Taking Charge! October

Really. I've been checking in and reading along most days, but I'm just not feeling "everyday" enough to post. KWIM?

School is going great, the DDs are good (homecoming just this past week-end for DD16...she looked lovely and had a wonderful time at the dance.) and DH is traveling again. (4 days out last week, 2 out this week.)

I'm going to revive the "What's for Dinner" thread. Maybe I'll get motivated to post at least that much each day.

Love to all,
Lenora

Hi Lenora, good to see you peeking in. Are you getting back on track after your recent upheavals? How's school?

I'm doing OK with the tasks so far. Most of the desk is done, with some VERY useful reorganisation. The only thing not tackle is my tray. You know the kind of thing. Everything gets dumped in there until it's so out of date that I can shred it. Well, I'm going to gear up the shredder this afternoon!

How's the bedroom and the assignment going Honey?

And Kerri, are you keeping your head above water?

Sparrow, did you sort your dining room out? How does your new stuff look?

Now then, to the tray . . . If I'm not back in three days, send re-enforcements

Zillah

Hi Zillah, hi Lenora!

The dining room is happily back to being a dining room rather than a dumping ground, which is great. And the new furniture is gorgeous! I'm really happy with it, though I need to get some slipcovers to keep the cats off the new chairs. I don't mind so much if they sit on them, but my girl kitty has a bad habit of putting her claws in this kind of upholstery and stretching. That, I mind.

The house looks much better in general now, which makes me feel much better. My mother's weekend visit forced me to clean up--she's very allergic to cats, and even if she wouldn't mind the mess (which she really wouldn't), all the fur and dander would've made her miserable. Downstairs is mostly presentable now, but I still need to mop the kitchen floor. That was on my list and I just didn't get to it in time. My bedroom and study are still disasters that need attention, and the future nursery still needs to be cleared out for painting as well. Plenty to do! Good progress, though.

Good luck with the rest of the desk, Zillah! I still need to tackle mine. Paper everywhere.

and sinking most days! We just moved the bulk of our files and a couple of shelf units over to the other office, but we're having some network problems, so everything's a total nightmare, just trying to get the most basic tasks done. At least I vacuumed this office today, after the shelving and loads of papers and stuff had left. And AFTER I emptied the dratted shredder. Ours was so full it was complaining at even a single sheet.

The rest of the house... well it's getting better by default really. Large chunks of stuff have moved out of our home office and garage, so they both look better, and DD is away with school for a week, so that certainly cuts down on mess. Plus I can just close her bedroom door and ignore it, except when I need to feed or water the hamster. The downstairs needs vacuuming badly though, but I was too out of puff to do that after doing upstairs, or even part of upstairs (I skipped the kids' rooms).

Just bought this month's birthday cards, and packs of stickers to slip in them (all for kids) so I figure I'm unusually on the ball.

my alarm just went off and I'm going to watch Autumn Watch.

Kerri.

Oh, just realised it's a good friend's birthday tomorrow and I haven't sent her a card Have to make amends. And get organised. I like the buying for the month ahead idea, hadn't thought of that.

Well, The Tray is still intact, but I have washed and put away the summer toys from the garden. Let me share that washing down and deflating a paddling pool is NOT easiest done with a two-and-a-half year old eagerly helping!

I'm still finding it really difficult to settle to stuff when DD is at playgroup. I just jitter. I did a bit of writing today, but not enough considering that I had two hours to do it in. I'm sure I'll get used to it soon.

Zillah

DH is out at a departmental 'do', DMIL is out at a concert, so I am planning to research some knitting patterns on-line. We have decided to have a themed Christmas this year. It's the 1970s!! We're going to try and make or find all presents, so I plan to knit some funky ties for DH and DBsIL. Why did we never think of a themed Christmas before? It's going to be SO funny! BTW, any thoughts on 1970s Christmases welcome.

Oh, and I still haven't done my tray. Bad, bad girl

But I did wash the kitchen floor. Some of it on my hands and knees with a scrubbing brush. Why don't we have an angelic smiley?

Zillah

Gotta have Chex Mix Zillah!

The silvery kind.

And one of those quilted fabric wreaths.

