As I was walking home from the market today I was very nervous. I'm not used to walking around after dark; I usually cycle, far away from gateways and alley-entrances and dark gaps behind parked vans and so on. The trike is off out in the road, moving faster, and I'm higher up on it. But I won't cycle with the yeastie beasties.

The children and I went to the Post office today to post parcels and letters to Ireland. There was a woman in the queue behind me who smelt like the Fibbers gang on a Saturday morning after crashing in one of the flats in Leeson Park. She had an open beer-can and an unlit cigarette in one hand, and her mobile in the other. She didn't appear to be having the kind of good time I associate with that smell, though.

After the post office we went to the Co-op shop to spend my vouchers, but I forgot to bring my card, so had to spend real money instead. Bah. Then we went to velcro_kitten's and the children played.

The Co-op market was lovely; the woman who makes cakes for Moondogs is going to source her ingredients from the True Food Co-op and sell cakes via the market too; she had left samples for sampling, which was fabulous. I ate tons of chocolate, orange and ginger cake.

Linnea and I have been reading Beezus and Ramona and she's asked for Lotta again but we've lost Lotta. I hope it shows up soon. It's possibly her favourite.

Also, Linnea and Emer are expert undressers, but less useful at dressing. This is more to do with inclination than skill, since even Emer can manage a zip most of the time, but both girls would prefer to hibernate than go out these days. We've responded by unplugging the television until Rob comes home in the evening. I like this strategy because it is Linnea-proof so far.

We want to get an indoor clothesline for the stairwell. The more I think about it the more I want one.