It started off badly...

Fridays are pretty busy days for me at the library. I have Internet classes at 10, a volunteer at 11 and a reference desk shift at 1. So, I got up at six and made lunches, unpacked the dishwasher, packed bags etc. and when I went to get dressed at seven Toby came out. He was almost in tears saying that he had been awake since four, feeling awful. His tummy hurt, he was hot and it hurt to swallow. He used to get tonsillitis frequently but he hasn't had it for a couple of years. It also is the complete opposite of winter - 38 degrees in Wagga today. So, I rang the library to say I wasn't coming and had a very miserable car trip to school and daycare. Andrew is on the Central Coast recording more of his album so I had no choice but to take Toby on the school run and he felt terrible. Thankfully, a perk of having a husband who manages a medical centre is free and readily available doctor visits. He does, indeed, have tonsillitis. After moaning and looking like death all day, this is Toby now after just one dose of antibiotics.

And this is him when I asked him to smile for me. He couldn't take his eyes off the wii.


Alice, delightfully, saved us from another unpleasant car trip by picking up Jossie and Bethany for me. They are both avoiding Toby.

Bethany is at Toby's desk colouring in.

Jossie is watching TV in our room, putting on lip gloss.

Here is the recipe for Nigella's fabulous granola, as requested by Jessica. My only tip is put the oven timer on.

450g rolled oats (using a converter I get 15.8732 ounces!)

120g sunflower seeds (4.23287 oz)

120g white sesame seeds (4.23287 oz)

175g apple compote or apple sauce ( could get either so used apple puree, probably the same) (6.17294 oz)

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1tsp ground ginger

120g brown rice syrup or rice malt syrup, or failing that, golden syrup (4.23287 oz)

4 tbsp clover honey or other runny honey

100g light brown sugar (3.53729 oz)

250g whole natural almonds (8.81849 oz)

1 tsp Maldon salt

2 tbsp sunflower oil

300g raisins (10.5821 oz)

Mix everything except the raisins together very well in a large mixing bowl. Don't use your hands as it will all just stick.

Spread this mixture out onto baking trays and bake in a gas mark 3/170 degree ( 338 Fahrenheit) oven, turning over about halfway through and re-distributing the granola evenly during the baking process. The aim is to get it evenly golden without toasting too much in one place. This should take anything from about 40 mins.

Allow to cool and mix in the raisins. Store airtight. Makes 2.5 litres.

I think the whole world needs to go metric! How ridiculous do those ounces look? I think an American recipe would use cups instead of weight. Actually that is something that is very off putting about American recipes - they seem to measure butter in cups! If it isn't melted, how do you fit it in a cup? I love my electronic scales, you just put something in then put it back to zero and put the next thing in.