AMELIA'S 1ST BIRTHDAY

Tuesday, was Amelia's 1st birthday - it's quiet scary to think how fast the past year has gone, or maybe it's because I lead such an active life! We had a lovely family/godparents party for her on Sunday (Christian has written about it here if you're interested!), then on her actual birthday we had a present opening ceremony & went to Uncle Sam's for tea - it's an American burger place with a train track running around the ceiling .... a big favourite of "weekend dad's" on Saturday teatime!

She had lots of lovely presents & lots of clothes & money. We bought her a bouncing & spinning zebra, that she seems to like. She got her 7th tooth the day before her party & I had her weighed yesterday - 21lb 12oz. She still doesn't say anything much, unless my Mum comes round & it's all "Nannie, Nan Nan Nan"! She is doing really well with her walking. She walks around using the furniture & anything/body that moves. The other day she took 1 step all by herself, then fell down, so I'm sure she'll be running around in the not too distant future - joy!!

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

Here we go then:

1. Loose 3 stone - very important!

2. Concentrate on learning French.

3. Take more pride in my home - ie. do more housework :(

I think I'll leave it at that - if I can at least do number 1, I will be very happy :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE XX

AMELIA'S 1ST CHRISTMAS

It seems ages ago, but 5 days ago was Christmas.... & Amelia's 1st Christmas. It was great! As usual, after much hype, Alice was sooo excited, she didn't wake up until nearly 8am. We went downstairs & discovered that "he'd been"! Poor old Father Christmas must have spent most of the night at our house, unloading a ridiculous amount of presents for both girls. Alice set about opening & Amelia finally woke up - she seemed to know that something was different & enjoyed eating gift tags & bows. They had some really great presents, so thank you to all concerned.

Then came the turn of the lunch, & my 1st Christmas lunch - I'd previously cooked turkey one Easter, but never for Christmas day. A couple of months ago I'd got 'Nigella Christmas' & as she is my true inspiration to anything culinary (a Goddess!), I stuck to quite a few of her recipes & to her timing chart & I have to say that it was the best Christmas lunch I've ever had. It was completely stress free - so I still don't understand what all the fuss is about.

I had brined the turkey the day before, to make it super juicy - I made allspice gravy, perfect bread sauce & the most fantastic gingerbread stuffing mmmm! I did however stick to my own vegetables & my gorgeous Guinness Christmas pudding - well, you can't copy everything from the Master -tips & pointers are all one needs.

Joining the Briddon's Christmas were, Mum, Joyce, Eric & Dianne - David didn't make it as he had "the bug" - but he did pop round to collect a plated up meal. He probably enjoyed his peace & quiet more than anything anyway.

So now thoughts are to next year & Christmas here again, but with my lot this time.

GO ME-EE, GO ME-EE!

5 weeks ago today, I thought 'Right, it's 6 weeks to Christmas & it's very possible to loose 10lbs in 6 weeks'. I was so right! It's still 1 week to Christmas & I have lost 12lb!!!! This makes me very happy :) Now it doesn't matter if I put half a stone on on Christmas day ... bring on the roast potatoes!

Merry Christmas to everyone .. fat & thin!

OOOH! I FEEL A REALLY BAD

Last week Alice & Amelia were poorly :( On Thursday I joined in & we all felt really rough. In stepped my lovely Mum - on her 2 days off she came round & looked after us - resulting in her catching the lurgy from us. She has just phoned me & asked if she could pop round after she had picked up her prescription from the doctors, to see the girls. Unfortunately I instantly asked her not to as... "Alice is better now & I don't really want her to re-catch anything"! What a bitch!!! I have since called her back & begged forgiveness & pleaded with her to call round, but she won't! I feel really bad now!

CHRISTMAS ADMISSION

Driving home from Sainsburys, I have just realised that I know 95% of the words to Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday', including all the talkie bits - I got a bit lost on the 2nd verse, but not for long!

DELIVERY CHIMPS

I know that Christian isn't fond of City Link couriers - he calls them Shitty Link, maybe missing link would be more apt, well they have competition ... big style- TNT!

I heard a knock on the door this morning & opened it to find a gurning runt of a little man stood there. "I've just delivered a parcel to no.9", he was very proud to tell me. "Really?", "Yes.... it was for you....... you weren't in last time so I took it straight there instead....... when I saw you were in, no.9 said she'd bring it round........it's a book or something!"

What a fricking muppet! Firstly, why not check to see if I was in before he found my parcel a surrogate home. And secondly, when he saw that I was in (ie. lights on, car in drive & small child in window), why the hell did he still leave the parcel with my neighbour, walk to my door & inform me that the neighbour was bringing the parcel for him....... he could have just brought it!

FORMULA FOOD - RESULTS

Better late than never, here are the results (in my opinion) in ascending order.

18. Canada - Poutine
17. Australia - Kangaroo Stroganoff
16. China - Lumpia Shanghai
15. Belgium - Moules et Frites
14. Italy - Saltimbocca
13. Monaco - Bouillabaisse
12. France - Cassoulet
11. Turkey - Kebabs
10. Spain - Paella
9. Malaysia - Fish Curry
8. Hungary - Goulash
7. Brazil - Feijoda
6. Valencia - Calons a la Barcelonesa
5. Germany - Sauerbraten
4. Japan - Sushi
3. Bahrain - Falafel Pittas
2. Singapore - Bak Chor Mee
1. Britain - Concession Stands

Most of these were really nice & the top 10 was very close. Britain had to win really & for 1 reason only - sitting in a cold draughty grandstand with the rain pouring down, cuddled up to the man I love waiting for the qualifying to start, drinking hot chocolate & eating doughnuts...perfect!

ALICE

We were talking about our Christmas turkey the other day, telling someone that we'd been to see it. Alice then said "I'm not going to have turkey at Christmas, I'll have a sausage." "Oh, why's that?" I asked. "Sausages don't have heads!"

SLICE 'N' SPICE

Last night whilst chopping carrots & daydreaming (not the best idea) - I chopped the end of my finger off. Not just a nick but an actual disc of finger came off - I saved it to show Christian!
After swearing, hopping, feeling dizzy & sick I remembered that my mother-in-law said that turmeric was the thing for cuts. As the initial white end of my finger started turning red, followed by a river of blood, I emptied a pot of ground turmeric into an egg cup & stuck what was left of my finger in it.

It started really stinging straight away but low & behold in under a minute it had stopped bleeding! I packed more turmeric on it & bandaged it up in kitchen roll & plasters & it still hasn't bled anymore - amazing! I do have a very yellow finger this morning, it looks like I've been smoking again! Note to everyone: keep some ground turmeric in your cupboard.