just sharing...

...Mr McMuffin and I were trying to work out if there ever was a nicer baby than Babycake and we suspect that the baby Jesus might have been a nice baby too, but in reality he probably wasn't quite as nice as Babycake. Am really off to bathe the nicest baby ever now.

as ditchwater

I have been very dull over the holidays and got nothing done at all. I have such good intentions and then just can't be bothered to get off my arse and write that essay/finish that report/paint that door/organise that bedroom etc. In fact it's hard to say what I actually do, as I never even seem to sit down for long. I have surpassed myself this year and sent out about three christmas cards, the others (already written and addressed) are gathering dust. I managed to get all the presents organised in advance and then kept forgetting to post my big sister's to her. I've even forgotten to post the Nephew's birthday card and I bought that ages ago. I'm not so much lazy, disorganised and slothful as pathetic really and it gets worse the longer the winter goes on. Come the spring I seem to gather momentum, but the long, dark nights sap all the energy and enthusiasm from me.

Poor Babycake is usually as lively as they come, but has been laid low with a snotty cold. He seemed better today, so we went to Greenwich auction rooms with Rock Cake and Gypsy Tart, but he was clearly just putting a brave face on things. He's really not his usual self and is refusing to eat anything but porridge, fruit or rice cakes. While this isn't the most appalling diet going, his refusal of his beloved lentils and spinach and his soy bean and mixed vegetables dish suggests that his cold has affected his appetite, but judging by the way he just tucked into a bit of my puris, not his sense of adventure. I'm now going to hear him giggle as I take him to the bathroom for his favourite activity, a bath with his toy cow and a jug of water to pour over his head. Strange lad our one.

my favourite album

I haven't posted anything about music for absolutely ages. In part, this is because I am a little embarrassed to admit that my favourite album this year has to be The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance. I have listened to it practically non-stop since it was released. It's a emo/rock concept album about death. It's filled with power pop tunes with big choruses. Of course, when you get to a certain age, you can easily see the joins in any new-ish bands music. My Chemical Romance seem to have plundered riffs and even bits of lyrics from some of the best albums of the last thirty years. I don't hold that against them because they put it all back together so well. I'm not sure if this album will stand the test of time, but for now, it's excellent and I suggest you have a listen.

another christmas gone

The day went really well, after a shaky start. Mr Rock Cake and Ms Gypsy Tart brought the parents over early. Having spent the morning cooking, I was in the middle of ironing some clothes in my dressing gown. I still had my just got out of bed hair, and I hadn't even had a bath. I looked lovely, and I'm sure a really good advert for the meal that I had prepared for them. All was not lost. Mr Rock Cake and Ms Gyspy Tart took the parents over to their house, which is just next door, while I got ready.

We had a lovely day. The meal went well, and was, for the most part, delicious. Although I slightly miscalculated the Yorkshire puddings, they were a special request. I decided to make them a bit bigger than usual, but forgot to alter the timing. They looked fine on top, but were a bit soggy on the bottom. Oddly enough, they tasted fine.

There were lots of presents and Babycake had a whale of a time, playing with the paper. I'll post some photos later. We all got one memorable present. Ms Gypsy Tart and I hit upon the idea of giving everyone gift vouchers for a session in a flotation tank. At some point in the new year, we are all off to float together, which should be fun. Assuming it's not a front for some KGB brainwashing outfit, and we all end up assassins programmed to take out a world leader.

Later in the evening, Ms Ginger Cake and another friend joined us, and we chatted and drank some more, and chatted and drank some more, and ate apricot tart from Paul. We were going to play some games, but just couldn't seem to build up any enthusiasm for it.

I really enjoyed the day, but I am exhausted. I love hosting these things but they don't half take a lot of work.

I am working today, but it looks like it will be a quiet day. I've been on since 8am but only had one call so far.

