The new kitchen has had the anticipated effect of turning me into a baking-obsessed housewife. My latest concoction was pure win - citrus cupcakes with orange-lime icing. I had to make mum take the remainder of the batch into work so that I wouldn't eat them all myself. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to lose track of time in a kitchen surrounded by measuring spoons, clouds of flour and the smell of gingerbread. Next up will be a first attempt at a new brownie recipe, lemon cheesecakes, apricot and white chocolate cereal bars, and carrot & pineapple muffins. Nom nom nom

Oh, and on the savoury side of all things culinary I've discovered the perfect marinade for chicken drumsticks. I'm thinking that with the addition of chinese five-spice and plum sauce it might work well in giving an oriental kick to some duck breasts so that'll be one to try soon.

In non-cooking news, a trip to Edinburgh is fast approaching. I'm taking Daniel on the train from Hemel to Edinburgh, via London. On my own. It's the first time I've actively dreaded the journey, and it's kind of sad to feel that way....travel was such a huge part of my life before Daniel came along, and I always subscribed to the notion that the journey was as big a part of a trip as the destination itself. Instead of an MP3 player, a book and gorgeous scenery to pass the time, this journey means having to fix food in advance, and remembering to bring the right toys and books, and bracing for at least one screaming fit, and standing in the vestibule for an hour singing "train whistle blowing" five hundred times whilst trying to get my child to take a long-overdue nap. I can hardly blame him - why should I expect an active toddler to sit still for the best part of five hours? - but then again I think I can be forgiven for feeling my heart sink at the prospect of it.

It's no good- I'm gonna have to fit in a batch of peanut butter cookies before Daniel wakes up. Anyone want to come and lick the spoon??

"You're so far down the moral ladder that even if you looked up with a telescope, you wouldn't be able to see the soles of a paedophile's feet." - Christopher Brookmyre

1. I have the bestest son in the history of the world.

2. Said son took his first independent steps on our birthday - he toddled from my brothers arms over to me, flung his arms round my neck and gave me a big slobbery baby kiss. And I cried my eyes out (to much amusement from brother and sister, and much understanding from my own mother).

3. He now toddles around pretty fearlessly, arms out in front of him zombie-style. I really need to get a video of it and add "Thriller" as the soundtrack.

4. He had his first vegan meal recently - tofu and cashewnut veggie rissoles and stir-fried vegetables. This is awesome.

5. I need someone to help me develop the perfect fruity Pimms sorbet recipe.

6. I am thinking of going back to work part-time...I think Daniel is ready for a few hours of nursery four days a week. And I'm ready for a few hours away from drool, the irritating songs on his baby walker and "Hairy Maclary".

7. I haven't seen most of you in AGES. Give me some available dates and I will gladly head to London for visits!

If it weren't so horribly offensive to think that people actually think that way, then I'd laugh at the concept. It was the way they talked about British workers for British jobs, and then put in "Because WE'VE EARNED THE RIGHT". This last above a line stating "TRAFALGAR - THE SOMME - DUNKIRK - D-DAY - THE FALKLANDS"

Well, I think I was supposed to be stirred to patriotism. But actually linking jobs and earning the right for them with battles that took place decades (even centuries) ago is genius. I can see now the octo-, nono- and centarians being so pleased that they'd be number 1 employment priority for the BNP. But I wasn't at those battles. In fact, the vast majority of us weren't. Does that mean we haven't earned the right? Oh, bugger. Best get in the dole queue then - or the emigrant ship. But hey, the Gurkhas have fought for us, so you'd think that by the logic of the BNP poster they would be first in line for the jobs and stuff. No?

Tell you what, though - they got one thing right. Anyone living in Britain who was at the Battle of Trafalgar DEFINITELY deserves some special consideration.

Why can't real life be like Center Parcs?

No traffic to negotiate - sports and activities always going on - the awesomeness that is the subtropical swimming paradise, where it is always the Caribbean even when it's pissing it down outside - lovely woodland glades with tons of housing that manages to not overlook other people's accommodation - baby-friendliness EVERYWHERE - and a spa where the grownups can escape to for some top-level pampering.

We had the bestest holiday ever. Daniel was so well-behaved (even in the restaurants) and so worn out that his night wakings were absolutely minimal. It is crap to come back to real life.

I want to go back. Anyone else want to come with me next time?

Got a top week of win coming up. Namely:

Today: Bro comes home from uni for the summer
Tomorrow: Visit from my favourite Aunt and Uncle
Saturday: My wonderful Edinburgh-based friend Em visits (first time in 15 months that I've seen her)
Sunday: Top mate James and I meet up with Em for coffee
Monday: OFF TO CENTER PARCS FOR DANIEL'S FIRST "PROPER" HOLIDAY!

Aqua Sana! Swimming! Badminton! Rollerblading! Aerobics! Cycling with Dan in a little wagon behind me!

And so much goodness to fill the time until the holiday starts. How the heck did things go from feeling so crap to being so great in the space of just a couple of days?

Really starting to get to grips with my weight now. Today I stepped on the scales and they revealed that I am now below 10st, for the first time since 2005. Clothes are hanging off me, I'm going to have to sort through the packed-up stuff to see if anything there will fit. It's a shame having no money with which to purchase sexy clothes to adorn a noticably svelter me.

Daniel is beyond lovely.

I got 82% on my last essay.

It's my birthday this month (which obviously means it's Dan's birthday too). Cue joint birthday festivities!

There is nothing like hearing "Make You Feel My Love" to make me teary-eyed as I remember the special people I've been fortunate enough to count as friends (and more) in my life.

This evening whilst my little man has slept, I've been reading through some very old emails, taking a little trip down memory lane. I went to a point in my life when I was probably as happy as I've ever been.

Not sure how I ended up here from that point. It was a circuitous journey, for sure.

Rough few days here, and I was thinking how lovely it would be to be able to go back to that time in my life again and re-live days that were ripe with possibility, instead of feeling so trapped by the mundane.

On a happier note, Dan enjoyed his swimming today, so I guess life isn't all bad :)

Oh boy.

The little man had a little white spot appear on his lower gum on November 20th. But instead of that tooth appearing first, it's neighbour has broken through. The entire top of it is now above the gumline, like some tiny little razor just waiting to catch unwitting fingers. No troubles with feeding yet, but my GOD I'm dreading the coming few weeks.

But it has turned my usually happy little man into the world's most unpredictable baby. He can go from laughing to screaming in the blink of an eye. Nothing is safe from his mouth, and I'm considering installing a drip tray under his chin. As for sleeping, we are currently getting perhaps two hours between wakings at night, and he is struggling with naps in the day. Perhaps now was not the best time to introduce the cot bed - he's actually sleeping in with me for at least part of each night at the moment, just so both of us can get some rest.

Calpol is officially my new best friend.