...pounds....(my weight.) As of this morning, the scales read 149.5. The last 2.5 pounds came off pretty quickly, courtesy of a relatively mild, but still pretty icky bout of food poisioning. I spent yesterday in bed or in the bathroom (TMI? Sorry!) and today have only managed a task-or-two, separated by time on the couch.

I did get the hallways and kitchen swept with mopping yet to do after dinner. If that happens, I'll be pretty happy. DH has managed the laundry this week-end...all else is optional!

I need to get lesson plans written for week-after-next (lessons are planned I just have to get them on paper with identified outcomes and benchmarks.) This Thursday I get to spend the afternoon with my mentor-teacher, so I have to make detailed plans for my sub from those plans, too.

I don't remember most of the 70's, Zillah, although my sister and I were flower girls in a cousin's Winter wedding in the early 70's (72? 73 maybe)....I remember "plaid."

I did the utility room, and it's GREAT. You know when a relatively small amount of work makes a huge difference? That happened And since I use the utility room at least a couple of times a day, it's giving me constant pleasure. Yay!!

Also, DD2.5 decided that today was the day to say 'goodbye' to nappies. Just like that. She's happy to have them on when she's asleep, but apart from that, it's knickers all the way. Glad I didn't bother to try and potty train her. He he he. Lazy Mothering wins again

Hey Lenora, that's fantastic work on the scales (Although bad luck on the food poisoning)

Andrea, I had no idea what Chex Mix was, so I googled their web site. I'm still not much the wiser It looks rather like breakfast cereal with nuts-and-raisins?

Becky, I'm not sure I can take an aluminium Christmas Tree, even though it would be extremely funny. Quilted wreath I can certainly cope with though. Perhaps in plaid?

Zillah

But a plaid wreath sounds like a great idea. You could make it patchwork with green and red plaids.

Not even a tiny little aluminum Christmas tree? Like a two-foot one?

This is a fun idea Zillah - Lynn is right, Chex Mix is addictive and there are a thousand variations. I"m sure on the Rice Chex website or whatever they have the classic recipe. Very popular in the 1970's - they actually came out with a commercial a few years back with lots of home movies from that era at Xmas time invovling Chex Mix. I love it!

Lenora, as an aside - you and I are at very similar points with our weight loss - I am doing WW online, how about you?
Andrea

OK, I just found out there is a recipe for Margarita Chex Mix - it has tequila and margarita mix mixed in. Yum! On chex.com there are tons of recipes -

of chex mix works for us!

The basic recipe:

about 1/2 stick (1/4 cup or 1/8 lb) butter
garlic salt (or garlic powder, or roasted chopped garlic to flavor the butter)
seasoned salt
Worchestershire(sp?) sauce (I use at least 2 tablespoons) (A bit of Lime juice also adds a "kick")
about 7 cups of cereal (Use a variety of the "Chex" brand or Crispix)
a cup of mini pretzles and a cup(or two) of nuts (I use mixed nuts.)

Toss all with the melted seasoned butter on a large baking pan (I use a jelly roll pan)
Roast at about 250 degrees F for 45 min stirring every 10-15 min

Suck on an ice cube to ease burnt toungue from eating HOT roasted nuts...

Pour out on paper towedl to dry...
Add rasins, m&m's etc. when cool....

Don't bother getting out a storage container because what will be left to pack up will fit in a sandwich baggie.....

Buy a bag of pre-made mix at the grocery for the party because the homemade will be gone before your guests arrive.

Sound about right?

not in lifestyle, but since we've moved so much out of the office and garage I've managed to find a few patches of floor in our bedroom that have not been seen since we moved in over a year ago. I filed papers from the house purchase and mortgage, along with various other 'important' documents in my newly emptied filing drawer, and that was quite a breakthrough.

lifestyle is down the toilet - DH and I keep sneaking to an outdoor burger stand on a nearby carpark for lunch. Too delicious for words. And here it is 6:20pm, I haven't started dinner, my kids have disappeared to the Co-Op with their mates and DH isn't home yet. We've also been eating out far too often.

Still, the laundry's... well actually the laundry's clean, dry and still sitting in the laundry basket waiting to be put away! But at least that's not too bad. I might even remember to get bath mats and/or bedding in soon for a freshen.

and now I have two messy desks instead of only one! And it's October, which if I stop and think about it is likely to have me breaking out in a cold sweat, considering we're supposed to have three shops opening before Christmas, none of which has started fitting out, none of which has staff yet...

far better to worry about the comparatively harmless dust bunnies! Go careful Lenora - losing too much weight could also be a sign of you being over-stressed, which seems quite likely in the circumstances - the burger stand is guaranteeing I don't do that!

