Books and snuggles and Amy Winehouse

Gosh I appear to have been having a life and not been writing my blog for a few days. Must update you on my exciting daily habits forthwith:
Took Sadie to Brighton Jubilee Library on Friday afternoon to relax on the sofas and read her endless books. It was really lovely to snuggle her for a long time. At home it's easy to be with her but not really be with her. And she loves books my girl. And snuggles.
Friday pm I went to the Robin Hood pub (fab pub with board games and indie music) with the gorgeous Sarka and met up with the RADIANT Rachael and her crowd of merry male journos. Was very proud of myself as I went home at 11pm having had only 2 pints. I must be seriously under the influence of Alex James.
Saturday afternoon Andy, Sadie and I took the bikes to Shoreham to find a secluded beach in the surprisingly sunny October weather. We sat against the rocks watching the waves crash. Andy did a spot of exploring, while Sadie and I focussed on the smaller delights to be had on the East Sussex coastline and hunted for pretty shells. I then realised that there were only men on the beach, who were either strolling along or standing behind pillars and posts. Dotted along the back of the beach were closed wind shelters with the odd man going to visit them. We quickly realised we were in a gay cruising area and carried on collecting shells. Well, this is Brighton after all.
Sadie spent the night having a sleepover with her little mate Natasha, so Andy and I went to Lewes for a romantic stroll down the high street, a couple of glasses of red wine in the Harveys Brewery pub, and an Italian feast in Lazzati's (I opted for the spaghetti with chilli, olive oil and garlic, while Andy had the steak in mushroom sauce- both were delicious). We were in bed by 10.30pm, having discussed the possibility and hilarity of us getting married. We both fell asleep scowling, uncertain of what the evening's conversation topic meant to the two of us.
Sunday, today, is Joy's birthday celebrations and we've just been on the beach with her and a few pals enjoying the sun, a portion of chips and a pint. Geoff had a Bloody Mary before lunch which is outrageous. Dirty bugger.

Soundtrack: Amy Winehouse- You Know I'm No Good

Save the cheerleader save the world

My, Heroes is a great tv show is it not? Watched it last night and can never quite believe how good it is...
I am off to try and save a few lives- well, maybe one or two accidents. This morning on my way to taking Sadie to school I witnessed the second accident on the "crossing" on the main road at the end of our street. A little boy (about 8 yrs old) ran across and was hit by a bicycle- obviously not the most serious accident in the world, but two years ago Sadie was hit by a double decker bus on the same spot. She was miraculously unharmed, except for a scratched hand and a small bruise on her head, and the boy today was just in shock, but these incidents have spurred me on to call the council and request for a proper zebra crossing to be put there.
Also- I don't know what's happening to this area- it used to be quite sophisto, but last night, when I popped out, a drunken, middle aged couple staggered towards me and the man asked if I'd like to come home with them for a threesome! And all I'd done is gone out for 5 minutes to drop the Mr Bean DVD at the video shop! Christ. We shall have to move, especially if they don't sort out that crossing.

Good Golly Miss Molly

My latest magazine pitch I've sent off is about breastfeeding ('oh god here she goes the hippy twat' I can hear you all muttering). I can't seem to get away from this mothering malarkey. It's now deeply imbedded in my womanly veins and I seem to have a lot to say on the matter so why not write about the subject? After all, it's a topic that most of the world is fascinated by at some point in their lives. I suppose I wish that I could multi-task better; be a supermum by day making brownies and reciting Charlie and Lola off by heart, and by night be a hotshot food writer, book reviewer or music critic, instead of just writing about childrearing. I guess the outside world will reach me gradually, as it's started to.
It's only in the last year that I feel I can see again. My world for over three years was focussed intently on one little person. There I was, head down, getting stuck in and trying my best to do everything right. I think I've done well in my job as full time mum; Sadie seems to have turned out happy and healthy so far. And now I lift my head up and there's a whole world out there, still spinning around with zillions of wonderful, exciting, colourful, interesting people to meet, places to see and things to do.
Having kids, and then coming out of the first few years of it still smiling, is like being given a second chance at life. Whereas in the early days every ounce of free time was like gold dust, now those spare moments are in adundance (Miss Spector's over at her best friends' for dinner right now) and I intend to enjoy myself.
Now I find I can actually finish reading a book in a week, I have time to listen to music or commentary on the radio, I actually finish reading the Sunday paper, I can take my time cooking a magnificent meal for two, I can write and I can take a deep breath and enjoy my time instead of hurriedly cramming in things to do when free and actually getting nothing productive done at all.
Andy and I are making the most of this liberating period to have a little holiday in the October half term. Sadie is off to my mums for 4 days and we're going to Yorkshire to explore the moors, visit the Turkish baths, and, more importantly, have a few rather overdue lie-ins. We can't wait.
Incidentally, despite all this lust for me-time, I spent an hour today cuddling, feeding and burping (yes she did puke all over me) five month old cutie-pie, ginger top Molly, my friend Tamzin's second sproglet, and, as much as my life is back, I still felt a huge pang in my womb for another little life-zapper. Isn't nature a powerful thing?


