Stew and (down in the) dumplings

Delicious lie-in this morning while my husband spent some time with Audrey.

Slung a load of meat and veg in the slow cooker for a stew later. Always a winner and made the house smell great all day.

My husband went to the hospital and as we've discovered babies aren't allowed on the ward, we stayed home. My sister Jo popped up and kindly brought the last of my office stuff up from Nottingham (my house is over-run with press samples and stationary!)

Jo, Audrey and I headed out for a walk with the pram round Chorlton Green (pictured), stopping off at my favourite Gabriel's for tea and my first mince pie of the year.

Now sat on the sofa watching Strictly and X Factor. An unremarkable day but a million times better than last Saturday. Am still feeling a bit shell-shocked and lacklustre after last week's events which is making me a bit unsociable truth be told.