Somehow, I’ve got out of the habit of writing here. Sorry about that.

It’s been a mixed week. I’ve been busy (nicely so) and have written posts for Chocablog and Fotonomy (okay, the latter was a bit over a week ago), got some stuff done in the garden, been watching talks on TED, but the main reason I’ve not been around much is that I’ve also been a bit up and down with my health.

I had a migraine a couple of weeks ago – completely out of the blue and the first in over a year. Since then, I just haven’t been quite right – I’ve pretty much had a headache every single afternoon since, starting around 2pm ish, with a few exceptions. There’s lots of different reasons why I might be getting them: hormonal changes, light changes (I’ve also had to start my light therapy again this week), end of a sinussy cold, some sort of allergy… none of them really explain it 100% though.

On top of that, just to really make sure the headaches get most bang for the buck, the kids have been particularly argumentative and antagonistic towards each other. The level of vindictiveness and spite is definitely getting me down – yet I find it hard to know when to intervene and when to just let them get on with it. When I’m not feeling 100% I know I end up intervening more than I should (just so they’ll stop the yelling!), so I suspect that’s drawn the ill-feeling out longer than necessary.

So, this afternoon after school I downed a couple of ibuprofen, sat them down and together we’ve come up with a list of ground rules:

• I will not interfere unless someone is about to get badly hurt.
• They will talk nicely about the problem instead of fighting.
• They will go away to calm down.
• They will not hurt each other by hitting, kicking, throwing or in any other way.
• They will not use name calling.
• If they want what the other is playing with they will suggest other things to play with, play with something together instead, or take turns.

Any guesses as to how long they’ll stick to this?! If it lasts the afternoon, I think I’ll be happy!

Before Li’l Bhaji started school full time, I had loads of plans. I was going to be financially better off as there would be no more nursery fees to pay, and I was going to have so much more extra time for new and exciting projects.

Well, the money thing definitely hasn’t panned out.

I now have two lots of school dinners to pay for, Li’l Bhaji starts swimming lessons this week and Akra Jr has came home with a letter about a residential school trip that needs paying for. Suddenly, any spare cash has evaporated.

But there’s still plenty of extra time, right? Not really.

Li’l Bhaji was already doing one full day at nursery and the rest up until lunchtime, so in reality it only equates to a couple of extra hours a day. Add to that the knowledge that you have a whole day to yourself, and chores get started later and are done at a more leisurely pace as there is “plenty of time”. If anything, I’m getting even less done than before he went off to school!

Somehow, all this wasn’t part of The Plan [tm]. I’d better pull my socks up and get organised, especially if I still want to participate in NaNoWriMo this year.

I’ll just go make myself another cup of tea though, before I start…

… leaving me in sole charge of the children and I didn’t even get a lousy t-shirt!

He also brought home really noisy cable car toys for the kids which ding loudly every time you run them along the floor.

We need to have words.

I’m ill, pity me.

The kids kindly brought home a cold on the second day of school and it’s gone right to my sinuses so have had really disturbed sleep for the last 5 nights (although last night wasn’t too bad – only woke up twice – vast improvement).

For me, first sign of Autumn is when I have to increase my inhaler dosage. *sigh*.

Guess which muppet ordered 8 punnets of plums instead of 8 plums?

So, we in the Naan household are enjoying rather a lot of different plum dishes. I’ve made plum jam for the first time ever (and I was shocked at just how easy it was, actually – I may never buy a commercial jar of jam ever again), made a plum crumble, given a punnet away to next door… even (*shock*) eaten a few plums.

I’m now down to my final 3.5 punnets.

Plum ice cream, anyone?

Yes, this is the obligatory “my youngest started school today” blog post, so if the thought of reading yet another one makes you want to hang yourself or me (you know who you are!) then feel free to skip this.

For the minority who were curious as to how we got on (and the majority who really couldn’t give a toss either way but are currently wasting time before their next coffee break), I’d like to reassure you that I had a lovely, quiet, relaxing and peaceful afternoon.

Oh. And Li’l Bhaji got on alright too.

The end.

(No, really… he came home covered in pavement chalk from an art activity, I’m sure he had a fab time even if all he could be bothered to tell me is that he played with Lego).

(Edit: of course, the thought occurs that it might not have been an art activity and he may have mugged the teacher for her chalk. Then again, they have interactive white boards these days, so I think we’re safe).

The hiss of my bike tyres on the tarmac turns to crackle as I pull off onto the woodland trail. This place is my sanctuary and I drink in the bird calls echoing through the cathedral of trees.

I’m alone with my thoughts here, or at least I can pretend I am. A rabbit hops across my path, its ears and white bob-tail are translucent from the bright sunlight filtered through the canopy. I carefully navigate past a couple of dog walkers – polite calls of “good morning” as I ride by.

The last part is the trickiest – a gentle incline that, while you can barely see it, always creates a burning ache in my thighs as I pedal up it. I’m careful with my breathing – midges congregate here at mouth level and I’ve swallowed many on previous rides.

And then, only shortly after entering, it’s all over. The trail returns to the tarmac cycle path and the crunch once again becomes a hiss. I leave the woodland path behind me and head for home.

A many happy returns to my wonderful husband, Akra (and also, to my nephew whose birthday is also today).

I’d love to say that we had a fabulous day of celebration, but in all honesty the car went in for its MOT today costing a small fortune, then just before it was time to pay up the bank rang to say our credit card had been compromised so they were cancelling it and issuing a new one. Fortunately the overdraft just about covered the MOT.

We’ve also had a minor bathroom leak, ant invasions and lots and lots of work related stress. So we’re officially moving Akra’s birthday to Sunday and will hopefully have better luck on that day!

… as it’s Li’l Bhaji’s birthday today – he’s FOUR!

I know he’s getting older as he put off breakfast until 10 o’clock because he was too busy playing with his birthday presents – now THAT would never have happened before!

Unfortunately, Akra Jr is being quite sulky – which is a shame, because Li’l Bhaji was openly cheerful during Akra Jr’s special day last week. So far Li’l Bhaji hasn’t noticed and isn’t spoiling his day, though. Hopefully Akra Jr will cheer up soon or we will be having words.

FOUR… who’da thunk it?

There would be a new podcast episode for you to download today…

… if it hadn’t been so lovely and sunny and I decided to sit outside with a book instead.

It was a good book, if that’s any consolation?