Kerri.

Speaking of over-stressed, Kerri, are you overdoing it? I mean, I guess you must be, what with getting all that stuff up and running. Just remember to look after yourself as well.

Now this Chex business is very intriguing! We don't have it in the UK. I'd never even heard of it before and now I want to try it. Especially the margarita version! Becky, do you know of a UK approximation?

I seem to be having a bit of a laid back week this week - lots of piano playing and knitting

Zillah

I always knew you were clever Zillah, but WOW

and speaking of which... are you going to do another course after this one finishes Honey?? Now you've done something basic you could pick out something which really interests you, no you have the confidence that you're working at the right level.

Zillah, I'm so busy that the email I had from Honey is languishing in my inbox unanswered since Sunday! Yes I am definitely overdoing it, but I haven't been ill yet so that's a good sign. The problem is that the few hours I'm actually physically in the new office is often not enough to really achieve much. I bought Sage accounting and payroll software this week and I've done little more than load it, despite my accountant coming up to check on us tomorrow!!

I'm resolutely not feeling guilty about ignoring the school library volunteer letter this year though - I guess that's a step in the right direction.

I'm also trying to make better use of little snippets of time, like pulling up the worst weeds on my patio before dashing out to collect the kids, or getting DD to prepare the cheese sandwiches which were part of yesterday's dinner while I cleaned the kitchen windowsill (and prepared a couple of things for charity that haven't been used in the year we've been in this house). I dashed through my working list this morning so I could get to the butcher and pick up some nice meat to feed my accountant tomorrow (she's also a good friend and the rest of the family's coming too). When the kids are at judo later I shall get the rest of the grocery shopping I couldn't manage earlier (because all my plastic had migrated to different jackets!).

cooking, gardening and making things nice has definitely slipped though, but I spent a few minutes before taking the kids to school on putting out pine cones as part of my Autumn fireplace display, and the kids helped. I finally got round to cleaning out some of the bird feeders and water bowl properly and filling the rest, rather than just topping up. The peanuts get ignored and had gone green, so that definitely needed cleaning. I've had a baby chaffinch in the garden for quite a while too, as a reward for my efforts!

but I've brought work home to do at the weekend, Sunday really since I've got people here tomorrow.

the rest of the birds are now coming in for a feed and divebombing down from the roof above this window!

Kerri.

Me, too, Kerri. I've a bunch to grade-plan-file-organize this week-end. We're all off school today so I'm using it as a "work-day" anyway. I've cleared the kitchen counters, made several phone calls and appointments that needed attended to (family/house stuff: eye appointments, landscaper for estimates etc.)and filed a PILE of random (family)paperwork.

My BIG project today is the computer room (which is a disaster) and to move the last few boxes of MIL's stuff to the basement. I'm going through photos and making each DD an album that includes old family photos, pictures of DH and me as babies/children, etc. It doesn't make sense to make one album when there are TWO kids, so I'm copying/dividing as evenly as possible.

Of course it's Friday, which means football game tonight...I need to dig out hats, scarves and gloves (winter coats are already out...it snowed yesterday!)

My first set of performance evaluations will happen in the next two weeks. It's actually four separate events: a pre-appraisal conference, one announced observation, one unannounced observation, and a post-apprasal conference. Our building principal will do these. I'm terribly nervous about the whole process...but I tend to obsess about this kind of thing anyway so I'm trying to stick with business-as-usual in the hopes that what I do "everyday" is good enough!

It's been a rough start to my first year of teaching, really. I'm very happy about what is happening in my classroom with my students, but I know that I'm not on-target with all the "extra" stuff that is expected of (excellent) teachers. (Going to student sports and activities, chaperoning events, participating in clubs/groups with kids AND with other teachers/professionals, etc.) Those are all non-contractual obligations, but are fully expected and assessed as part of "professional" excellence. Finding any sort of place for those has been (is) hard.

I'm missing MIL terribly, too. For some reason this week was especially difficult.

Next Saturday is the 18th anniversary of the night I met my DH. I'd love to do something unexpected for him....

