Gorgeous cycle through Hyde Park and Portobello to join Alex and crew for his 30th birthday drinks. Curbed our excess so fit for Saturday's BBQ.

Felix has now completely adopted us and I found her sleeping on our sofa at 7.oo.

Early start and got up early to cook. Lovely afternoon with Maxx, Justin, Jonathan, Rita and, Dave and their wonderful children Lauren and Jasmine.

Caught 6.30 train to Sara and Matthew. At there's by 7.30 and met my beautiful, youngest niece, Florence. As tiny, pretty and pookie baby as it's possible to be.

Watched Take That in concert with Matt and really enjoyed it!!

Lazy morning enjoying being with my dear sister, Matthew, my nephews George and Oliver and my brand new niece Florence.

2.45 train home and back by 4.30 to a still scorching back garden. A few hours working on Ibs presentation to the sounds of Annie Mac and Dave Pearce on Radio 1 playback.

1st hospital appointment tomorrow and very nervous.

Whistler

More tense activity in the office with auditors on site until next week.

Relief to go to lunch at the Whistler Restaurant with Eamon Fogerty.

Drinks in Celia's office to mark 20 years of Chris's start at work and drinks at the Westminster afterwards.

I took these pics of flower beds I love in Hyde Park on way home.

Then on to Portobelllo Road, Trailer Park Happiness, for Alex's 30th birthday celebrations.

Tomorrow will be an early start to prepare for the 1st bbq of the year. Expected are; Rita, Dave, Jasmine, Lauren, Jonathan, Maxx and Justin. At 5.30 we then travel to St Pancras and get train to travel to Sara's and meet Florence.

Tesco

A day of delicate office politics.

The sun is still shinning and warm so had another 2 lap run at lunchtime.

Dashed home, caught up with Ibs, cleaned the bbq (ready for Saturday) , mowed the lawn and
then off to visit the long awaited new Tesco store in Harlesden! We were like to kids in a sweet shop. Great store and a huge improvement for the town.

Met Jerry at 8.30 for a cheap eats at Boys (Thai) Cafe at top of Ladbroke Grove

Ranos

A beautiful summer like day in London. The kind of morning made for cycling. A great soundtrack on my Ipod ended beautifully with Stevie Wonder's 'Higher Ground' as I arrived at work.

So nice a day that I jogged 3 laps of my local bridges in 40 minutes and cycled all the way to Stephen's for a Tuesday Ranos night also in 40.

Mark made chicken, wrapped in bacon and mozzarella and as usual, despite my determination not to, drank too much red wine.

Home at about 10.45 and Ibs had cleaned the house from top to bottom. However the persistent stink of the Tom cat spray doesn't seem to shift.

Can't get rid of little Felix who howls throughout the night.

The 2 pics above are a couple of paintings I've passed at work which I quite like.

Dylfryn Ardudwy, Wales

Friday 2nd May and train, after work, to Barmouth North Wales, to stay with our friend Andy and the dog we share with him, Georgi.

Told Andy our news soon after arriving and seemed genuinely happy for us. Last person we're telling until week 13.

Checked my Blackberry all the way there for news of Mayor election result. Agonising wait ended about 11.00 with a news flash saying Boris Johnson had won. Made me feel sick with disappointment.

But awful depression lifted by news at 11.00am that my darling sister Sara had given birth, 3 weeks early to Florence Evelyn Bennett at 5.30am, 6lb 2oz. All the family had been trying to reach us but no signal at the cottage where we were staying.

Terrible frustration that we can't drop everything and see Florrie (I've seen most of 6 nephews and nieces on the day they were born) but can't get up until next Sunday.

Apart from spending some really fun and 'quality' time with Andy and Georgi, our highlights of our trip were:

• Seeing Portmeirion (my 2nd visit). Location for The Prisoner, one of my top 5 favourite TV shows of all time.


• Festiniog railway. Scuse spelling. The train ride was beautiful but the terminus in Festiniog was bleak, oppressive and closed! What a god awfully depressing place. All that slate!


• Seeing the magnificent coastline of the armpit of Wales. Could quite easily see myself retiring there


• Seeing lambs and baby cows, with their Mum's in the fields made more poinient by Florrie's arrival and the expectation of my own little one inside Ibs tummy

My Mum told me today that she and Dad holidayed in Snowdonia when she was heavily pregnant with Sara and I so it makes my connection with North Wales very understandable.

May Day

1st May and a monumental day for London.

