1. A brunch visit to the Daily Bread cafe in Rusthall, where they make their own sausages, bacon, baked beans and ketchup. The best fry up I’ve had in a long time.
2. The girls (and Mat and I) are very impressed with the storyteller on Storytelling Day at the local park. So engaging I don’t want to leave!
3. A productive worky catch up with a friend up the road over a glass of red.
1. Post Insanity coffee and toast.
2. We’re already in town before I realise I’ve forgotten Kirsty’s shoes. Luckily BHS is still open so I whip in and snap up a pair of skater shoes for £3 in the sale!
3. The Lantern Parade is great. We haven’t been for a few years and it’s lovely to walk along as part of the procession, helping represent Isla’s pre school.
1.Doris’s French coaching sheets for Isla make me smile.
2. On what would have been Mum’s 72nd birthday, after bath time I sing Hush little baby, don’t say a word, Papa’s going to buy you a Mockingbird to Isla, just as I remember Mum singing to me.
3. Babysitting up the road with a roaring fire, glass of wine and Gatsby on Amazon instant video.
1. Pre school ted comes to visit.
2. Three sisters in harmony on the way home from school.
3. “Thanks for letting me have piano lessons Mum,” Doris pipes up in the car on the way to her slot.
1. An hour’s facial while a friend looks after Kirsty – such rare luxury and I savour every minute.
2. An impromptu game of skittles in the hall.
3. A friend picks Doris up from school to save us going out in the wind and rain and I am so grateful not to have to venture out again into the bad weather.
1. Peering in the pram at a two day old baby – she looks so contented and so perfect.
2. Isla finds the yoghurt on her lid is in the shape of a heart.
3. After over a year of abs roll ups at Pilates, i finally feel I’ve got them nailed.
1. Kirsty and her mate Toby holding hands in the double buggy on the way to playgroup.
2. Soup for lunch, with bread and butter.
3. Doris’s note on the board about her homework, sneakily doctored by Mat…
1. We arrive at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and suddenly London has ‘crept up on us.’ There it is in all its glory laid out before us, the river snaking its way from Canary Wharf right round to St Pauls. Glorious.
2. At the Planetarium we are about to buy our tickets when a lady thrusts her spare one into our hands, which admits an adult and two children.
3. It’s mild enough for Lunch without coat on the terrace outside the planetarium, overlooking the green of Greenwich Park. Cousin Emily blows out the candles on birthday cupcakes for all of us.
1. Checking out the new fromage and French cheese shop on the High Street.
2. Sitting on high stools and eating panini in arte bianca
3. Drinking prosecco and one of Barrie’s legendary cocktails for Cheryl’s birthday.
1. Love the colours in Isla’s pre school picture.
2. At wet playtime,Doris designed a card for Mat and me.
3. Designing and driving ‘a car’ from the H&M delivery boxes, complete with rainy windscreen!
Three Happy Thoughts 