The very hungry caterpillar

Ghin is now beginning to sample food. Today he tried keema nan, which was alright, then a cookie, which he didn't like at all, a malt loaf, which he sucked on continuously, even taking out a raisin, roast lamb, laughing cow cheese - couldn't get enough of that, apple - he loved that too, and finally a banana. Oh no, i lie, finally a smoked tofu - oh he nearly ate that one all up! It's not bad going when it was only yesterday that he realised that he could waylay food on the way to my mouth and had a banana milk shake and a pizza. He sucks on it, just getting the taste. It's a great way to get children to start eating. I remember when we first fed Oisin. He was 4 months and we gave him a taste of egg yolk. Just one spoon. It was a plastic spoon and it was done with great ceremony. And then we bought carton loads of bottled food. I was planning to puree my own food, but Ghin seems to have jumped one step. And it feels far more natural and right.

Ma and Pa called today and asked me why i hadn't updated my blog. Quite simply i've been so tired over the last week. We've been out and about and by the time Thursday and Friday rolled round i was so exhausted. On Saturday i was ready to drop. But had to keep going, particularly since i had said that i would take Lucy the whole Saturday. We ended up trying to join the clean coast campaign, but were blown away by the weather. We then went to Pickie Park and stayed there for all of five minutes on a merry go round that sounded like a train before the skies emptied and we were cut off from everything - trapped in the middle of the second deluvian age on a german made roundabout. It sounds like a metaphor for my life. Lucy got home after Dr Who - but not before i roasted a leg of lamb and Lucy and myself very nearly polished it all off. Sunday, because Peter was at some climate change conference, was spent at home. Oisin watched far too much TV, but i really was unable to get into the car. I actually felt car sick when i looked at it. The very thought of loading Ghin into it and the stress of him crying was enough to put me off. Also the car was a tip. I only managed to clean it out today. I had told myself that i was going to make sure that the car was cleaned out everyday. Just three days was all it took to turn it into a sty.

Peter and Oisin baked on Sunday night - the whole kitchen was covered in flour. Peter - or Anonymous may contradict me of course - but it is only a very slight exaggeration.

I can't believe that it's been almost a week since i last updated. In fact i was horrified to discover that Monday past was the 21st. I thought we were still in the single digits for May. Time just goes by so quickly.

Tuesday is now karate day and I fetch Lucy from school and drop her back at the Lisburn Road, where Oisin has his karate. That's Lucy in the pictures and Cafe Arizona is where Ghin first samples milkshake. Other things i'm doing. The school is going through a process of change and we're taking part in it. This morning i met with a mother who had lived in a Danish intentional community and visited Jarna in Sweden - a Steiner teaching centre. It would be so fab if we could create such a place here in Northern Ireland. There is already talk about intentional communities and if the school is interested in reinventing itself, it would be the perfect next incarnation. So we hold the flame...

Today Kolya came over for a playdate. Ghin has interrupted me three times during this update now. I'm gonna just put it on and then come back later, if i can.