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So thoughtful....

Sometimes the girls just melt my heart they are so thoughtful.  We were all snuggled up on the sofa watching SCD when Tess Daly announces that the general public will be invited onto the dance floor to experience Strictly in all its glory.  All you have to do is nominate someone who has helped to make other people’s lives better. Izzy said “we should nominate you Mummy”, to which I laughed and said, “I haven’t done anything special”.  Abi looked at me and said “But you make our lives better every day Mummy!”    She then followed this up later as I was putting her to bed by saying “Night Mummy, love you – you make my life special!” Cue happy tears.
The days are drawing shorter and although we’ve been blessed with a fantastic Indian summer, it is definitely beginning to feel autumnal. I have to reconcile myself to the fact that the mornings are now pitch black when I get up, and soon it will be dark before I get home as well.  My diary is completely full until mid-Nov which is a sobering thought, although that does include half term which I’m very much looking forward to.  My work pattern of 90% means I can take more of the school holidays if I generally work a 5 day week. There are definitely weeks when I feel like there’s no time for me at all, but on balance its working and the routine is stabalising for Glenn and the girls which is key for me to feel happy.   I took an afternoon off last week which was lovely – I worked til 1, we had a lovely lunch followed by me squeezing in a 2 hour ride and still managing to pick up Abi and Izzy after school – perfect!
This week is busy at work with a trip to Manchester and a couple of later nights back. I’m learning to practise what I preach (finally!) and flex both ends of the day with a slightly later start if I know I’m not going to make it back in time for the girls’ bedtime. I’m also trying not to let those things which are out of my control stress me out. My train was massively delayed yesterday so I plugged myself into my iPod and zoned out. Would have been nicer to have had a seat, but you can’t have everything in life!
Our house is so very nearly done and I have a constant warm glow about how well it has all come together and the home we have created for ourselves.  When friends are visiting now they are blown away by the transformation – I’m not sure I would make a designer but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. What is so nice is when we show people round Abi and Izzy get so excited about the bits they’ve had input to particularly their splashback which they love. Izzy was determined to change her bedroom around this weekend which caused some fun and games. Abi wanted a comfy space she could “chill in Mummy”, and Izzy just wanted to know that her headboard was close to Abi’s so it she knocks on the wall Abi can hear and will knock back. This required a bit of though and ended up with a configuration which was a bit awkward in Izzy’s room given its smaller, but there’s no harm in letting them make some decisions about how their rooms look. It lasted 24 hours before Glenn changed it around when they were at school – mean Daddy! To be fair he did apply the original criteria and they are both happy so all is well.  Glenn now has his garage, a wood store, a large garden shed and a new workshop / additional wood store. When you add to this his ride on mower and ride on tractor with trailer, his leaf pig and growing collection of motorbikes, he is a happy man. He wants to get a wood burner for the workshop so it’s nice and cosy in there. I’m thinking of getting a bell system so I know where he is – I fear we may never see him in the house again!

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