We’ve arrived to Gotham the last couple of Saturdays by coming along Harris Street – gives a different view through Chews Lane to Willis Street. You can see the shell of the building still left standing at the end of the lane, in the building site between Willis and Boulcott streets. Seeing as they’ve carefully taken out all the windows it must be staying.

And bit by bit they’re taking the scaffolding and netting off the Chews Lane apartments. They’re pretty dominant on the Willis Street skyline now.

Still on the chicken and rice theme – it’s a winter for it! – we’ve also had a couple of roast chickens for weekend dinners recently. Like proper roasting the way Mother used to do it – no bag! We do cheat and use the meat thermometer just to make sure it’s properly cooked and we have one of those cool silicon brushes that is amazing for basting the chicken – I don’t know how the brush manages to both attract and repel juice at the same time.

Anyway, might seem a bit festive but we’re stuffing it with the wild rice and cranberry stuffing because cranberries are in season at the moment. Finally have the cranberry sauce nailed – it’s very sweet and very cranberry-ish. Not as savoury as what you get in a jar.

• 1/4c water & 1/4c brown sugar brought to the boil
• 1 cup cranberries added & simmered for 10 mins, stirred occasionally to make a pulp
• About 1/4 orange rind & a dash of nutmeg stirred through for flavour

The sauce also makes a great accompaniment to left-over chicken in a sandwich the next day even though it does look a bit like a chicken and jam sandwich!

He’s walking! Check him out on the move in some groovy orange jeans – insanely cute little guy (39 secs).