Rainy Days and Mondays

Does anyone really like January? I do realise that it's a necessary evil and can't be avoided-we all must curb those Christmas excesses, but honestly, fatter, broker, with a dollop of SADs on the side, I find myself longing for February as soon as New Years Day is over. January often reminds me of that children's book- 'Oh no! We can't go over it. We can't go under it. We've got to go through it!'

 Every magazine I open lectures me about saving money and losing the lbs while simultaneously displaying Kate Moss bikini clad on her annual jolly to St Bart's. Like I want to see THAT!
Rather thoughtlessly,  two of our children also have January birthdays, as well as my brother, sister, niece and  nephew, so there's still a fair old bit of spending still going on. Are you still reading or have I killed your buzz  and lost you completely? Sorry about that...although strangely enough, getting all that off my chest has really helped-I feel much lighter.....( metaphorically-my jeans tell a different story.) Speaking of which, metaphorically AND literally, it was back to porridge this morning-  no more Quality Street breakfasts for me-and I even went for my 3 miler in the semi darkness and pouring rain, in my annual effort to tackle the Christmas pounds.What a gal!

In January we all start to dream of summer - even flicking through the Radio Times, I've had to circumnavigate the blue skied holiday supplement stapled in the centre. Not that I was looking because it's the Caravilla for us for the next fifteen years- St Barts is sooooo last year- but then by horrible coincidence, our invoice for the yearly site fees popped through our letter box. All 2000 euro of it, although the slightly underwhelming silver lining is that we get a 10% discount if we pay by the end of January.....is that a fiscal cliff I see before me?

Back in the saddle....

Then stupidly,  I took the head staggers, dusted off the big boy pants and decided to give the potty training another go. This led to a great deal of sitting and very little else, until of course I briefly turned my back, and he took the opportunity to pop off the potty, whip up his pants and lay some pipe in there instead... S**t happens.  Yes, I know that it's still early(ish) days, and maybe January isn't the best time to (re)tackle the process,  and I could, (and may yet), put it off for another few months....but it's still got to be done eventually. By now, on my fifth child, I'm told this should be wee buns and I should apparently do it my sleep, but all I can say is, if one more well meaning person tells me that their child ' trained themselves',  I'll throw a pair of Luke's pants at them. Used ones obvs, so be afraid.

Of course, it's not all doom and gloom on this rainy January Monday - I had a little flirt with my favourite delivery man earlier on. He tapped the window and nosied in as usual, and when I answered the door he wanted to know if a delivery man would feature in my next (!) novel! Well! What could I say to such a charming, if blindingly misguided vote of confidence, except that of course there was- and a big handsome fella he was too...which left us both smiling as I closed the door.

Now I'm away off to enjoy some delicious low calorie soup before I do the school runs, and then later I'll probably pay a few bills, do a couple of homeworks and wipe the odd bum.  I'm livin' the dream, baby! Laterssssssssssx

 I've joined up with Sarah Miles at Hello Wall today-go on over and take a peek at the rest!