Halloween costumes are almost done. I still need to make a "fairy skirt" for DD11.5. DD16 has a halloween party on Saturday, so we finished pulling her's together first.

That's all more than you all wanted to know ...but you're up-to-date on us!

Love to all,
Lenora

PS: on the "piano playing/knitting!" I'd love a picture of that! MY orange/white/black "NHS" school-color scarf is almost done. I want to be able to wear it Wednesday night for the Powder-Puff football game/tailgate/bonfire (which I am chaperoning!)

normally at this time in October even the most disorganised among us is usually getting deeply into Christmas (no Honey - I wasn't referring to you specifically! ). This year it seems that we don't even have the time to cope with the ordinary everyday chaos, let alone festive stuff. Anybody else feel that way?? You must since this thread has been quiet so long.

I've started thinking of online places to buy gifts, which is just as well since I seem to have so little time now for shopping that I can't even get myself clothes for the season. I'm short of jeans, sweaters, tops with collars that work with the sweaters I already have and a decent winter coat. Just as well we still have quite warm weather here!

and this year is likely to be my most chaotic ever. I volunteered myself last year for this year's Christmas Day meal, my SIL is coming over for 3wks, we have at least 3 shops to open, we have over a dozen staff to recruit for them... absolute nightmare.

I did find two nice Christmas cards today though, whilst waiting for my turn in the post office - one for my SIL and one for my grandmother.

if I thought about it I'd probably have totally flipped by now, but I think I'm trying to avoid thinking about it at all!

so what's everyone else doing??

Kerri.

That's what I'm doing. I'm on the final chapter now (which is a good thing as the final draft has to be in to my supervisor on 1 December). At the moment I can keep things going in the house and write the words, but nothing so elevated as taking charge! However, as you say Kerri, Christmas is approaching and I'm going to try and jump into Christmas Countdown with enthusiasm

I've just spent all day writing and my brain is jelly, so I'm off to feed it gin

I'll try and start a Christmas Countdown thread, if anyone else feels like joining me?

Zillah

I'm crushed.

I am getting a handle on Christmas already. I have some Christmas cards and wrapping paper (£1 or so in Aldi, Kerri and Zillah). I also have a few presents already, and several ideas. I am doing a kind of 'advent box' for my elderly Auntie who hasn't been well lately, so thinking of lots of little presents for a lady of 78 has been quite a challenge, but I am getting there.

My Open University course has finished now, thank goodness, and I am not sure if I am going to do any more. I really love learning, but really hate actually producing any work!! I'm not sure if I can be bothered to do any more. Zillah, you have my utmost admiration

My sign language course is going well, I am enjoying it and have met some really nice people. My computer course is dull as ditchwater but hopefully the qualification will look good on my CV.

I am doing Weightwatchers again, and have lost 3 lbs so far. Really determined to lose a reasonable amount before I am 40!! (January 2007)

My social life is looking up a bit - have been out this evening and saw a great band in a local pub. Danced for 3 hours solid, which should help with the weight loss and hopefully counteract the half dozen whisky and diet cokes I spent much of the evening fighting off the attentions of a very keen 26 year old man, which was very good for my ego

Honey, just poking in! You go girl! Go for the 26 year old ...

I haven't done much for Xmas, besides make the appt. for a family portrait, which we haven't had for 7 years or so. It will be our Xmas card and if you sign up for the Xmas card exchange, you will get one!

I will do most of my shopping online probably - we don't have that much to do , which helps!

Hey all! It's "Sweetest Day" here. We don't do much....this is the day the dds get flower corsages from DH to wear to church tomorrow. (Every girl needs flowers from her father!) It is also the 18th anniversary of the night DH and I met and we DO celebrate that one! (it's always close to Sweetest Day, but not usually the same day.) We're having dinner in...but we are going out to see a movie later.

I'm knee deep in my performance evaluation series. I"ve had my pre-observation conference and my announced observation. I'm waiting on an unannounced observation (within the next two weeks,) and then will have a post-observation conference after that where I will hear the principals evaluation and recommendations. I tried to maintain "buisiness as usual," as that is the only way to get a constructive result but MAN was I nervous! Even my student could tell I was nervous! The STUDENTS, however were terriffic! I was proud of them (it was my challenging group!)

