Adventures in motions and pictures.

This week has been all about travelling and pooh. Despite our current forest dwellng and age of the family, I sadly do not refer to a small yellow bear and his  little piggy friend. We spent a nice week away which was great to catch up with family and friends but not good for either the routine or gut. Fortunalty both kids were so knackerd naps and bedtime have made a welcome return with little fuss. Less welcome is Firebottom.

I have spent a few days trying to shovel fibre in as quick as it seems to be reappearing. Laurie helpfully noted as ' mummy we need a fire engine to put out Molly's bottom' as the contents of a particually poisonious napkin slid out onto my pair of wevebeenonholidayandnotdoneanywashing jeans. It was a bad day to try and make a good impression at toddlers with a stinky child and wearing a  skirt and leggings combo clearly far too short and designed for someone a decade younger. At least Mol decided to produce at home, unlike Laurie whose park 'tree wee' turned out to be an emergency 'porridge turd' that needed shovelling and disposing off in the dog bin....which seemed an endless walk away past numerous lovely looking Mums dressed in age appropriate outfits with fragrent children.

On the positive, Mol appears to be developing a  flair for all things creative, which brings me joy as an Art teacher! This week she created something that bore a definate resemblence to a daffodil out of egg boxes and glue and spring picture which had definate influences of both monet impressionist and picassos cubist periods. Laurie sadly shows less interest. Unless he happens to fancy drawing a truck or train. Today he showed a flair for destruction, ripping apart the preschool art supplies in a temper. I am less proud but perhaps he was going for a Dadaesque piece and is misunderstood and tortured...I shall have to watch out for any self inflicted ear related injuries.

When a child is born

I was a bit worried when we moved out of the city that we wouldn't see our friends as frequently and it may be rather lonely. It's true, we don't see people as often, but when they do come, they now come to stay rather than simply popping by for an hour or so.

In what was otherwise a rather slow news week, this weekends guests, Laurie's Godfather, his daughter and heavily pregnant wife, were a welcome addition.Ture, it was quite funny to discuss in the evening what sort of midwifery equipment we would have here, in case of need. However, I did get a bit nervous when Jane started looking uncomfortable over dinner, but she assured me the (clearly quite strong) Braxton Hicks were a daily occurance and nothing to worry about. She was then the life and soul of the party staying up well beyond midnight. Things however got a bit more nerve wracking when at 9.30 am she appeared asking to use the shower as her waters had just gone. I flew into a mild state of panic/excitement and started looking for towels. After the shower it become clear the baby was not taking its time and poor Jane was soon hopping about looking well on her way....so we kept their toddler as they made a mad dash back over the bridge (gathering speeding tickets on their way) and made it into the hospital with moments to spare. It turned out we missed our first cottage birth by 30 mins and baby was born in the toilet on arrival. The proud parents have given up on their preffered name of Ellouise as you can't risk anything with a shortening of 'Loo'.

 Mother and baby are well...phew.

Working 9 til 5....wouldn't that be lovely

Work this week has been particually solid, with end to end issues needing far more brain power than my sleepdeprivedgoneonstrike grey matter can muster. I have taken a snow plough approach and have emerged only slightly bruised the other side with many issues successfully pushed to the curb for another days dealings.

Today, we had a training course to help develop our leadership skills. Its all very well practising 'difficult conversations' in the work place but noone seems to think it's necessary to help with those thrown at you by those you attempt to manage at home. This week's classics included 'Mummy, Mol is eating your tampons, what's a tampon?' and 'Mummy, why has Ben's mummy got such a funny head?'. Mercifully, these learning opportunities have so far been kept at home and the snow plough has again been adopted (whilst prising tampon wrappers from my daughter's teeth). I am often reminded of the time I loudly asked my mother 'Mummy, what is intercourse' in a rather quiet section after a retelling of the christmas story. My mother is now church warden but I'm pretty it's not due to a feeling of still having to pay pennance for an irreverant child..?

I am still adjusting to the fact work dosen't start when you unlock your office or finish when you leave the carpark. I am encouraged that free time will return soon...say in 18years or so.