But 1st a catch up from yesterday. Rained pretty much all day and had to cycle to Stephen's in Acton for Ranos. Got absolutely soaked but with no running today, good exercise at least. Lovely route through Chelsea, Kensington, Shepherd's Bush and along the A40. Loved passing Battersea powersation and the Buddist Peace Pavilion.

Got to Stephen's about 7.30, dried off and sat down with him and Mark for episodes 4 to 7 of Sopranos. Great episodes, well paced, great sets (Uncle's house so beautifully designed) but the violence is getting harder to watch. Polished off with a huge plate of chops and mash (Christophe was home) and rioja.

Back to May Day. Birthdays for our dear friends Karen (the inspiration for me blogging) and Claire. Ibs and I cycled to a local school to place our vote. Thought we were going to get our votes rejected when Ibs started asking me questions from the ballot booth! Then off to work.

On Thursday mornings I usually have to go to Tufnell Park, which I really enjoy and always gives me great pleasure passing the buildings and houses you can see above. I love that green framed cottage with the monkey puzzle tree outside. The Boston Arms pub is absolutely amazing, stucco'd and with that amazing tower, like a spire or turret. God awful pub inside but glorious building outside.

Euston underground was covered in big ads for Bob Books, the company Ibs manages. Felt very proud to see them.

Home to pack for Snowdonia, where we're heading for the bank holiday weekend with Andy and Georgi. Planning to tell Andy our news so he can make plans for December.

Now have an agonising wait until to night to hear about the London election result. Labour, as expected, suffered terrible losses in the local elections, only a win for Ken can give GB any hope.

We'll be on the train when the results come through so hope my Blackberry will get a signal.

Grantham

We both had business trips today. Whilst mine was in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Ibs went to Switzerland!

Bit of a drab day for me but did take a couple of pics outside Euston Station, which after using Kings Cross (sad old station by comparison to the Neo Gothis magnificence of St Pancras and the simple, bold brutalism of Euston) was quite a delight. I lIked the copper plated Travelodge that's visible for 1st time and have always admired the Mies'esk tower behind the arts-and-crafty Euston Fire Station.

Another day closer to election day but no appointment at St Mary's now. The appointment card came through and it's now on the 12th. Very disappointed but have to live with it.

Ranos tonight with S and M.

Back from Cuba

Back at 6.20 on 24th April after 2 weeks in Cuba and straight into work.

Ibs is now 7 weeks pregnant, according to her reckoning (she insists on counting from the day of conception) and 9 by all other medical guidance. She's getting afternoon sickness rather than morning.
Thursday 1st May is fast approaching and will be a landmark day. Not only is it our first ante- natal hospital visit but it's also the London Mayor elections and I'm incredibly anxious about both. I'm desperate for everything to be ok with Ibs and our little one as well as Ken Livingston winning a 3rd term as mayor.

Here's what's happened since we got back:

Friday 25th: Ibs and I at Stephen's. Didn't think jetlag would allow us to make it but seeing him again was wonderful. And after 2 weeks in Cuba, some good red wine and an Acton Balti House Chicken Tikka Masala was magnificent.

Saturday 26th: Early morning walk in Harlesden to buy bread, eggs and sausage. Breakfast and then work in the garden. 1st lawn mow of the year, weeding and sweep of the patio.
Stephen called round at 5.30 and we all travelled to Wimbledon to support Mark in the semi-final of a comedy competition. Guinness and a Thai meal before hand. Mark robbed when the result of the evening is obviously fixed! Poor Mark but he did get to swap numbers with a pretty fellow comedy contestant.

Sunday 27th: Ibs lied in till 10.00. at 11.30 we set off to Clerkenwell for a surprise meal for Peter's 40th birthday at The Dovetail. Sundays like this are utterly glorious. Surrounded by my nearest and dearest friends (Stephen, Pete, Mark, Karen, Karen and M&K's children Aaron and Sammy).

Monday 28th: Ibs 1st upholstery course in Hammersmith. She enjoyed it.
I got mail from Ibs old flat and the appointment papers for the hospital visit are wrong, they say May 12th! I'll call tomorrow and try and put back to Thursday.

Day 9: Last Post for 2 Weeks

Final working day before holidays.
I and I have been trying to rid the house of a big ginger Tom cat who's set up home with us after falling in gay love with little Felix, a local cat who we've been encouraging to stay with us.

The house is wreaking of Tom cat spray and this morning I had to chase him out of the house 5 times with the water spray. Despite being doused in water he still insisted on giving little Felix some early morning arse action in the garden.

Our cats always know when we're going away and they are especially clingy at the moment. Seeing Putty and Josie's eyes, looking intently at me, as I descended the stairs to go to work was almost emotional.

