Cute cuddly cliche

Today started badly.

No-one else to blame but us though.

Having no toothbrush and no clean pants is not a good start to the day in anyone's books, but I am made particularly grumpy by those facts. But, as I say, no-one else to blame but myself really.

We managed to get out of the house while it was still morning and had a very silent journey back home, where a houseful of cleaning, washing and ironing awaited. Mr B bravely battled into town to forage for food and wine for our guests, due for lunch. I punished myself for last night's excesses by cleaning the whole house, and ironing sheets, and making beds and (after learning that our guests wouldn't be arriving for another few hours) lying down on the sofa for a short while and moaning softly.

And then suddenly they were here and the house was full of noise, busy, and lunch. V & R are our oldest friends - we were all at college together and know each other well enough that nothing is off limits and nothing requires explanation. A comfortable state of affairs indeed. We are all godparents to each other's kids and, even though we see each other infrequently, the old patterns are quickly re-established and it's as though we're all 18 again. Never a bad feeling.

Anyway, here's the junior member of the family being just about as cute as any child could. I fancied a bit of a play with photoshop, hence the funny effect. You don't get many photos of kids from me, as by agreement with Mr B, my own kids are off limits for blip. Our friends are adament that they're fine with this - so here you have him. The Veuve Cliquot bucket is for my pegs. Aren't I fancy.

Backblipping brings the headache that I can't remember all the funny inconsequential things that happened. So instead; just presume lots of food, lots of wine, lots of chat and much running around screaming (mostly the kids). Happy days.