Birthday blues

Call it poor planning but both my kids' birthdays fall in September, exactly a week apart. With the age gap being substantial enough that a joint party might bring an insurance claim (you get the picture?)this means 2 parties, 2 family get togethers etc etc.

It never fails to amaze me that however well behaved the child in question is usually, a tantrum and tears will, at some point on their birthday, come around. If you're lucky it's a one off, if you're not it can take over (and ruin) the party/ day/ week.

This year it was on the top of the softplay thing. Right at the top. Now to most people this is probably no big deal. Climb through the bendy back rack thing, through the tunnel designed for 6 year olds, up the net ladder and along the tightrope (without falling on the trampoline underneath where the mean kids all laugh at you cos you fell off). For me, with probably the worst self diagnosed claustrophia/vertigo ever, this was going to test more than maternal instinct.

I won't bore you with the details surfice to say I was bright red in the face, covered in sweat, and with neither my dignity nor my pride in place when I skidded back down the big blue slide into the parents' viewing area. My son recovered the minute he ate the sugar laden 'lunch'. I took 4 hours!

Can't say I'm looking forward to 12 2 year olds and their parents descending on us on Sunday. Is it ok to drink from 3 o clock on such occasions?

Have your cake and eat it

So there I was smugly telling everyone how my back hadn't played up in so long I was convinced it had sorted itself out (after 20 years of pain most days) when out of the blue I couldn't get out of bed this morning.
Back on the voltoral, which, washed down with 3 double espressos, seems to have taken the edge off but the pain is still a 4-5 :(
Not one to take to my bed (it hurts more lying down actually)and with 2 demanding kids in need of some mummy time I decided to bake a cake. Cooking is my one concession to domesticity, though Nigella Lawson I aint, so it was with some trepidation that I attempted a Lemon Drizzle Cake...
Here's the recipe for anyone who'd like some serious brownie points (sorry!) for very little input. And, by the way, the back pain went down to 2-3 after eating it so maybe it really is a miracle worker.
Lemon Drizzle Cake
225g Unsalted butter
225g Caster sugar
225g Self raising flour
4 eggs
Zest (grated) of 2 lemons
For the drizzle topping - Juice of 2 lemons + 85g Caster sugar

Heat the over to 170c and line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper
Best together the butter + sugar
Add the eggs, slowly, one at a time
Fold in the flour + lemon zest
Bake for c45 mins
While your masterpiece is cooling, mix the lemon juice + caster sugar (for the topping), prick the cake with a skewer or fork, then pour over the drizzle.
Enjoy!