Tax doesn't have to be taxing - BOOM!

"Tax doesn't have to be taxing" that slogan makes me feel violent.

Words cannot express the frustration and annoyance I have when filling out tax returns.  The thought of doing one brings me out in a cold sweat for weeks before it is due and the actual process for filling one in is excruciatingly painful and long-drawn out.  Gah!  I know I have to pay tax and I know it gets taken before I can give it, but COME ON TAX OFFICE!  Take the right amount first time round please!  Don't make me do this draining exercise just because you made a mistake!

I need wine.

Sometimes there is no plan.  There are no grand statements of intention.  There is no focus at the start.  Then, slowly things start to unfurl and become whole things that link with other things and become a structure.  

I am here with ideas and am keen to see where those ideas take me.  Hello world.

Happy New Year!  I hope that 2014 brings health and happiness.  I plan to read more and move more and make more.  A resolution in four words!

Three good things

I played on the floor with my sweet baby girl, trying to get her to crawl.  She can push herself backwards on her tummy with ease in the lounge and the kitchen is so close to moving forwards.  Her dimples and giggles make my heart sing.

I miss the din of the school run as both boys had been invited to their friends' houses for tea.  I felt redundant and listless.

Normal service resumed at 7 with a full house of noise, then bed, quiet and a lovely meal of spaghetti with prawn and chorizo and a glass of the last bottle of Virgin red and Mr Gherkin.

Happy day!

I love being organised and planning my meals in advance, buying the correct ingredients, getting the best prices, preparing the ingredients, timing the cooking right for whoever is going to eat.

Tonight I ordered pizza online and am going to stuff my face with my family.

Whoop whoop!

Feeling really pregnant

I have 6 weeks to go until the baby arrives and I have only now started to really feel the strain of pregnancy.  I had two relatively easy pregnancies.  On my first one I had SPD from 26 weeks to the end and it was hard but manageable.  On my second I had it from 20 weeks and had a toddler to chase and carry around and the SPD carried on, on and off until my second was about 3.  It was more off than on but it still cut me in half if I pushed it a bit when exercising.  This time around I was expecting an even harder trip but to be honest, it has been a piece of cake.  No SPD really apart from feeling like I wanted to tighten up the screws in my pelvis but really nothing that bad.

Now, in the home straight, I can feel how standing for an hour puts a strain on my back and these last couple of days the restless legs have 'kicked off'.  Itchiness is annoying but reserved for my lower legs and is manageable with short nails and cream.  I had to ask a friend to take my eldest to football tonight as I could not stand the thought of standing in the rain and the dark with my youngest after rushing to feed them and get to the pitch for 6pm.  I guess I need to step back a bit and accept help and favours from all the people who have been offering.

Now can somebody just offer to do my ironing tonight please?

I have spent this evening watching 3 episodes of One Born Every Minute whilst my sweet little girl squirmed and kicked and wiggled about.  It was delicious!  I can'r believe I am, what, 6.5 weeks off having a baby!  I have lots to do on her room, lots to bring down from the loft and sort, wash and organise, I have not packed or thought about a hospital bag or really thought much about that time when I will be in hospital.  I just think about having her lying asleep on my (enormous) chest and snuffling gently.  I can't wait for her to complete our family of five.