Lovely ride into work, a crisp, cold and icey blue sky day. And my iPod gave me a wonderful soundtrack to ride to. This is what it played:

1. Candylion - Gruff Rhys
2. Burnin - Daft Punk
3. Meet the G that Killed Me - Public Enemy
4. Psycho Killer (live) - Talking Heads
5. She's Alive - Outkast
6. Down Under - Art Blakey
7. White Feathered Medicine Method - Scott Matthews (beautiful song, must hear the album)

Popped into the gallery where I work and really enjoyed seeing the Bernard Cohen painting that's currently up. I owe him my art education. He was Head of Painting at Wimbledon School of Art when I interviewed and he gave me my place. Also enjoyed the Robyn Dennys and Victor Passmores that are temporarily up. Must be a sign of age.

Back in 2 weeks................

Day 8: Sunday, SNOW and Paradise

Woke up about 6.00 to a strange glow at the windows. SNOW. Amazingly deep snow, everywhere. Ran around taking pictures, woke I and we had a snowball fight in the garden.

Breakfast of scam bled eggs, smoked salmon and croissant.

Worked until 12.30 and cycled to Paradise By Way of Kensal Green for Sunday lunch with Jess, Adam (just back from Philippines), Adams's nice American flat mate who works form Grimshaws, Jerry, Lara and her boyfriend, who's name I still can't remember. Couldn't have been a more lovely and , ideal afternoon. Great company, environment, food (roast lamb), many pints of Guinness and a bottle of wine.

I told me later that Jess had asked if she'd had a period and that she looked 'glowing'. I must definitely have the look of pregnancy.

Home and watched Apocalypse Now.

Day 7, Saturday: Goldborne and Sisters

Woke at 6.00, hungover. Couldn't get back to sleep so got up and iron clothes for holiday.

Went to Superdrug and bought folic acid for I. Cooked saugages and eggs for breakfast and set off with I to cycle to my favourite road in the world Goldborne Road. Cycled by the canal towpath and fed ducks and swans as we went.

Walked down Goldborne and top end of Portobello, popping into shops and bought sunglasses from market. Walked back to the Porto and stopped for coffee, custard cake and chicken escalope toasted bap.

Seeing my sisters, brothers-in-laws and all my beautiful nephews and nieces this afternoon. Planning to break the news to sisters after the children have gone to bed. Can't wait for them to be the 1st people we tell and very excited at the prospect.

A few snaps of the day so far.

Got to sister's about 14.00 and we all watched the Grand National together. My horse, Brewleys something, did well for a while then flagged and lost.

Went to park with Matthew and children and lots of running. Told off later that I should have let the children win! Nieces and Nephews, an absolute delight as always and all growing so quickly.

As champagne was about to be toasted and the children out of the room, I gathered my sisters

and showed them the photo of the pregnancy test. Met with cautious delight. It was a wonderful feeling to share the news and I was very emotional, little poppet.

Tremendous dinner as usual for Matthew H, slow roasted pork and lots of wine. Discussed plans for Mum's 70th birthday in November.

Taxi home and a little late night TV.

Day 6: Haircut and drinks with Jerry

A glorious, bright, sunny, spring morning. Surprising as the BBC are forecasting snow.
Made up with I after an argument about emptying the dishwasher last night.

Cycled to work. I have my IPod permanently set on shuffle and usually it pops out 1 really uplifting track to set me up for the day. Today, as it does sometimes, the little DJ inside in side the iPod dropped 3 tracks in succession, that combined with the beautiful morning light and the colourful plants busting into life in the park, amounted to something sublime. The tracks were:
1) 'Dr Bombay', Del The Funky Homosapian
2) 'Push The Button' Money Mark
3) 'Let Me Know' Roisin Murphy. A sensational, funked up electro instrumental.

Pub lunch with Maxx, Kelly and Tracey.

Haircut in Hammersmith

At William IV, Harrow Road for 6.30 to meet Jerry and 2 friends of a friend, Roma and Camille who wanted to talk to me about where I work. Joined later by Jerry's flatmate Tony. Go to The Regent for final 2 pints but can't wait to get home to see my wife.

Day 5: Claire and Rav

came round for dinner. Arrived over an hour late and and then Rav claimed to have left both wine and chocolate cake on the train. Lovely to see Claire after 2 years working for Al Jazera. She told an incredible story about a Lesbian couple, she knows, who've created some kind of Aryan uber-baby. Apparently this baby is enormous and is being brought up by a German only speaking nanny so the poor child grows up fluent in the international language of banking.

The donar had to provide a 12 page genetic family history and was chosen by his and immediate family's IQ, longevity and health record. to become a banker.

