Abi & Izzy - the next 5 years

This week has definitely been an improvement on last when I was a bit doom and gloom, albeit every way I turn at the moment it's all a little more stressful than I would prefer.  Glenn has his big 350 mile ride next weekend so we are into the last minute panic / resignation of the fact that it's going to be long, boring and painful.  Having just checked the weather forecast it looks like it will also be wet - oh joy.  At least this time next weekend it will all be over (hopefully) and he can relax while soaking his bottom in a vat of recovery cream!  The next layer of stress is our house renovation which continues to crawl onwards, seemingingly one step forward and two back.  This week we got confirmation that the structural engineer (as now expected by everyone given the time that has passed) has messed up our RSJ calculations. On the plus side better to know now than when the house falls down, but its still a real pain and it means more mess, more making good and more time

I need to practise what I preach.  This week I have felt the full onslaught of being back at work and arrived at Friday feeling very tired and pretty negative about the whole back to work process. I spent the journey home on Friday night (on a hot hot train) wondering whether I've made a big mistake in my choices and generally talking myself into believing my own negativity.  I never expected it to be easy, particularly given the lovely break I've just had, but I'd forgotton how hard any transition is and as usual have set unrealistically high expectations of myself to just slip back into work with barely a ripple. Anyway, roll on two days, a bit of persepective and time with Glenn and the girls and I'm feeling much better.  Top tips for the next few months: 1. Accept that my diary is not my own for the time being but that it will come into line in due course. 2. Don't set my own expectations too high - I can only do what is feasible in the time I have so be

Back to work for week 4 tomorrow and I think I'm beginning to at least get a sense of where I'm going, if not yet what I should be doing.  So far the routine of getting there and back has been ok - a few late returns admittedly but nothing that's been too bad.  I'm forming some initial observations which I need to decide whether it's just the way it is or something I can / want to change.  In short I'm not dreading back to work on a Sunday evening so all must be ok.   I definitely underestimated just how tiring all this would be.  I keep telling myself it's not surprising and hence not to panic. I'm meeting new people every day (and I'm rubbish at remembering names), learning about new areas of the business and generally trying to work out priorities. All while also dealing with things at home which of course haven't changed just because I've gone back to work.  On the plus side the girls are enjoying me getting dressed up every day and