I spent the morning with DD16 at GS council at a workshop for her Gold Award project. The project requires at least 65 service hours and that doesn't include all the prep work, foundation requirements, and/or the paperwork involved! She's up to it, though...and I have the pleasure of taking a step back and watching her shine! I am relegated to "encourager" and troop "advisor"...(no longer "leader") and she will have a project advisor and gold award mentor who will be an adult professional related to her project and a young woman who recently completed the award. The project must address a recognized need in the community and have some lasting value. It's a pretty big deal...I think that for every 100 girls who join Girl Scouts as Brownies...only 1 or 2 complete a Gold Award project and earn the award.

We did a bit of tidying-up this afternoon so the house is in o-kay shape.

Zillah! Wow, Your'e wrapping up your dissertation! I'm with Honey...standing in awe! I'll be starting a Master's Degree next summer...but I'm taking it SLOW!

Honey...26 huh? Good for you!

Kerri, at some point when you have a minute (I hear you laughing at that already!) you'll have to fill us in on the details of the business....I've got "shops" and "warehouse space"....but I don't remember the details if you've shared them, sorry!!

Love to all!
Lenora

Honey, you wild thing, you!

We're all utterly exhausted again, as DD has another nasty cough and cold and some ******* was setting off fireworks between 1.30 and 2.30 in the morning. It's 8.30pm and I intend to be in bed in about an hour. Then I'll plan for next week's taking charge.

Tomorrow is all about DH, it's his birthday

Zillah

I wrote a long chatty post yesterday evening, but obviously never hit "post" and it is lost....

The condensed version:

We're good.
Go Honey!
So close, Zillah! (finishing the dissertation!)
Kerri, more details on the "shops," please

Love to all
Lenora

well I'd have posted our website before now, but it's an IP redirect type, so that means that all of you in the US won't get our local UK site. I suppose I can still do that though, to give you a flavour of what we're about - I'm always just a bit nervous about giving out anything which will link too obviously to me, and this gives out phone numbers, and I've got too many unhappy or angry customers from the previous company to make me comfortable with that. Tell you what Lenora I'll send you a PM, and anyone else who's interested I suppose. What I can confirm now it's closer is that we will indeed have one of our first outlets opening in Harrods, which is a huge coup for us, but also an indecent amount of pressure involved, particularly with every other part of the parent company hoping to benefit from the connection!

we have a few people arranged for interviews in London tomorrow (Tues) but it's really nowhere near as many as we'd like. Of course we left it far too late, and aren't spending nearly enough money on the recruitment, but hopefully we'll find some good, suitable people anyway. And hopefully we'll get a few more today too.

Congrats on surviving the observation Lenora. Those kind of things usually make new teachers a mass of nerves - I remember seeing it as a student and feeling really bad for them when the rest of the class decided to act up just for the sheer hell of it! Of course those were the teachers nobody liked so they were kind of fair game I guess, but I suspect you're more popular with most of your students.

Zillah, we have the same problem in this area too, although it hasn't been as bad so far this year. Last year at this time it was like living in Gaza with all the explosions late into the night, and it seems to be popular at other times of the year a bit too, which I certainly haven't come across before, not in the place I used to live with my parents.

Honey - I hadn't realised you had that particular birthday coming up, which goes to remind me how long it is since we've seen you. It sounds like it doesn't show though, if the attentions of a 26yr old are anything to go by. And how do you know he was 26?? You must have had conversation with him at some point... Nothing like a little ego massage - it's good for the soul! I think once you smile you just light up so that must be what caught his attention, and with enough whisky inside you, you were probably smiling even more brightly than usual!

I gave the downstairs cloakroom a thorough and long overdue scrub yesterday, in the middle parts of the Brazilian Grand Prix. I'm sort of getting round to other stuff in little pockets of time here and there, but I did spend much of yesterday curled up on my bed reading, advising DH on the recruitment!

It's half term this week though, so I'm partially working from home, and hoping that my parents will be able to take the kids later in the week for a while, unless their hitherto AWOL decorator suddenly puts in an appearance.

Kerri.

I'm not 40 until 2008!! I don't know what made me type 2007 - I guess after a few drinks I don't even know how old I am

Wow, Zillah's almost done (I stand ready to greet you over on the shores of the Isle of the Over-Educated ) and Honey's a swinging single!

