not when you're feeling like death warmed over yourself! The upside should be how much more you appreciate absence of pain when you get to feel better!! I've been bouncing around for the last couple of days now. It's the one thing I like about illness! Hope you get to that stage soon Lenora.

washing's in the machine, breakfast is eaten, kids' lunches are dead easy (pork pie instead of sandwiches for a change). DH and I are off to look at a factory shop for my mother's birthday present (yes, her birthday was last Tuesday!). The advantage of where we live is that all the best china and pottery in the world (Sevres excepted!) comes from just down the road, so we're off to look for some Moorcroft. I've found a reasonably priced website, but all we can really afford is a 3in high vase - I'm hoping the factory shop has a little more choice!! I'm considering seconds too, because she wouldn't care about the value of it, and I (as the inheritor) don't care about the resale value either, so it might be better to get her something slightly imperfect in order to have a bit more choice. Unfortunately the seconds shop is on a different site, at the old enamels factory, so we're going to have to move quick!

Tomorrow is a major shopping trip for clothing. I intend to get as much as I possibly can for the next 6mths because I expect to have minimal time for further shopping. DH and I are off to London next week for a meeting with our accountant, so I could do with a few more items. I've already threatened the kids so they behave better. Thanks for the reminder abot swimsuits Lenora - I could do with adding it to the list. Mine's not very nice, although it's perfectly serviceable. It was acquired when we went on holiday once and I packed the kids' suits but not mine or DH's!

so not a lot of housework, but plenty of taking control of the situation. I think!

Kerri.