Last day
So today is my last day in the office until 5th Jan! Eek. (well, home office).
As I was off Weds afternoon and all day Monday too, yesterday was a total whirlwind of crazy.
I was greatful when I stopped about half four to look in the fridge for something, to find out that Steve hadn't bought any ricotta for our spinnach-and-ricotta canneloni..... and as we're winding down food supplies for going away next week we only had one other option which was stew! So it gave me a good excuse to stop work as I'd just been at it all day (was a lovely day outside too and I didn't go out except trips to the childminders). I made an epic beef stew (I've got my head around stew I think now, took me ages) with swede, celeriac, red wine, mustard etc in and it was good. Then I made parmesan and thyme dumplings which went on top, so I think it was technically a cobbler? Either way it was very nice (though Robin was too tired to eat any as he'd not really napped all day). In fairness it might have been a bit spicy as I put a dash of cayenne pepper in and it did have a lingering heat.
I managed to get all the feedback and follow up documents sorted from the ride leader course on Saturday. I've also asked the volunteer co-ordinators to send feedback forms to the participants as it would be nice to have a little proper feedback on the course for us. I've basically sorted everything on my to do list (realistically) today so now I've got a bit of time to wrap some presents (which I can't see us having much time to do with Robin about) and tidy up our shittip of a house before a)having Nicola and George over for a photo shoot tomorrow, b)having mummies over for mulled wine and mince pies on friday and c)having my parents visit on Saturday. I know that Friday will make further mess but this is bigger tidying. I've noticed that if we are at home with Robin we tend to spend the whole day downstairs, as if you try to pop upstairs with a toddler, it turns into an epic mission or they cry at the stairgate- so in lieu of being able to go up, we tend to bring (and leave) everything downstairs. Just taken up a pile of reuseable nappies (that we won't now use til we return from the Isle of Man, previous lot washing now), two boxes of baby paraphenalia, taken out a huge bag of rubbish, loads of recycling and rejigged a lot of stuff. It's my no means a tidy minimalist lounge but it's so much better! I probably also need to plan for the kiddies wanting to "help" unwrap all the pressies I've already lobbed under the tree (plus being a living tree in a pot, lots of weird insects have come in and died and fallen on the pressies and floor. I sense some vacuuming coming on!
I've been trying to decide what to cook for my parents at the weekend. Initially I had a plan to do some unusual spanish dishes, but running out of time to practice and get hold of a rabbit, I put that idea on hold. My friend Simon texted me earlier saying he had a rabbit for me! Amazing! So now the rabbit and prune stew is back on. I really hope it's nice. I'm planning on copping out slightly and putting chicken thighs in too just in case the rabbi meat doesn't work out (as I know it can be really boney and I'm not sure how big it is either!). Think I'm doing patatas bravas, mashed celeriac and swede and some green veg to go with. Shame of shames I've not thought as far as dessert, but think I'll get Steve to make his nice apple and pear and almond cake with custard. Yum.
All a bit complicated for parents visiting as my dad's sisters' husband's brothers have both died recently (sorry for apostrophe fail), and my aunt and uncle have decided to come over from Canada for the second funeral which is on Friday. Last time i saw my aunt and uncle was when i was pregnant so it would be great for them to pop in on saturday to meet Robin. They will be travelling with friends between Portsmouth and Swindon, so we're not too far out of their way (i think). They are terrible about making plans, so all we know (after a week of discussion) is that they "might" pop in Sat afternoon for a cuppa with their friends too which is fine. Unless it's quite late and I'm elbow deep in rabbit!
So the week is : Tomorrow (no buggyfit) going out to do some buggyfit like exercise with Sharon and her husband, then doing a photoshoot for Nicola and George. Friday I'm having a small group of mummies and babies over for mulled wine and mince pies. Saturday my parents arrive and stay until Sunday. Monday we pack and fly out. So need to sort washing, choose suitcases, pack stuff to keep Robin entertained in the airport and on the flight and at some point formally sort out our friends son feeding the cat! I've just done a cheeky charity shop run with a gigantic heavy box full of everything I failed at eBaying- my old clothes, some of Robins old clothes, some shoes and a few toys. So we're getting there.
Still settling into my new hair. I don't hate or love it, it's just very different. Idea is that it's lower maintenance. I don't think anyone else is raving about it either, it's a bit dull but more exciting than just going brown for easy maintenance!
