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Stop bickering!


For those of you who read last week's post... it's still raining. Having had a beautiful 6 weeks or so as we moved from late spring to summer we are now at the 'height' of summer and it hasn't stopped raining since we got back from France. I can't complain though - the forecast today was horrible and actually we ended up being able to spend most of it in the garden - you have to take your chances where you can! It's a good job we've been able to get outside as we are still clearing up from our builders. So much for them leaving everything spick and span. At the point they finally finished the work itself on Tuesday we'd just had enough - they asked us if we were satisfied with the end result and basically we said yes - the house itself looks great, but the surrounding areas needed loads of tidying up to get back to what we would say is normal. Anyway - having spent 4 hours this afternoon, plus the time over the week we are finally getting back to normal. we've also had Shaun come out and put right the block paving, we've scrubbed the garden furniture to remove the worst of the plashed paint.... thank goodness this is the last of the major projects we foresee for a good while!

This weekend has also been a process of mediation as Abi came home from her week riding tired and out of sorts and the two of them went through the normal transition of getting back into the swing of being generally good friends. More and more they want their own friends rather than each other and this morning was no different. Right from the off they were niggling at each other and begging me to find someone else for them to play with. Apparently being at home is "sooooo boring!" which clearly means there is only one interesting thing to do - irritate each other. After trying a few options I managed to find someone for them both to go see - and of course they were perfectly behaved all afternoon - that is until I got them in the car to come home - arghhh! At least the dogs love each regardless of what's going on - Freya likes nothing more than to be close to Bertie - even if it means sitting on his head!

August is just \around the corner and I only have a few more weeks until I move to a 4 day a week basis - I cant wait. I read somewhere this week that once you are past 40 the optimum number of hours you should work is approx. 30. Apparently anything less than this and your brain stagnates, anything more and you are in danger of your bran deteriorating because of overwork. While I don't think that a 4 day week will quite equate to 30 hours for me, at least its a step in the right direction. In the meantime it seems to have got very busy for what should be a summer break and so I'm in danger of not being able to take the time off I've planned for the end of August. I was supposed to be in Devon with Izzy , Zsara and Aran for a week but I suspect we may curtail that. if I'm honest that doesn't bother me too much - after being away in France I'm ready for some time off at home - I just want to enjoy it looking so nice now!

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