Wussy Wednesday instead of 10 on Tuesday!

Apologies that I have missed 2 Tuesdays, so here's my musings this Wednesday:

1. I went to New York about 10 days ago, it was a fab trip but I got that horrid tummy bug the night before. There's nothing like starting a transatlantic flight by clutching your tummy in a jam on the M56, shouting 'I don't think I'm gonna make it to the airport!', nice!

2. On a plus point I had my first trip in business class, was driven around in limos all weekend, ate at Gordon Ramsey's restaurant, and 14th row from front at Broadway isn't bad for tickets either. spoilt.com.

3. What exactly is a work life balance??? It's a phrase used a lot in the modern work place, but the reality is that you have your shifts, your job throws up what it does, and you just have to get on with it regardless. Evening shifts that I used to love, I've come to dread now, spend my days like a teary zombie on too little sleep. I've reluctantly asked for a role change. Hope it happens, I'll keep you informed.

4. The tree is up. Pip's face was a picture when I switched the lights on, but so far she hasn't wrecked it. Think that first day of repeatedly saying 'look with your eyes' each time she touched a bauble saying 'ooooh' seems to have paid off.

5. I'm nearly ready for Christmas, but have never been so financially embarrassed in my life. Mr J's main prezzie isn't bought yet, will have to be a credit card purchase, hope the shop name doesn't given it away. And I hope his 2nd main prezzie (yes we classify our presents as' main', '2nd main' and 'other') actually arrives.

6. On the question of Christmas, do you wrap a 14 month olds presents??? Father Christmas has put Pip's things in a big special sack (I'll probably have to help Father Christmas lift it off his sleigh, aka the back bedroom bed) so should I leave it at that? seems bonkers to wrap them all, but even as I write this, I know that I probably will! crazy mum.

7. Nursery vs being with Grandma. We are blessed with Fab parents who love looking after their Granddaughter, but my mum has a lot of aches and pains, and I don't know whether to take some of her child caring duties off her by doubling Pip's nursery attendance. Such a tough decision. That's what I'm thinking about right now.

8. I volunteered to work Christmas day from 17.00 - 03.00 boxing day. With this in mind, and because we're doing Christmas day on boxing day with Iain's family, we're having steak and chips for Christmas day!!! yum yum. Thought it would be the last year that we could get away with me working and not having the traditional dinner without little Miss Pips perception of Christmas day being distorted. All traditional next year Pippa Pickle x

9. I'm looking forward to a break from boxing day until the 9th Jan. 2012 is already shaping up to be a busy year, new job role?, trip to Cape Town, 4 week driving course, Iain away in Africa/India. Tired already.

10. I have a stress headache, see previous about work, Grandma, childcare etc. It's 11am, I've missed the gym, there are no crumpets in the house, I'm going back to bed. Night Night

A Proper 10 on Tuesday! (slightly boring but i'll get into it ladies)

1. I have an aversion to a red Le Cruset mug we bought, the purple and the turquoise ones positively beam at me when I open the cupboard, but I can't bring myself to drink from the red one. What's that all about?. I am in general quite OCD when it comes to mugs, I simply can not drink from some, and I would rather not have a drink if the mug is wrong! Am I alone in the mug thingy?

2. I have have bought my daughter too much for Christmas. I even bought things for her to wear that are now too small cos I started shopping for her too early. I'm hoping that she actually plays with some of it! Last  year, the precious 'first christmas' was ambushed by strep throat, the most vile infection, so this year i've gone for it!!!

3. Talking of playing, I have a child who doesn't play! today she sat on my knee watching desperate scousewives ripping up a tissue, have I failed her already?. I did cover her ears during the bad language and kept saying to her 'Nice girls don't look like that, baby', bad mother! I'm looking forward to being able to do some chores and looking lovingly at my content child playing with a toy farm or zoo, she seems to only be interested in being with people, Pippa limpet Jackson!

4. I am addicted to crumpets. When I lay Pip down for a nap, or when i'm driving home from the gym I simply can not wait to get my hands on their buttered up loveliness!!! On the OCD theme, I have 2, toast the bottom first, then the top, they have to be spread with full fat butter, topped with 1 teaspoon of strawberry jam, on plain white plate and a cup of tea preferably from the turquoise mug!

5. Looking forward to the Strike tomorrow, I like national events, I like seeing what happens and watching the news. I like the idea that I was there, that I was part of that. I love a bit of history.

6. I am a massive Radio 2 fan, yes I am over 30!

7. I had my hair cut today and not for the first time I was told by a hairdresser that my hair is in beautiful condition. I mention this because you'd never know by looking at it. My hair is an enigma, looks like a ratty mess, but has always actually been in good nick!

8. I am off to New York and with 7 amazing women. You can never be more blessed than with good relationships, I have know some of these women for over 30 years, we went to play group together. I wonder, as I write this, who my bubs will be friends with when she is 37?

9. My house is in such chaos that I ironed a load of clothes today, the problem being that i'm not sure if they were from the 'dirty to be washed' pile or the 'clean but thrown on the floor as the drier was needed' pile. As a friend shared recently 'boring women have clean houses', if that is true then I am one exciting mama!

10. Loved it today when another friend confessed that she hates unannounced visitors because of the state of her house, loved to know I'm not alone, but secretly knew that my house is the worst. I blame my mother, clean freak, maybe Pip will have the immaculate home I desire but can't achieve.

Some friends blogs:

http://www.blogger.com/goog_446808827

http://www.somemothersdoavem.blogspot.com/

http://familydeane.blogspot.com/2011/11/ten-on-tuesday_29.html?spref=fb

Ten on Tuesday

1. I wanted to do one of these so now I have

2. I'm tired so you have to wait until next Tuesday for the other 7.

3.ps I don't think i'll keep this up for long