Soundtrack: Definition of Sound-Wear your love like heaven

My arse is rested

Today was a right shitty, rainy one, but enjoyable nevertheless. Spent the morning chatting away to my pschotherapist (I really don't need to see her any more but it gives me a great excuse to spend an hour sitting on my arse). Did my usual burble and blub and then, after picking Sadie up from school, went down on the pebbly beach to rendez-vous with one Rebs Tully- an old bookseller colleague from way back (haven't seen her since I announced in a pub to a few friends I was pregnant- well, I had to explain- they were stunned as I ordered an orange juice).
We dined on nettle soup in the delicious Due South (http://www.duesouth.co.uk/), having managed to get a window seat with a view of the crashing waves- I thought the girl from Hackney might appreciate a bit of scenery. Was ace to see her, and it seems, what with our shared interests in running and writing and boys, we now have a lot in common. I hope to catch up with her again very soon over a self-help book (written by her) and a bottle of wine.
Sadie and I then slobbed out to a Mr Bean DVD and ate popcorn. We closed the curtains and turned out the lights to pretend the lounge was a cinema. I love having a kid- it gives you the perfect excuse to behave like one. Plus I got to spend another hour of the day sitting on my arse. Off to work on The Book.

Soundtrack: Blur-Coffee and tv

Sunday Sunday

I love Sundays. They turn me all twee and vaguely middle aged, but once a week I just about get away with it. I love the slow mornings, listening to classic fm whilst planning our day's trip to the countryside. Today, after my sunny run along the seafront, we drove to Wakehurst Place (as we're- eek - National Trust members so twas free)- the Kew of West Sussex- for a picnic and a walk around the beautiful muliticoloured tree gardens. We supped tea and nibbled flapjacks outside the manor house, whilst little Sadie pushed her dolly around in her buggy collecting fallen leaves and woodlice. Home now and cooking roast beef to Radio 4, whilst supping a rather cork flavoured glass of wine. Don't come too quick Monday Monday.
Exciting week as both Sadie and I have been asked to be bridesmaids for two separate lovely friends of mine- hers for Joy and Geoff next June, and mine for Caroline and Ewan in 2009. Ah- always the bridesmaid and all that. But congrats to these ladies and gents!! And I have to say both couples are both two of the most suited couples I've ever met so about time too you lot!!
Joke of the week: I've just started going to the gym and I used a machine for an hour and then felt really sick. It was a great machine though- it did Kit Kats, Snickers, crisps........

Not drowning but running

Over the last few months I've found something that I can get as much of a buzz out of as the old liquor. The buzz is in fact better as it makes me feel alive and the feeling stays that way, whereas with my old buddy the bottle, it makes me feel euphoric and then very gloomy, sometimes even half dead, especially if I have too much.
I have started running along the seafront- I try to go every other day, and now that my mornings are free and the sun is shining it's the perfect time to get a fix of those endolphins (sic), some vitamin D and lower my risk of heart disease at the same time. The only downside is I have to show off my camel's hoof in my tight running leggings and end up looking like Phil Mitchell I'm so beetroot red.
Have just got back from a 20 minute run in the autumnal sunshine and sea breeze. The men who are working in my street digging up the sewers, who for some reason always say "Hello babe" when I go past (I've always attracted the classy type), always ignore me when I'm on my way back from a jog, hair scraped back and my face all shiny. It's yet another bonus to this exercise malarkey- scare off the leary roadworkers.
The wonderous Lucy Bullen and I are planning on doing a half marathon next year- watch this space...

Thank you for leaving us gizzly

We've just discovered that Sadie's grandad, the late Prof Wally Spector, shared a mistress with Fidel Castro! How mad is that? Wally died 20 years+ ago .. Shame Sadie won't ever meet her pathologist grandad - he sounded like quite a character and was apparantely a very gentle and funny man. His legacy to us is the word 'gizzly' which we use at home to describe the jelly-like substance found on slightly under-cooked eggs...