One of these days

Picture this So I picked up some photos yesterday. Mostly disappointing photos from Abs' recital in the United Arts Club last Saturday. I still haven't got the hang of the new camera that Himself gave me for Christmas last year.
He was saying last night that he wonders would he have been better off buying a digital camera. I have a fetishistic love of prints though and religiously fill my photo albums. I remember how much I loved looking at my parents' albums and I want the same for Frisky. To the right is a photo of myself and Dad that came out nicely. We were laughing because I said "Hey Dad you got Lucky tonight!" in reference to the fact that Mum seemed to be giving in on the Save Lucky Brennan issue. That's a whole nother story. We were celebrating Abs' graduation in the Bijou Bistro in Rathgar and very pleasant it was too! I wish I had taken this photo but it's pretty obvious that I didn't!
I've already had a bit of an annoying day. An argument with a salesperson about who is more of a liar is not the best way to start the day. I was sure yer man said the fridge would be delivered between 9 and 1 but apparently I (the customer who has already paid for the damn fridge!) am wrong. I did not think a customer could be wrong but we live and learn. Imagine saying to a customer "Are you calling me a liar? You just told my manager that I am a liar!" Unbelievable. Only in Ireland I reckon - what do you think?
So now they are not coming until the afternoon but I have to pick up the car so poor Mum gets roped in as well to come and hold the fort while I head off to get the car. AAAAAARRRGGGHHHH.
Okay that should exorcise the badness.
Goodness Today's goodness will be brought courtesy of the Corkonian who will be winging her way to Dublin in no time at all - can't wait!

No place like home We've folded on our bids for the house. God loves a trier.
Babemagnet The babies are coming thick and fast among my online mumchums at Eumom - last count we had 3 boys and 2 girls from the November mums and it's still October.
However I feel a little calmer as I picked up most of the bits and bobs that I will need for the actual labour: TENS machine, arnica, aromatherapy oils, heat pads etc. I had a pretty hectic day. I'm tired now. But not too tired to make stew - the weather is cat here since midday. It's a real stew day. If the recipe is good I'll post that too tomorrow.
All you can eat Note that I have added a new recipe section and also a bar at top to aid navigation. And the stew is still not getting made...

Granola
Ready Brek is for wusses: this'll get you going in the morning.

• 120 ml (4 fl oz) safflower oil (until today I used sunflower oil - a neutral oil)


• 90 ml (3 fl oz) malt extract


• 90 ml (3 fl oz) clear honey



• 250g (8 oz) rolled oats (basically porridge oats)


• 250g (8 oz) jumbo oats (a little more difficult to get but Flahavans do them in a smallish packet)


• 125g (4 oz) hazelnuts (I use chopped almonds - don't like hazelnuts)


• 25g (1 oz) dessicated coconut


• 50g (2 oz) sunflower seeds


• 25g (1 oz) sesame seeds

Optional:
banana chips, sultanas, raisins, dried fruit...

Tip: You'll find all of these ingredients in Health Food stores

1. Preheat oven to 190C/ 350F/ GM 5


2. Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. I did say large


3. Put oil, honey and malt extract in a pot and heat gently until malt is runny.


4. Stir dry and gooey ingredients together


5. Turn into a roasting dish. As in Sunday Roasting dish. Probably could with another bit of a stir


6. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, stirring regularly so it gets evenly roasted. It should be golden brown when done.


7. Leave to cool and then break apart. Mix in dried fruit of choice and eat with yoghurt, milk or both.

Speaking of which I better go and organise something for the dinner. Anybody know what to do with polenta???

Now this is interesting How about a pic of our new lino? (note to self: check log files - visits to site will skyrocket with these additions.)
Tomorrow I will have exciting photos of my fridge. I bet you cannot wait.

Teenyweeny camera Bigbro sent me his spy camera so that I can broadcast pix to the world. I wish I had it out with me this morning while I was walking across Merrion Square after my antenatal appointment. I would have some nice autumnal pix for your delectation. Instead I have this: the view from my bedroom. Oh wow.

He loves me yeah, yeah, yeah So I reckon as we have just purchased a fridge freezer that things are getting very serious between Himself and myself. What do you think?

Gone GAA-GAA These dudes in OZ are developing a GAA game for the Playstation. Is nuttin' sacred? IRGurus According to RT� news "a thorny issue with the players is image rights" It's far from image rights they were raised!

Biddybrain And we're still bidding on that house...

Forgiven She found the pic and forgives me. Thank goodness!

Mitching First day of maternity leave in the bag. I feel like I am mitching. Busy enough but nothing much to show for all the busyness. I had some great chats with people - on the phone, on MSN and in person. I bumped into Ms. Dunphy in Rathmines and she had lots of exciting news about her latest productions. I got a phone call from the Hand asking if I was bored yet - that girl knows me too well. I had lunch in Smiths. Agus teachtaireacht beag �lainn � Baz thall i Princeton, fear n�r chuala m� uaigh le fada. AND a big long chat with the Poet in Scotland.

I had a nice long blog written a minute ago and somehow managed to erase it. Doh! I've been doing dopey shit all day really: leaving the tap running in the kitchen, leaving the immersion on all afternoon etc.

Just got a phonecall from Granny and she was recognised at the conference last Friday because of my pic of her. The web is indeed that. It's a complicated thing as I never mentioned her name... and yet this guy found her - I know how he found my site but I'm not sure...ow my head hurts...this is so confusing. Anyway a BIG SORRY TO GRANNY for any embarrassment caused. I think she found it amusing...
Right the least I could do is have the dinner on the table when Himself comes home, he may not notice then that the metre high mound of ironing currently residing in the corner of the bedroom is still a metre high. Also the news that a new fridge may be needed might be better taken on a full stomach.

Someone out there A lovely comment from a friend of a friend led me to visit her site and it is beautiful, clever and funny (not unlike her actually!) Check it out: ilonina is random. It's nice to know I'm not the only exhibitionist in Ireland!

Food for thought So I am checking the Bombay Pantry online as we are having take away for dinner. I decide to sneak a peek at Eumom not expecting any posts since yesterday and lo! one of the first time mom's has gone into labour 2 DAYS EARLY. Her little (well if you call 9lbs little! Eye of a camel and all that...!) girl was born just before 1 o'clock today. This makes it all so much more immediate for me. I really have to sort out that bag! Oh man...!

Hippy-dippy Myself and Abs had a good laugh a while ago watching a high end documentary on ITV called "The Dark Side of Hypnosis". Apparentaly there is a relatively new pain relief method gaining ground in the states (where else?!) called hypnobirthing: Hypnobabies.com. Let's see how we go with this one...

Ready or not, here I come! A friend told me recently that when she was in labour with her baby and the midwife finally said push, the first thought that flashed through her head was "I'm not ready!" This regardless of the hours of labouring, the days of preparation, the months and years and the lifetime of preparation for that moment. As Kinski said in Paris Texas "Yup I know that feeling"
It's Sunday morning, the clocks are gone back, I'm off to eat breakfast and I'm going for a swim.