Snapshot: Indian summer

Yesterday we travelled across town to one of our favourite shops, Easton's Sweet Mart. Poor T had been very sick in the night, and we were all drained and weary. Beautiful colours and nourishing food were our goals. A was amazing, trying lots of different pakoras, samosas and bhajis - not sure at first, but tried it all and really liked some of the milder ones.

While we were that side of Bristol, we took a trip to the St Werburghs City Farm - pigs, chickens, goats and rabbits all came to say hello to little T who felt a bit better as a result. The cafe is lovely, with a great play area for kids, a decked terrace, and delicious lunches.

Home again, and we made a mild korma for the kids, dal, homemade chapattis*, and we fried up some of those tiny papads (poppadoms the size of a £2 coin) which A helped to make - perfect kid food as they cook in seconds and puff up instantly, before your very eyes.

Early nights all round helped sort us all out. And a bit of X Factor. Plus that light yesterday was incredible. I'm always surprised how much of a difference it makes to photographs.

Oh, and I made Anna del Conte's Torta di Mele - my favourite Autumn apple cake.

*Easiest recipe ever - mix around 250g wholemeal flour with about 200ml cold water (or until you form a dough), knead, then divide into small balls, roll out using lots more flour until around 15cm in diameter. Cook in a non-stick pan or on a griddle, no oil required, until they bubble up and start to brown.