Last Weekend!

Nearly caught up on my post backlog now. Last weekend was the first time, in his short 5 month, 3 week life, that little Lookie succumbed to his first illness; an ear infection, on top of teething and a cold. So the poor little soldier wasn't at his best and we stayed close to home. Which did give us the opportunity to dress our Christmas tree; write some cards; watched an incredible documentary I recorded ages ago, called 'The Cove'; tidy and weed in the garden and plant some spring bulbs; and continued to listen to the glorious back catalogue of Sufjan Stevens, a musical genuis, I only discovered last weekend. Lookie and I left the house briefly and a had a little walk round the neighbourhood, with my camera.

True Grit

Nothing fills with me with greater cinematic anticipation than the prospect of a new film by the Coen Brothers and this review by Harry Knowles has just made my wait even harder to bear.

I only hope it finally brings the Godlike genius of Roger Deakins the Oscar he's so long been denied.

The Weekend before Last

I've fallen really behind with recent posts and struggling to keep up to date as a result of being very busy at work, home and getting ready for Christmas.
These pictures go back to the weekend of the 5th December; and a wonderful Sunday afternoon, still celebrating Ruby's birthday with dinner for Claire, Vittoriano and Lorena. We also made it over to the glorious Princess Victoria on Saturday afternoon to celebrate Adam's birthday but I was a bit shy about getting my camera out.

Saturday Shadows

Ruby's Birthday

Ruby had a great day on Friday, celebrating her 2nd birthday. After she got up, she came downstairs to find a new table and her, very own, Robin Day chair, a present from Uncle Stephen. After a birthday breakfast and opening her cards and other gifts, we all set off to the Science Museum but had to go to the Natural History instead, as the SM was closed for a special function. Ruby loved the NH, not for all the stuffed animals and displays but was just a wonderful and interesting place for her to run around; giggling the whole time, as I tried to keep up with her. Afterwards we had lunch in Carluccio's and in the afternoon, Maisie came round and the two of them had a great time playing with a big box.

Ruby is 2

My incredible, beautiful, amazing, little girl Ruby is two years old today. Here she is just a few moments after she was born; battered and bruised after the long ordeal to bring her into the world. And here she is a couple of weeks ago, the little girl who astounds me everyday and fills Ibolya and I with so much pride, happiness and joy. And who makes me melt, every night, when I return home; and greets me, saying 'hello Daddy'.

Smiley

Super excited today to see this first still of Gary Oldman as George Smiley from the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy movie. He's even wearing the same glasses Guinness wore in the TV show!

Birthday Party

Ruby is two on Friday but we held a joint birthday party for her, and her friends Maisie and Ava, on Sunday morning. We had the very good sense to: not host it at our house but at Hopscotch nursery in Queen's Park; spread the load with two other families and hold it in the morning, when little ones tend to be at their best.
And it turned out really well; children and adults all seemed to have a really good time. Everything got eaten and there was loads of things for the children to do.