Puppy mania

This week has mainly been one of everyone asking the question "has Bertie been out?", with the odd scream from one of the girls "Er, Bertie's done a wee". In truth, it's not been too bad. We've only had one major disaster when Glenn forgot to state the obvious to the cleaner - the large cage like thing in the kitchen that wasn't there before the puppy arrived - yep, puppy needs to go in that before you happily leave knowing you've cleaned the house from top to bottom. If you forget, then we get home to devestation, after all, when left alone of course you'll check out what's at the top of those stairs everyone keeps disappearing to. And when you get caught short, where better than our bedroom floor and the spare room bed??? Thank goodness Glenn got home first and all I had to listen to how bad it had been....

In fact Bertie is already a fully signed up member of Team Drinkwater. He has slotted right in and is a lovely dog, even Scooby is more smitten than we ever could have hoped for and the two of them are inseparable already. As far as Bertie is concerned Scooby is friend, guardian, playmate and pillow.  They are often to be found curled up on Scooby's bed with Bertie resting his head on Scooby's tummy - happy as can be! The girls have also been making the most of having him around - lots of playing with the both of them, lots of training, kids wanting to walk on a Saturday morning and, importantly, more interest shown already than was ever shown for the hamster!

In amongst all of this we also have the normal trials and tribulations of life. I'm enjoying being popular at work, but possibly a bit too popular as the next few weeks look like they could be stupidly busy. I'm going to have to work really hard to maintain the balance that's so important to me, although it helps that I've got a good routine which I hope I can hold on to for the most part. As ever Sunday evening leaves me feeling apprehensive as I wonder how it will all get done, and then it's Friday again and I seem to have made it through.  My bigger challenge at the moment is trying to find a way to engage Abi with her reading. She was doing well for a while and seemed to be getting quite into it, but something has knocked her off her stride and she just doesn't want to read anything in the form of a book at home. She'll read bits and pieces, magazines, websites etc, but just isn't interested in books. She says it's all boring so I spent an hour this evening scouring websites for books for reluctant readers. I've bought a selection in the hope that I can spark her imagination. As someone who was an avid reader as a child I can't comprehend not wanting to disappear into a good book.  Izzy seems more interested although neither of them pick up a book and read for hours like I used to. I guess in this era of iPads and TV it's easier to slump in front of a screen than apply yourself to a book.

At least they both still love their make believe and games. Today they set up shop in the playroom and we all had to visit, including Simon when he popped round this morning. It's lovely to see them play so well together still and see them thinking through the different roles. They even had a sign for the lunchtime sale!

Final word - an 'Izzyism' given we haven't had one for a while. Glenn's good friend Hammy was knocked off his bike this week - broken neck and back and punctured lung thanks to a careless car driver. When we were discussing it Izzy asked in a worried voice "oh no, will he be parallel?" Guess that would be paralysed then would it?!? Get well soon Hammy.