Busy day

Got up feeling very rested and cheerful so Tobes and I decided to make pancakes. American pancakes. Big, fluffy, thick golden discs that fill you up for a week and a half. Unfortunately, we didn't have any buttermilk but they still turned out yummy. Not great for the diet but does wonders for the soul.

Then we visited a preschool right down the street from us and got Tobes all signed up. He starts on Monday 21 February!! I'm so excited. He's still on the list for the great school in September and this school is only OK but I think it will do him a world of good. The facilities aren't great but the teachers were enthusiastic and the kids looked happy and played together nicely. Tobes had a brilliant time during our visit and I think he'll really enjoy going. It's literally about six doors down from us so it'll be so easy. I could even walk him down in my PJs if I wanted to, don't think I will though but you never know. He'll go two mornings a week from 9.30 - 12.30. I think this will be a very good thing for both of us.

Then we went to the mall and I bought myself a pair of Converse sneakers. It's been well over a decade since I wore Converse but I used to love them and I felt it was time to enjoy them again. I don't wear trainers very often though and I do feel a bit like Jerry Seinfeld with the big white toes poking out from under my jeans but I'm sure I'll wear them until they fall apart.

Then we went to see Toby's friend Matthew whose birthday is today. Matthew is two today and today was just a little impromptu get-together. He's having the full blown Thomas the Tank Engine party in a couple of weeks. It was a nice afternoon. Matthew's mum, George, had some arts and crafts for the kids to do so Tobes was in heaven, then they played trains and took turns with Matthew's new Dyson toy hoover. So I'm sure Tobes will sleep well tonight.

And that's all from us. Just going to start rummaging around for something for dinner and settle down for the evening.

Here's our pancake recipe from this morning. I'm afraid it's in the British metric measurements but it's from Nigella Lawson's 'How to be a Domestic Goddess' and her books in the States are all converted to US measures if you really want to try it.

225g flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tsp sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
30g butter, melted and cooled
300ml milk

Just mix it all together for your batter until reasonably smooth and cook them on a skillet or on a flat griddle in a little butter until golden brown on both sides. I up the sugar to a tablespoon and I don't wait for the butter to cool which doesn't seem to make much difference. You just don't want it so hot that you end up with scrambled eggs in your batter. A few blueberries or banana slices added to the uncooked side before you flip a pancake is gorgeous. As is adding a bit of cinnamon to the batter. I love my pancakes, can you tell?