Ten things

• I went to Southwark yesterday, and with half an hour to spare before my meeting I stood by the river and watched the world go by.


• C turned twelve yesterday, and although he technically has another year to go, it feels like we have a teenager in the house now.  I feel ill-equipped to mother a teenager.  It reminds me of that moment twelve years and one day ago, when the midwives who had delivered him left about an hour after the birth, and I sat on my bed shouting silently after them "Don't go!  I don't know anything about babies!  I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!"
• My Toast armwarmers featured on the Mollie Makes blog this morning, which was a lovely surprise.  But just look at the gloves at the top of the post!  I am going to make myself some more Toast and then embroider them - so lovely.
• O turns nine tomorrow.  The birthday cake she has asked for is Death by Chocolate with a chocolate buttercream filling and a chocolate ganache topping.  With chocolate sprinkles.
• The hens have started laying again - about bloody time as they've all been moulting, or broody, or both, since July.  And just in time too, as the Death by Chocolate cake requires a whopping 5 eggs.
• I am continuing to try new versions of old favourites.  Today I made Sarah Raven's minestrone from her Garden Cookbook.  It uses red cabbage and red wine in place of the usual white wine and savoy cabbage.  I absolutely love how it tastes, but it looks a bit unnervingly purple.

• I want to make this ploughman's loaf.  The recipe is from Mary-Anne Boerman, who was one of the finalists on this year's Great British Bake Off.  I love that programme, and am mourning its passing for another year.
• I am greatly enjoying The Archers spin-off show on Radio 4 Extra - Ambridge Extra.  I am so pleased the BBC decided to make a second series because I love hearing more of the younger characters, and revealing internal monologues that you don't get on the main show.
• I am reading the new Ottobre children's pattern magazine, which dropped heavily onto the hall carpet yesterday.  I knew just from the thud that there was something exciting in the post.  I love the boys' blue shirt you can see in the fourth picture down, and O is excited that there is a pattern for a flannel-lined kimono dressing gown which will fit her.  I am enjoying dithering over which new Anna Maria Horner flannel should be purchased.
• I found this beautiful necklace via the wonderful website Bookshelf Porn.  Don't be alarmed by the name - it is a website which posts daily photos of bookshelves you wish you owned.  Go forth and rummage - you'll love it.