Once again I enter cyberspace - this could become a habit…! It’s actually quite fun to remove myself (briefly) from the chaos of family life to reflect on my life. However, I have just begun to watch ‘House’ - TV programme - so this may be briefer and less reflective than planned.

My day has been very food orientated - the mince pies weren’t a huge success at home - Libby doesn’t like anything with dried fruit in it (she must eat very frugally at Christmas!), Noah only nibbles the outside of his pie and returns it, & Esther eats most of it but gives me back a few half chewed bits (she interestingly refers to them as shepherd’s pies). I decided to take them further afield and did find friends who devoured them happily so am pleased to report they must have been okay because they are all gone.

I have decided the kids need to be healthier and eat better and also eat all their tea so I have enrolled Libby as food monitor and we are going to try and get Noah off his constant cravings for ice cream and biscuits and eat everything on his plate. He ate very large quantities of cheese tonight but we realised that also wasn’t the wisest pre-bed snack!

We’ve also been planning Esther’s birthday tea - Nov 24th - so that will be fun. Esther prayed beautifully tonight and told Jesus that she loved daddy lots and we want him home soon. She did however find it difficult to remain in bed once there, and drew me and Libby quite an extensive selection of drawings which she kept bringing downstairs to show us before succuming to sleep.

Johnny is the most adventurous chef in our home and I’ve just e-mailed him a ‘Roasted cherry tomato & Red onion soup’ recipe for his farewell bash before he departs the US of A. He’s cooking dinner for the two fab girls who have shared their home/cars/food/lives with him these past few weeks. Rosann is a long time friend and godmom to Noah - thanks for everything Rosie - you’re a star.

Bye for now. Over and out.