It's almost Autumn here - it certainly feels like Autumn already, the tomatoes aren't turning red any more (I need a recipe for Green Tomato Chutney), the courgette glut is slowing down, and the cats are sleeping at home again. Finlay needs a jumper to go out of the house, and I need to start wearing socks in the house. I hate that.

Finlay has grown up hugely - he is no longer the tiny helpless creature we brought home from the hospital. He is 'almost' walking (if he could be bothered), talks 19 to the dozen, and is into everything. He has such a definite character, and you can see in his face the boy he is becoming. I'd say he's gorgeous, but then I am incredibly biased. But, then - he is incredibly gorgeous.

I had better clean up this room before he wakes up again - as usual there is an explosion of toys across the living room, the kitchen is a disaster zone, and the upstairs needs vacuuming. It never stops.

Photos here: http://www.khaosproductions.com/2006/france/index.html

http://www.notwithoutmyhandbag.com/babynames/.

Actually someone commented that we'd kept Finlay's name a secret....

I don't know why, it was always going to be Finlay!

*SIGH*

Not long to go now.... just gotta hang in there for a bit longer. But a lot of growing up happens in 3 months, and I just can't bear to miss it. Now that Finlay is sitting up and playing so well on his own, I just want to savour the time he's safe on his playmat, before he starts walking around and wreaking havoc!!

At least by doing this we can afford family holidays for the next year, and we can send him to nursery 1 afternoon a week. He gets so much out of it, and hopefully it will nip any separation anxiety in the bud.

His, not mine. Mine is already fully fledged...

I have been pretty slack with Finlay's blog too. Ok, so I post the odd moblog photograph. But whoopdedoo. He's meant to be able to look at his blog as a memory of times when... well, when he didn't have memories. So I have failed there too. I do have posts up my sleeve, just not the time to put them into digital words.

Why? Work... although that is coming to an end (thank goodness - the commute is just killing me. 4hrs a day is just obscene - even if it's just once or twice a week). Finlay - he's only small but he's a handful, and will become more so. It's a constant whirl of feeding, but it's all good. I tried ready-made baby food but he wasn't having any of it, so I am glued to the steamer/blender combo and have apron strings firmly tied.

But I read a few select blogs when I get the time (usually at the expense of Finlay/Daddy/reading/cooking time), and they manage - so I will pull my thumb out and do my best. Oh, and do a redesign too at some point - I am hating the current one, and I need to brush up my CSS skillz for some work coming my way.

And my brain has too much to process now without writing it down, getting it out of my head. I know this blog used to be more of a travel blog, and a lot of people won't really care to read it - but that's ok too. And it might stop me eating so much chocolate.

As if.

http://beanlet.globaljen.com

(i will be harrassing david to update it within minutes; i am sure that will impress him no end, but i am hoping that just giving birth to his child might swing the decision in my favour..)

of course the only thing i have to announce right now is terrible backache.. though too high to mean much. i think.

of course i've never done this before so what do i know.

that site (which i admit is rather hacked-around with appalling CSS) is the longest time i have sat in front of the computer for 2 months. that might have something to do with my backache, perhaps?!

*ouch*

Despite having commuted during the years the IRA had a terror hold over London, this was one step too close to home - the bus was on the road/route I used just by work, as was the Russell Sq/Kings X tube incident. Thankfully my colleagues seem to be fine, and thanks to maternity leave, I was safely at home. Guardian angels working overtime...

After such wonderful news about the 2012 Olympics, this was a sobering return to the reality of living and working in one of the busiest cities in the world.

LOADS more to come.. we took over 600 in 8 hours, so that's about 1 per minute! David's brother did an amazing job. We've got to sort through and separate the wheat from the chaff before putting the next batch up..

It's been a bit quiet here lately. I've been preoccupied with the house, the Beanlet, and getting married! The house is still in progress but we're getting there, the Beanlet is currently breech and wriggly and VERY uncomfortable (well, I am uncomfortable, and I'd guess that as Beanlet is playing jazz on my ribcage, not very comfortable either). The wedding was on Saturday, and was totally WONDERFUL. Really was an amazing day. Deb's put a lovely couple of photos and description on her website, and our 'official' photos will be linked from here shortly. And of course more news on the Beanet front as it comes (the ladies in the village dowsed Beanlet's gender on Sunday but won't tell me, I am still convinced it's a boy but am happy either way!)

Meanwhile I will mostly be lying on the sofa trying to catch my breath and nap as much as possible... otherwise David's aunt will have my guts for garters ;)

So it was apt that I came across this website via a referrer on one of my 'regular reads' - duly added to the reading list, and forwarded to my medical friends.

Other news - have started my combination of annual/maternity leave, which is good timing, considering I am sofa-ridden for a while... I had a lovely lunch with colleagues and a really nice gift of some beeswax toiletries I'd had my eye on for a while, even more thoughtful as I'd last spoken of them 6 months ago and they'd remembered. Aww!

Now I've got to work out how I'm going to drive to the midwife on Thursday without using the clutch pedal. Ouch.

I did get the opportunity between naps to read the latest Kathy Reichs novel. Although the characters are often a bit two-dimensional, the forensics and anthrolopological roots are strong, and every book of hers I read makes me learn something new and interesting.

The latest book concentrates on the criminal aspects and impacts of Stockholm Syndrome. Something that I was aware of, but not something I'd widely read about. The nice thing about her books is that despite being "airport trash", they at least provoke thought, and a desire to know more about the themes introduced within the story.

What is interesting about this syndrome is that although it is cited primarily in criminal courts, it also has far wider implications for everyday life, as a standard pyschological coping mechanism. I came across this particular article about Stockholm Syndrome in relationships, which was extremely sobering reading, especially as I can identify some traits in people I know, yet am powerless to help.

My favourite book was one published in 1979 called "I Like This Poem", full of classic verse from Pam Ayres through to TS Eliot. The book is well-loved, with pages coming loose and sellotape holding the cover together. One of my favourite poems which I loved reading for its musicallity and sense of atmosphere, was 'Cargoes' by John Masefield. You can almost smell the sooty smoke coming off the British Coaster at the end.