Claire and Rav left about 11.30, too late and left me too tipsy.

Up at 6.30 and a very pleasant ride into work. Since thinking about garden planning I see beautiful plants everywhere now. Hyde Park is especially well catered. Here's a lovely little spot I pass each day.

I love Monkey Puzzle Trees. This is in Hyde Park and has a baby brother / sister.

Day 4: Supplementary

I was thinking about the Serpentine Gallery temporary building this morning, wondering who would be this year's architect. In today's 'Culture Shot' an announcement that it's Frank Gehry. Couldn't be a better or more exciting choice.

Day 4: Ranos

Left work at 5.50 and made it to Stephen's for 6.50 (very early for me). Was desperate to tell Stephen our news but couldn't with Mark and Patrice (Stephen's husband's brother who also lives with them) there. Patrice had made steaks, pasta, salad and garlic bread. After we all caught up on each other's events since last week, we sat down to the final 2 episodes of series 2. We ate and drank through 3 bottles of wine whilst Tony's sister disposed of Richie, Tony caught a bad dose of food poisoning, went through a rather tiresome dream sequence and finally 'fingered' Pussy. I was sorry to see Pussy go and his demise (as Stephen noted) not as gut wrenchingly sad as it should have been.

Bus home. Sat with I, glad to have the house back to ourselves, and watched a programme about Josie Russell.

Awake too early again. Slightly fusty after all the red wine. Got up and fixed the puncture on my bicycle. Rode, fully pumped, into town to Cuban Consulate to pick up visa. So happy to on bike again and felt, as always, enormous priveldge to see the city from the perspective of my bike. The route took me down Marylebone Road, Gower St and into High Holborn in 30 minutes. Passed the old Abbey National building (site of 221b Baker St), amazed to see how they have retained the enormous deco edifice and built a too polite building around it (picture above). Also got a fantatsic view of the buildings behind Centre Point, which I love, thanks to a demolished building.

At work for 10, meetings till 13.00, soup and bread (my wife's home made) for lunch. Ate whilst reading this nice little blog about Curb, sent to me by Rupert who 1st introduced me to the genius of Larry David.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/tv/2008/04/at_the_risk_of_sounding.html

Day 3

First day of the new financial year and April Fool's day.

My deflated tyre has turned into a puncture and had to take tube today to work. Read Metro on way in.

The Red Arrows did a flight past over London Eye at 13.00 exactly to mark an anniversary, I watched with thousands others from Lambeth Bridge. Called my twin sister Sara as I needed to share my excitement. Here's a pic.

I msn'd me to say Queen Charlotte's is full! So looks like we'll have to go to St Mary's Paddington. I really don't want to name my child Mary, although it is my mother's middle name. I's 1st check up at hospital is May 1st.

Received this lovely picture of Georgi, the dog we share with our friend Andy, looking absolutely gorgeous.

2 of my very closest friends and I meet every Wednesday evening to watch every episode of Sopranos. This week's has been moved to tonight and will be my last for 3 weeks but the prospect is very exciting. We're into the series finale of series 2 and will also have series 3 1st episode. Stephen, my best friend of 20 years is cooking pasta.

Day Two

Last night I and I performed our 1st formal exercise of the pregnancy and visited I's doctor. Both went in together and I heard I say for the 1st time 'I'm having a baby'. Incredible to hear her say that and hard not to weep. I's blood pressure was taken - normal - and details taken so we can get booked into a hospital. 1st offer is Queen Charlotte's which would be perfect, near home and where one of my beautiful nephews was born, Hugo, my elder sister Jane's. I went with her to QM for Hugo's 1st scan. Is also perfect as our name of choice for a girl is Charlotte and the name of a wonderful cat we had as children.
Cycled home togther, me struggling with a deflated tyre. I spottered a life size cut out of Ian Curtis near the Regent's canal bridge. She struggled to carry it on her bike before giving up. We really haven't got much use for a full size Ian Curtis cut out.
Home and dinner with Beatrice, Dennis and Thomas. They didn't get much done today, didn't leave the house until 3.00 so only made it to Kensington Park, poor Thomas.
Beatrice's turn to cook so, typically french, we had fois gras for entree followed by a lovely gnochi and tomotato sauce.
Dennis climbed many rungs higher in my estimation when he told me that not only is he a Sopranos fan but also loves Curb Your Enthusiasm. A kindred spirit.
Bed, very early again, by 10.00. Read a couple of pages of a book about bedding plants (I'm trying to plan and learn a bit about gardening), fell asleep whilst I filled in her diary.