Guess that gives "Taking Charge" a whole new meaning, eh?

(Honey is probably thinking, that is the last time I divulge a man-related tidbit.)

Shaun
www.homeschoolblogger.com/shaunms

Yep, I'm on my way

Had a lovely tea and dinner for DH yesterday, but got to bed far too late, so I'm exhausted again.

DH is off to Edinburgh tomorrow for a job interview. Rather mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, he needs a job. On the other, I don't want to move so far from my parents, in-laws, most of our friends, our Quaker Meeting. I'm terrible at change.

Lenora, sorry we lost your post!

Kerri, really good you got Harrods. Will you be in for Christmas?

I just seem to be treading water at the moment, I can only really think about getting the dratted PhD out of the way. However, I'm going to have to get a handle on things or Christmas is going to be a nightmare.

Now, over to Christmas!

Zillah

and DH had some success with the interviews yesterday, so fingers crossed or he'll be going for Harrods' induction training programme himself, and he can't easily spare the 3 days!

Edinburgh's very cold Zillah. It's very nice, but I nearly died of hypothermia at the end of August one year. To be fair, my cousin said it was abnormal, but the wind sweeps in off the North Sea and it's evilly cold. Lovely city though, but a long way from family. I oubt whether your DH is looking for a job we might be offering, but if you think he might, give me a shout. I'd happily staff the whole enterprise with people I know and trust.

I may have an express lift with my Christmas planning in the next few days, but I'm supposed to be using kid-free time to fill my wardrobe with something I can usefully wear at this time of year, like maybe a coat of some kind. Most of my remaining coats are almost old enough to get driving licenses of their own! And would be already if they were American coats!!

Kerri.

This will be the first year that we won't spend at either my parents or my in-laws. We live a far drive away now, and I think unless the weather is fair and I go insane about a week before, I will be celebrating here, with my two wee ones and my DH. That said, I'm still in the name hat for Christmas, so we need to get some shopping done. Fortunately, I covered one of the gifts (no, make that 2) before we moved, as when Kohl's had their winter sale (90%off!!) last year, I bought some shirts and wrapped them for Christmas this year and left them with their future owners. Hope no one grew more than I expected! Then, it's off to Christmas cards. I'm extremely cheap, and I bought a scrapbook set (card stock, borders, etc) and I'll cut it up and make my 50 cards. So far, so good. I've got 5 done, and my children have left my pile alone!! Well, I'm off to do something more, as it's nap time and they fell asleep at the same time today (whew!).

Thank you for the thought, Kerri, but thankfully all ideas of alternative career choices can now be shelved

It's not yet certain that we'll go to Edinburgh, DH has another interview here in Oxford next week. Thankfully the department at Edinburgh are willing to wait for him to have that interview before he needs to say anything to them. He really likes the Edinburgh department and people, and the job is very good. But, Oxford is Oxford, and it looks terribly good on an academic's CV. However, we'll cross that bridge IF we come to it. Needless to say DH is absolutely cock-a-hoop

I'm meant to be writing today, but all I can think about is the possibility of uprooting and moving AGAIN. I recently worked out that I've lived in 10 houses in the last 15 years. Still, both jobs are 3 year contracts, and that's longer than I've lived anywhere since I went to Uni. And most of our stuff is packed in storage, so I would only have to unpack this time

Well, back to the books . . .

Zillah

our two potentials failed their Harrods approval, so DH is definitely going for induction training. The only piece of good news is that it's only one day not 3, but we still have no staff and are stuck to know where to find good experienced staff that will meet with Harrods' approval. The two we had were shaking with terror and the youngish lad looked like he was about to throw up. No amount of conditioning by me helped them either apparently.

We did however manage to pick up some bits and pieces for Christmas before my feet failed completely. All Harrods souvenir stuff, which is a bit sad, but we didn't have the time or feet to go anywhere else, or we'd have had to hang around in London till quite late and leave behind the rush hour traffic. For the record - my feet still hurt two days later.

