Really enjoyed the Great British Bake Off

Dr Green and I really got into this competition which ended this week with Edd winning the final. We absolutely loved Ruth's style, organisation and overall coolness over the last few weeks so gutted she didn't win. However, I have visited her blog www.thepinkwhisk.co.uk and it's full of wonderful cake recipes and Ruth's ramblings. I highly recommend it.

Have been a bit of a domestic goddess this afternoon myself! (Am stuck indoors puppy training so might as well get on with a bit of cooking.) Knocked up a chocolate cake with vanilla and choc butter icing (Mimi, Evie and I have already tucked into it) and a beef stroganoff for Dr Green's supper.

Fancy making Ruth's minced beef and onion pie tomorrow. Simple but apparently very yummy.

Not much time for blogging...

... not much time for doing anything but looking after the nipping, pooing and weeing machine that is masquerading as our new puppy! Spent the last few days peeling the puppy, Mabel, off of my shoes and clearing up little puddles and packages.

Off to the vets this evening to get her first set of jabs and some puppy advice. Dr Green will be there for moral support - I'm useless when it comes to needles and kids/small animals.

The kids have been fighting over puppy holding time. Something else for me to referee. Cakes has suggested that Mimi gets her own puppy for Christmas to stop hogging this one. No chance!

Dr Green, the puppy magnet

Oh, I know this is going to get boring..... more puppy photos. Dr Green and Mimi with muchos puppies and Cakes with little Mabel.

And they call it Puppy Love

Here she is, looking a bit bedraggled after a huge saucer of milk, our puppy Mabel. We had a visit yesterday and are counting the days until she arrives home in two weeks time.

There's also a photo of Mimi with four of Mabel's siblings.

New school apron for Mimi

Have made this out of a bit of scrap fabric left over from a teepee order. It's got a pocket and a little hoop to hang a wooden spoon. Modelled beautifully by Mimi.

That's it now. School stationery bought, new lunch boxes purchased, we have new school shoes/trainers and homework is a couple of paragraphs short of completion. Phew!

Stop Press: Cakes enjoys non football related activity

Here's my boy doing a bit of art and craft and loving it. Don't think this is going to be a regular occurrence but I'm chuffed to have lured him away from the Play Station, football cards and his football for half an hour.

Mimi on the other hand will need to have the felt tip pens surgically removed from her paws. She has decorated a small rain forest's worth of A4 paper. Trouble is, I don't like to throw any of it away. I love the fact that she has her own little take on things in an abstract/border line weird kind of way.

Have got some friends visiting tomorrow, so will get the kids to help bake a lemon cake later.

Yippee for family holidays with friends

Let's get some comments about the weather out of the way. Yes, the Clifton curse struck again. It's August for goodness sake, where was the sun!!!

Anyway, the Cliftons and the Warrens managed a fun break in Weymouth. The kids had a ball racing from one caravan to the other and really enjoyed having their best mates around. David and Lorraine were perfect company, as per usual, however we now know that Nick and Lorraine should not compete against each other competitively!!!!

The rain held off for most of the day when we had a large gathering of Bossoms, Cliftons and Warrens on beautiful Sandbank beach. The kids braved the sea, body boarding and jumping waves and we all enjoyed a fabulous game of cricket on the sand.

Thanks to Uncle Martin for recommending Tyenham - what a wonderful little village that was - and what an exciting drive through MOD territory to get there. Blown up tanks and all.

Dr Green is hooked on fossil hunting. The kids enjoyed it too. Well done to Daniel Spaniel for finding the most amazing intact amonite on Charmouth beach. The hubby is green with envy.

Had some lovely meals out - we did the obligatory trip to the Smugglers Inn, always a fave. Had a few nice evenings in the Mash and Barrell terrace and a real giggle most nights in the caravan with the gang.

Thanks everyone for a really enjoyable holiday. x