Help me rename my blog!

2 days till the end of term for X (?!)

4 days till my last day of work. (!!)

11 days till we move! (!!!!!)

All the stars seem to be in alignment now. I still cannot believe we'll be starting our new life in less than two weeks, and the prospect fills me with heady excitement. I can finally start visualising my future life whilst E has been planning hers for the last 12 months or so. I dream of finding time to do things again. To run, to read, to swim, to plant, to do my MB productively. It's obvious now that my life in London is all about damage control: lots of working, ensuring the kids are fed and watered and then collapsing on the couch at day's end. 

I hope this is a new start. I can clearly see myself reading a book on the decking in the garden. Or taking the kids hunting through rockpools on the beach. Or even (gasp!) cycling! I bought a bike many years ago which lies unloved in the greenhouse. To dust it down and oil it up for use would be the ultimate sign of a New Life. 

In other news I'm considering a blog rename. The Man Cave is being packed into boxes and will become a memory soon. So what handle should take its' place? I have some ideas but leave the door open for any motivated readers out there. I'll post an update closer to move day so have a good week!

A. 

'Seventh... of the seventh...'

It's my friend Patch's birthday today. I was filling out some forms today and realised the date. The 7th of July. He would've been 37. He's been gone since the Spring but I'm realising he still has a warm place in my heart.

What would he be doing today? Some work in the garden is my guess, listening to the cricket. This would be followed by a piece of cake and a good cuppa. Patch had his problems, but also a love of the simpler things in life which I admire. I can just imagine him relishing the sunshine with tea by his side and rollie in his mouth.

Grief is a funny one. You don't know you're experiencing it till it creeps up on you unexpected. My was the seeping in variety this morning. Like damp in the bathroom walls..

Still, I'll be raising a glass to him tonight. Such a good hearted man deserves nothing less...

A.

Adventures in Poo - tales of why I love my job

We were putting the kids down for a nap the other day..

One of them was standing on his mattress and had some poo on his feet. 'OK, no big deal', I thought, 'I'll carry him to the bathroom. Get him cleaned up.'

So I picked him up in the crook of my arm to sort him out. That was the my rookie mistake. A couple of steps across the room I realised there was something warm and sticky on my arm. You guessed it, the contents of the nappy had exploded out and up the child's back and now coated my forearm like a faecal gauntlet..

That was the cherry on top of the steaming turd that was my day yesterday. However today has been better, each day is a step closer to a new life which I'm so ready for.

A.