On request...

... a cute photo of Little Planet!

Weekend list

Yesterday, my mother-in-law looked after Little Planet, so M and I went into central London and...

• Devoured baconburgers and fries at Ultimate Hamburger off Piccadilly Circus
• Viewed Lucian Freud's early paintings at the Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert Gallery on Bury Street - it was interesting to see the evolution of his style, subject matter and colour palette
  
• Enjoyed the comprehensive Francis Bacon show at the Tate Britain in Pimlico - so voluptuous and disturbing...
• ... And the Turner Prize 2008 shortlist there - we particularly loved Runa Islam's film of rickshaw riders
  
• Revisited Dryden Goodwin's photographs of passers-by in London's West End at the Photographers' Gallery - I felt that the subject matter and execution were good enough not to have technological gimmickry added on top
  
• Drank (unusually tepid) coffee and ate pistachio and lemon cake at Fernandez & Wells on Beak Street
• Savoured full-bodied New Zealand, South African and French Pinot Noir at Fortnum & Mason's 1707 wine bar
  
• Ate crispy vegetable tempura, pork tonkatsu, green tea ice cream and yuzu ice cream at the Japan Centre's Toku restaurant
• Bought green and first flush Darjeeling teas from the delightful Postcard Teas on Dering Street, and strong Indian coffee beans from the Algerian Coffee Store on Old Compton Street
• Stocked up on supplies - slippers, soap, hangers - from Muji on Carnaby Street
• Bought a variety of picture books for Little Planet from Waterstone's excellent childrens' section on Piccadilly, including the delightful The Haunted House by Kazuno Kohara and the colourful dreadlocked Goldilocks by Nick Sharrat and Stephen Tucker - she is now trying to turn the pages of books we read to her in our laps
  

Back at home we...

• Began treating Little Planet with infant Gaviscon as she now, at 4.5 months, and for the first time, has silent reflux
• Gave her her first taste of solids - Organix wholegrain baby rice - it will take some time but we were pleased she didn't instantly refuse either the food or the spoon

This afternoon, my mother-in-law and I went into central London and...

• Saw the sadly bitty and bland movie Brideshead Revisited at the Curzon Mayfair while...
• M stayed at home, looked after Little Planet and, while she slept, cooked roast lamb, roasted pumpkin and cauliflower with caraway seeds for dinner on our return
• He also baked an apple strudel which we will eat for our dessert. Thanks M!

Home and away

My husband M has stayed at home in London and looked after 4.5 month old Little Planet on Saturday, Sunday and today, while I am visiting my parents in East Anglia. He has taken her out shopping to the local fishmonger's, butcher's, baker's and to our local farmers' market. He has taken her out to the park. He has taken her to visit her auntie. He has generally enjoyed showing her off (she draws alot of comments from strangers when we're out and about and he is a proud daddy).

Meanwhile, I have spent the three days looking after my mother who is recovering from a knee operation. I have cooked her lamb and spinach curry with Bengali five spices, and a chorizo and chickpea stew. I have helped her out with some paperwork and shopping. But I have also lounged around alot, eating junk, reading magazines and the weekend papers from cover to cover, listening to music really loud, and sleeping in late each day until 9.30 or 10am. I feel like a teenager again!

I am missing M and Little Planet - our weekends a trois are treasured. But the break in routine is lovely. And of course, seeing my mum and dad.

I would have brought Little P with me, but she is going through a very fussy feeding stage at the moment making it difficult to feed her outside her known environment and without distractions. She may have mild reflux and/or may be ready for solids. We shall see how it goes this week and may have to give her infant Gaviscon and/or introduce some baby rice to her diet. I can't wait to introduce her to solids.

Choice pieces...

... from the past week.

• Dancing to the Sugababes videos on TV with Little Planet in my arms
• Eating M's risotto with rosemary and borlotti beans
• Being riveted by the John Adams series on TV
• Enjoying the return of Heroes
• Dressing Little Planet in jeans, beanie hats and NYC sweats (photo below)
  
• Lounging around reading the papers as Little Planet naps and it pours with rain outside
• Playing David Bowie and Tom Waits CDs to Little Planet, exposing her to superlative classics such as Ziggy Stardust and Rain Dogs
  
• Devouring beef stews and lamb curries on chilly nights
• Getting our garden shed erected
• Getting our kitchen spotlights fixed
• Enduring Little Planet's extremely fussy feeding and hoping it's just a phase
  
• Celebrating Little Planet's 4th month birthday
• Cracking hazelnuts and almonds and walnuts
• Taking Little Planet to her very first art show - Gerhard Richter's 4900 Colours: Version II at the Serpentine (photo above). She loved all the colours!
  
• Taking her for a stroll around Hyde Park in the glorious sunshine
• Taking her shopping with us at Whole Foods Market in Kensington
• Finishing Ann Packer's engaging The Dive From Clausen's Pier and Jonathan Raban's disappointing Surveillance; beginning Sarah Addison Allen's Garden Spells
  
• Relishing my time away from the baby - for example, a walk alone to the local shops, or watching the astounding and harrowing Il Y A Longtemps Que Je T'aime at the cinema in Covent Garden alone, or eating sushi alone at Tokyo Diner in Soho