Count down.

Elliot starts Reception (equivalent to Kindergarten) on Wednesday. He'll be gone from 9:00 - 3:30, wearing a uniform, and navigating the cafeteria scene on his own. He's cool about it, but still - it's a pretty big deal.
<BR>
In preparation, we've been doing lots of important things these past few days...
<BR>
Rockin' out:

<BR>

<BR>

Battling gigantic bracelets:

<BR>

Having coffee with beautiful ladies:

 <BR>

<BR>

Trying to find Superman:

<BR>

And swinging by the school gates:

<BR>

Roll on Wednesday. [gulp!]

Jam.

I have the preserving bug. I have great plans for spicy chutneys, homemade ketchups and interesting jams, thanks to my new favorite, super-informative website.


Today's flavour: damson jam.
Damsons are part of the plum family. They're pretty sour when eaten raw so are mostly used in jams and jellies. They have a high pectin content so seemed a good way to kick off my obsession.

simmer fruit + a little water

Remove pits and most of the skins

Add equal parts sugar and get the jars ready

Boil to 220F

Done!

There were 4 jars, but our lovely friends The West-Edmonds came over at just the right time for us to share.

The Batman.

Love is buying four overpriced tickets to Batman Live! because your 4 year old is obsessed with superheros.
<BR>

<BR>
Love is taking your family to this show, despite your wariness of large crowds, stadium seating, and weird 20-somethings dressed as Batman.
<BR>

<BR>
Love is leaving your seats with your 4 year old, five seconds into the show when he decides it's too scary.
<BR>
Love is sitting with your 4 year old in the hallway, while the first half of the show is entertaining 99% of London's male population, aged 8 and under (and those weird 20-somethings).
<BR>
Love is trying not to think about the overpriced ticket.
<BR>
Love is trying not to force your 4 year old back into the theater.
<BR>
Love is not barking at every, single O2 Customer Support Agent who is helpfully trying to get your scared 4 year old back in the theater, and not just letting him watch the shagging show through the glass door panes.
<BR>
Love is trading in your driver's license for Florescent-Yellow-Airline-Ramp-Agent-Noise-Cancelling-style headphones in the hope that they might be able to help him cope with the deafening Bat Noise.
<BR>
Love is not being too ashamed at passionately venting your frustrations with the situation at your husband and your very close friends at Intermission.
<BR>
<BR>
Love is coercing your 4 year old into in his theater seat with a lollipop, during Intermission and 'forgetting' that the show will start in 3 minutes.
<BR>

<BR>
Love is pretending not to hear your 4 year old insistently telling you that the show is about to re-start and that he wants to go back in the hallway.
<BR>
Love is sitting there while the show re-starts.
<BR>
Love is watching over your 4 year old every other second to recognize that he's not really scared.
<BR>
Love is watching over your 4 year old every other second to recognize that he's actually enjoying it.
<BR>
Love is just smiling and nodding when, upon exiting the theater, he says how much he loved it.
<BR>
Love is just smiling and nodding when he says he wasn't really scared.
<BR>

<BR>
Love is just smiling and nodding when he wants to read Batman for his bedtime story.
<BR>
Love ends when he says he's now part of The Joker's team.
<BR>