I hope you all had as lovely a day.

merry christmas

I'm sitting at the dining room table typing this on my lovely Macbook. It truly is a beautiful machine. I get pleasure from just looking at it. I have managed to clear the dining room of our iMac and all the bits and pieces that I have collected over the years. You know, hard drives, DVD writers, card readers, and other stuff. I have set up a network, although if truth be told there really wasn't anything to do apart from switch the machines on. Apple really do have this sewn up. Without having to fill up my drive with music or photos, I am able to access it all. It is all looking very neat. I just love the future.

I thought I should post something because it has been absolutely ages since I wrote anything. I have got up early this morning because I managed to spend the night sleeping on the settee. I fell asleep watching hard rocking music videos on SCUZZ. Mrs McMuffin surprised me at about 3am, and I was a little rude to her. She was only trying to get me to bed, but I told her that I wanted to stay where I was. I was dozing to the sound of a little speed metal, when suddenly she appeared. I probably should have taken the opportunity to get some sleep in a proper bed because I am working today, although I am hoping that it will be really quiet because everyone will be too busy getting ready for Christmas to realise that they hate each other, or that they want their children in care. In fact, I am working every day of the holiday period except for Christmas day.

We have been very organised this year. All the Christmas shopping has been done, so today should be quite relaxed. We only have to do a bit of cleaning in preparation for tomorrow. I'm doing dinner for 8, inlcuding little Babycake. I thought this year we would have roast beef.

What a year it has been. Babycake is nearly a year old, and is about to enjoy his very first Christmas. He is now into everything, and has just about mastered that old walking thing. He has a fantastic technique for working things out that involves pulling and pushing until something happens. He was playing with sliding doors of the TV cabinet last night, and no sooner has I said to Mrs McMuffin, something about what a pain it will be when he works out how to open the doors to get at the SKY box and DVD player, than he slid the door open. Sometimes when I watch him I wonder how it is possible to keep alive that joyful curiosity and desire to learn as he grows older. It's just that I meet people all the time who seem to be stagnant and frightened by learning or experiencing new things.

Anyway, I think I should be getting ready for work just in case someone needs me today. Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas. I hope you all have a lovely time.

too late in the day

...to wish my chum, Mrs Carrot Cake a very happy birthday, as somehow it got to be gone 10pm before I realised how late it was. I would also like to welcome Gypsy Tart home from Berlin and say how jealous I am of her trip there. Finally, I would like to congratulate Babycake on his first steps on Saturday. He is still only 10 months old, according to the Babycentre calculator, so I am not best pleased with the boy as I told him not to walk before he was a year, on the basis that he doesn't yet have the brains to handle this dangerous activity. Babycake clearly disagrees with me and tired of stepping around the furniture has cast himself off into the great unknown of the sitting room. I suppose I'd better break out the Arnica cream for him and the Valium for me.

wheeeeeeeeeeee!

I just bought myself a beautiful Macbook. It's lovely. Mrs McMuffin wants to steal it from me.

I adore reality tv and having watched the first three series of Big Brother and all six cycles of America's Next Top Model I have pushed Mr McMuffin's patience too far and he refuses to watch anything else. It's been a real surprise to me then, that since watching a few minutes of So You Think You Can Dance? he has become completely hooked. He's not so much an admirer of the dancing, as the whole horrible crap the dancers spout when kicked out of the competitiion. Evey time we hear one of the morons talking about giving 200% we cheer and ask the next competitior to explain why they're not giving 483%. Did any of these stupids actually do maths at school?

We are also rather fond of the fabulously titled Asbo Teen to Beauty Queen, where a scarily botoxed and surgeried American ex beauty queen of indeterminate age tells chip eating chaverinas how to behave. She is amazingly good at doing this and does so with real compassion and grace.

So you've probably gethered that life in the McMuffin houseold is not so much on hold as focused inwards, which doesn't make for good blogging, or indeed very exciting living. However, with every week that goes by and Babycake changing even more, the possibility of looking outward gets a little higher. Right now, the tiny tormentor is sleeping in his Daddy's arms, having bitten off more that he could chew of my arm earlier on today. I might get Mr McMuffin to post a picture as it's rather spectacular.