Abi & Izzy - the next 5 years

Izzy proving she still fits in a gym locker! Apparently this week was Blue Monday - statistically the most depressing day of the year. In my case it was a wonderful day - the joys of transitioning a job! After dropping the kids to school Glenn I headed off to look at getting him a new van by trading in the Range Rover and selling the existing one. Needless to say while we hadn't intended to make a decision there and then before I could say "I want that one" Glenn was drooling over the latest model and working out which extras he needed (not wanted of course - the difference between want and need is clearly for kids to worry about, not husbands!) I was allowed to spec the accent colour and do the negotiation - my normal role when we are car buying. Actually it makes complete sense to go from 3 cars to 2 - it's just taken me a long time to persuade everyone its both feasible and desirable. From my perspective I prefer driving the mini to anything else so I'm hap

Always happy to have their photo taken, albeit I think they want something! Once again I'm struggling to find a photo to include on the blog, not because the kids don't have a million selfies but because whenever I get a camera out, they immediately duck behind an arm / dog / jumper / duvet etc. So frustrating! This is just another example of the general self-centeredness of children of their age. It's not that they don't know who closes drawers / picks up wet towels / makes beds and the various other tasks that ensure our house doesn't look like a tip. They know precisely that it's me and Glenn, they just don't care - if it's not something they want to do, forget it. Conversely if they want something (earlier Izzy wanted me to watch her newest gym routine and Abi wanted to litter pick in the woods) they want it NOW!! I know I shouldn't complain too much - but sometimes I do feel a bit like it's everyone else's needs (including the dog

I am making the most of these 2 months of down time before the work speeds up once again. This morning Glenn went off a bit early and so I made the kids pancakes for breakfast (we will gloss over the wisdom of this as I reassured myself that they both had fresh fruit in them which counteracted the sugar-fest!) before taking them to school. In a few spare moments before leaving Abi and I lay on her bed cuddled up  for a chat - a wonderful moment in time with my (not so little anymore) baby girl. I know these moments are getting fewer, not just because my work pattern will change again, but also because the girls get busier and they don't remember to stop for a 'huggle' as much. This said I've been lucky this weekend as I've had a few of these to cherish. The 3 of us have been watching 'The Greatest Dancer' which manages to appeal in different ways to all of us. We snuggle up together on the sofa and once everyone has found their space (with equal amounts of

No one else will have a photo with me so have to resort to the dog! Can it really be the case that the girls have still not gone back to school?!? They may not be ready but we certainly are and thank goodness the long Christmas holidays are over and tomorrow is the day, Of course it is going to be a massive shock to the system (for us all). They will have to: 1. Get up at 7am rather than 9.30am; 2. Get dressed - that is into proper clothes rather than just a new set of PJs or in Izzy's case, a leotard; 3. Eat a proper breakfast rather than grazing through the kitchen eating little and often, safe in the knowledge they can come back again half an hour later; and (most worryingly) 4. Concentrate on something other than YouTube for 30 mins. It is not going to be easy! Glenn on the other hand is looking forward to peace and quiet, and I'm heading to the office first thing tomorrow morning for no other reason than I think I'm best off keeping out of the way! Ove

I should be starting to get back to work but knowing that in 2 months I will have left to start my new job I quite frankly have zero motivation! Today I have no meetings in my diary so I'm working from home. This means in reality I'm going to monitor emails and clear out my study and laptop of old documents / stuff that I really don't need. I guess that needs to be done so its all good. Tomorrow I'm in Bristol (proper actual work!) and then Friday is a few calls from home again. At least I'm easing myself in gently to the year! I am very mindful of the fact that as Christmas and the new year are now done, the reality is that I can no longer think 'oh well, don't have to worry about what's to come until next year' - it's all getting very real now! I am excited and daunted in equal measures - I know it's going to be great fun, I know it's going to be hard work and the bit I worry I may miscalculated on, the travel, well, I'm approachi