I need to find a nice place to buy an artificial tree this year. It was kind of nice to have a real one last year after 10yrs in Singapore, but equally after 10yrs with an artificial tree it was weird to only put my tree up at the very last minute, and struggle to get it in and out of the house. Disposal was the worst nightmare even though we live just round the corner from a tip! Haven't seen anything I like yet that I might dare to look at the price tag of... my feet were hurting too much to appreciate the Christmas department in Harrods, and only the really super-special items looked any different, and those are definitely not things I can afford to spend money on. The basic 'Harrods' decorations were £10 each, so I wasn't able to get the kids a decoration each at that price.

still, I think the Christmas side is progressing gently along, though I think there might be a bit of panic in November when I've done nothing for a week or two and get behind. Work is ... disastrous at the moment and even DH is struggling to see how we can cope with it. What's worse is I'm not sure how we could go about easing it.

Good luck to DH on the job in Oxford Zillah. That would definitely be a coup for him, and far more convenient for the rest of you.

now I need to go hunt for rice pudding recipes and suit holders, and listen to DD's new recorder skills (!)...

Kerri.

I didn't see anything after Christmas last year and I don't think I have the neccessary nerve to buy so late before Christmas - I scare easily on stuff like that. Must be the control freak in me. I'm not sure really... last year I aid never again, but this year we have my SIL visiting, an it would be the first time she's celebrated Christmas in a proper way (rather than me bullying all her family to join me in my rather cobbled together version of Christmas in Singapore!), so a real tree might be nice. Whatever I do it's bound to be last minute and a total mistake!

Kerri.

Sorry, Kerri, I'd love to help, but I'm just not groomed enough for Harrods. Your DH will be OK because of the suit thing, but those Harrods girls are way too polished for me I used to work just round the corner from it and spent many pre-Christmas lunch hours gazing at the Christmas department

Taking charge of the end of the PhD and treading water in the house is all I have to report at the moment.

Zillah

we didn't see any artificial trees after Christmas last year or I'd probably have grabbed one. Probably we didn't go out early enough after Christmas, and I'm not sure I'd have the nerves required to leave it till a couple of days before - I hated leaving it till the last minute to decorate last year after 10yrs in SG with an artificial. I'll look around and see what I can find this year, but since my SIL is coming I might go with real anyway - she won't have had a proper English Christmas celebration before so whilst I'm not going to kill myself going all out, I shall certainly be trying to make it a bit special for her. My relatives will do the rest!!

I'm not groomed enough for Harrods either Zillah. I didn't even put myself down for store approval. It's torture to me to go down for a day here and there and have to put a skirt and real shoes on (I wore boots but the ne result was similar!).

BUT... we do have one member of staff, as of this afternoon, and could be quite senior. Francis has another good interview tomorrow morning, so fingers crossed, and then they can learn our business and help us acquire and train staff before moving out to the next lot of outlets. I needed good news today because I was trying to do our payroll on Sage today and it was a nightmare. Plus I got a call from a really unpleasant woman dealing with one of our outlets and the threat in her tone was only barely veiled. I want to get in there, do really well and then drop her firmly on her ar$e!

so a mixed bag today for us. Less trick or treaters than last year though I'd bought more candy this time. We have a reputation forbeing mean because I say one sweet each - they're lucky, given my revulsion for the whole thing, that they get anything at all really, but they're not to know that. It's only my defence against getting egged or having a brick thrown through my window. And this is the better area of town!

I never realised how many doors there are into Harrods until Friday... we tried to dump off DH's bag after our meetings and the 'easiest' way was round the outside to door '3'. I know I saw door '11' at one point and I also know we did all four sides... or part of four sides. I must be the only person who is't feeled with joy in that place, and even the food hall left me a bit cold this time somehow. I was looking for stollen because the best one I ever had came from there and it would have been the PERFECT Christmas present for my German grandmother... they didn't have any. It really wasn't a good day, but I didn't realise how bad till I got the paperwork through today for a speeding fine DH got on the way down at 5:30am! Blech.

the only way is up, right!?!

Kerri.

Hope things are working out for new staff for your venture, Kerri. This will surely ease your load. And then you're certain to be on the up

Today is interview day at Oxford for DH. We had a lovely day off yesterday for my birthday, so I hope he's going in feeling relaxed. The thing is, he doesn't really think he wants the job. They'll have some selling to do if they want him. Otherwise it's Edinburgh for us. I'm kind of getting used to the idea of a move, but if the Oxford job did turn out to be right, I wouldn't be AT ALL sorry.

I have to write a big final section of my final chapter today. So I'd better go and apply myself

Zillah