As I was off Weds afternoon and all day Monday too, yesterday was a total whirlwind of crazy.
I was greatful when I stopped about half four to look in the fridge for something, to find out that Steve hadn't bought any ricotta for our spinnach-and-ricotta canneloni..... and as we're winding down food supplies for going away next week we only had one other option which was stew! So it gave me a good excuse to stop work as I'd just been at it all day (was a lovely day outside too and I didn't go out except trips to the childminders). I made an epic beef stew (I've got my head around stew I think now, took me ages) with swede, celeriac, red wine, mustard etc in and it was good. Then I made parmesan and thyme dumplings which went on top, so I think it was technically a cobbler? Either way it was very nice (though Robin was too tired to eat any as he'd not really napped all day). In fairness it might have been a bit spicy as I put a dash of cayenne pepper in and it did have a lingering heat.
I managed to get all the feedback and follow up documents sorted from the ride leader course on Saturday. I've also asked the volunteer co-ordinators to send feedback forms to the participants as it would be nice to have a little proper feedback on the course for us. I've basically sorted everything on my to do list (realistically) today so now I've got a bit of time to wrap some presents (which I can't see us having much time to do with Robin about) and tidy up our shittip of a house before a)having Nicola and George over for a photo shoot tomorrow, b)having mummies over for mulled wine and mince pies on friday and c)having my parents visit on Saturday. I know that Friday will make further mess but this is bigger tidying. I've noticed that if we are at home with Robin we tend to spend the whole day downstairs, as if you try to pop upstairs with a toddler, it turns into an epic mission or they cry at the stairgate- so in lieu of being able to go up, we tend to bring (and leave) everything downstairs. Just taken up a pile of reuseable nappies (that we won't now use til we return from the Isle of Man, previous lot washing now), two boxes of baby paraphenalia, taken out a huge bag of rubbish, loads of recycling and rejigged a lot of stuff. It's my no means a tidy minimalist lounge but it's so much better! I probably also need to plan for the kiddies wanting to "help" unwrap all the pressies I've already lobbed under the tree (plus being a living tree in a pot, lots of weird insects have come in and died and fallen on the pressies and floor. I sense some vacuuming coming on!
I've been trying to decide what to cook for my parents at the weekend. Initially I had a plan to do some unusual spanish dishes, but running out of time to practice and get hold of a rabbit, I put that idea on hold. My friend Simon texted me earlier saying he had a rabbit for me! Amazing! So now the rabbit and prune stew is back on. I really hope it's nice. I'm planning on copping out slightly and putting chicken thighs in too just in case the rabbi meat doesn't work out (as I know it can be really boney and I'm not sure how big it is either!). Think I'm doing patatas bravas, mashed celeriac and swede and some green veg to go with. Shame of shames I've not thought as far as dessert, but think I'll get Steve to make his nice apple and pear and almond cake with custard. Yum.
All a bit complicated for parents visiting as my dad's sisters' husband's brothers have both died recently (sorry for apostrophe fail), and my aunt and uncle have decided to come over from Canada for the second funeral which is on Friday. Last time i saw my aunt and uncle was when i was pregnant so it would be great for them to pop in on saturday to meet Robin. They will be travelling with friends between Portsmouth and Swindon, so we're not too far out of their way (i think). They are terrible about making plans, so all we know (after a week of discussion) is that they "might" pop in Sat afternoon for a cuppa with their friends too which is fine. Unless it's quite late and I'm elbow deep in rabbit!
So the week is : Tomorrow (no buggyfit) going out to do some buggyfit like exercise with Sharon and her husband, then doing a photoshoot for Nicola and George. Friday I'm having a small group of mummies and babies over for mulled wine and mince pies. Saturday my parents arrive and stay until Sunday. Monday we pack and fly out. So need to sort washing, choose suitcases, pack stuff to keep Robin entertained in the airport and on the flight and at some point formally sort out our friends son feeding the cat! I've just done a cheeky charity shop run with a gigantic heavy box full of everything I failed at eBaying- my old clothes, some of Robins old clothes, some shoes and a few toys. So we're getting there.
Still settling into my new hair. I don't hate or love it, it's just very different. Idea is that it's lower maintenance. I don't think anyone else is raving about it either, it's a bit dull but more exciting than just going brown for easy maintenance!