June!

Its been an odd week for me actually. I think having a baby around the house has slowly caught up with me physically. The slightly less sleep every night for 3 months has started to take its toll. The stress of trying to move house isn't helping either.

Its hard to believe that Z is 3 months old now...I can remember first holding him in the hospital. He's still massive but thankfully the growth is slowing now...no need for new clothes every 2 weeks. The only problem is all the advice we keep getting from all corners. Its hard to keep focussed and confident with what we are doing without all the opinions but then I suppose it shows people care.

The slow build up of exhaustion is affecting my work somewhat in that I just cannot be arsed to do any! Had a meeting in London on Wednesday and was hoping to cruise by on autopilot but with so few attendees I had to contribute, and the bit where my PC Lead put me on the spot and said "As Knowledge Management Lead Leigh, what do you think we should do next?". Fortunately despite my empty mind I managed to come up with something and agreed to write up a project plan for next week. My boss will be back as well expecting to see great things from the P2 data that I should have ready and reconciled back to the system...hmmm I think I'm going to have a busy Monday!

We did actually have a house viewing this week! A call at 16:45 yesterday with people wanting to come around straight away...fortunately K managed to negotiate 17:30 and we set to work clearing up the shit hole! They seemed to like the house but had others to see and may well want a second viewing today. From their feedback the fact that our house doesn't need much big doing to it (e.g. double glazing, central heating etc) is a big plus as far as they are concerned. We shall have to wait and see. The other bonus is that all the weekend housework was crammed into 40 minutes and is all done now!

The impending house move (it will happen eventually) has brought into sharp focus how much less money we'll have floating about once it happens (and especially when the maternity pay dries up). I have responded in my usual way to get all anal about it and demand to see all K's receipts for the money she spends each month! (not quite, but thats not a bad idea!) I have also resolved not to spend any money on new board games, books or video games for this month and see what I have left at the end of the month (the theory being that this could be used to plug the gap when we move).

So far not too bad...although things that I ordered months ago and ready in June have thrown a little spanner in the works. I've resolved that Super Smash Bros Brawl will be the only video game purchase, despite the delicious looking (and 2 player) Lego Indiana Jones. I'm consoling myself with the music from Smash (downloaded here).

Also annoyingly my ipod's select button has stopped working which renders my ipod unusable! Fortunately its pay year end this month so there should be a bit of a bonus winging its way towards me. I'm stuck with whether to replace my iPod nano with a new nano (now with video) or go all flash and get an iPod touch. The web browsing, email checking is appealing on touch but the size is off putting, I don't want another phone sized item to carry around with me. Plus the fact that the touch is double the price!

Other things I'm obsessing about are:

1. If we get an offer on the house, should I lower the offer we're making for the house we want in Long Eaton since the average house price has fallen 5% in the last 2 months. But what if they then accept someone else's offer!

2. D&D 4th edition. This looks great and I'm tempted to buy the rule books even though I have no-one to play with! Listening to a podcast over at Penny Arcade/D&D website and the new rules sound fantastic. Am wondering if I could get a group going when we move back to the Midlands...I wonder if K will want to play?

3. Cradle Cap. I shouldn't be allowed to hold a sleeping baby who has cradle cap...too tempting to pick until 've picked it too much. Fortunately the Nurse Prac. at the surgery wasn't too worried and just gave K some Coconut Oil so we're giving that a whirl.

Seven things I've learned in the last seven days

1. The only product that will make my hair look as good as it did when I had it cut last Friday is the product they keep trying to get me to buy at the salon. It must be magic or something...nothing else has made my hair look as good as it did on Friday!

2. Starfox Command eats hours like nobody's business! Train journey...flew by! Nap time...gone! Soup cooking time...where are you?

3. K enjoyed her birthday weekend (photos in the usual place) I enjoyed it as well...especially the aforementioned haircut, the new swanky clothes I bought, the trip to London, seeing Wicked and the Game On exhibition (although we did visit it 5 years ago when it was at the Barbican.)

4. History Repeats itself. Game On at the Barbican convinced me (and K) that it would be a good idea to buy a Gamecube. Game On at the Science Museum convinced me it would be a good idea to buy a PS2 (not 3).

5. Day 7 is my itchy face day. I haven't shaved since last Saturday and only this morning remarked to K that I had passed itchy day, I was wrong. Itching like a bastard and can't wait to shave it in the morning!

6. CSI remains good and exciting even though we're at Season 7. Watched the 2 part season opener this week...what is it with that freaky eye?!?!

7. It is possible for me to exercise and not hate it. I have traveled the last part of my work journey on foot for 4 days this week and enjoyed the opportunity to listen to my iPod.

8. Bum....I wanted to mention this so we'll ignore the fact it is Number 8....New carpets are lovely!

Blue

Feeling a little down today and not sure why. Perhaps its the rain, perhaps its work or something, I don't know.

Trying to fill some time by downloading even more music to iTunes. It seems no matter how much music I put on it, there never feels like enough on my iPod when I'm at work. Perhaps I should have got the more expensive (read: higher capacity) model for Christmas. Anyway, G&S is flavour of the day at the moment and I've just put The Mikado & Yeomen onto it. Its a bit weird considering that this year I don't think I'm going to sing with the the local society. I want to try something new but I haven't quite worked out what yet. I think it'll very much depend on what show they decide to do. If its one I like, I might sign up again. The problem is I feel a weight of responsibility...I'm young and a tenor...something which is prized in local societies like ours. The problem is that I start to resent being there when its 2 or 3 times a week, especially when work is being poo.

Finished the Ultimate Galactus graphic nvels Richard got me for Christmas last night. Really enjoyed them but got a little confused with the Ultimate Silver Surfer (if that was indeed him) and wasn't sure about the teenage Ultimate Fantastic Four. And Nick Fury seems far more arrogant and personifying what is bad about americans in these than in the actual Ultimates books themselves.

Anyway better dash, she's home and I want a kiss!

Poor Wand'ring one!

The novelty of my iPod has yet to wear off and for that I am glad. Listened to a good section of The Pirates of Penzance on my walk back to the car from the office. It was that bit where the ladies first come on and they meet Frederic and then sing about the weather...super! While I remember there's a Radio 2 documentary running on Sunday evenings about Gilbert & Sullivan....missed the first but should be able to get it on Listen Again.

It was good that I had something to listen to as the North Gate was closed when I left and I had to trudge around to the main gate. Usually I wouldn't mind the extra time but it was cold , dark, windy and wet and every extra step was resented. To be fair it was my own fault for skiving off early but a conversation with M at work had left me wanting to get home to make dinner. We had a couple of chicken thighs left over from Saturday (Cous-cous and pine nut stuffed, chicken thigh, baked and served on a rocket and herb salad with orange and mustard dressing) and my mind was reeling at the possibilities! Chicken & sweetcorn broth with quinoa is simmering on the hob as I type! Yum!

Managed to finish the story mode on Rabbids yesterday and unlocked a load of extra challenges. Hopefully they'll fill some time before some more games come out. I'm tempted to get Marvel: Ultimate Alliance despite its mediocre ratings as I know K and I will have a blast playing it but I've got to watch my cash as we seem to be spend, spend, spend at the mo. And thats not even thinking about K's upcoming 30th birthday, the plans for which are very definitely afoot but need some additional effort on my part to fully coalesce.

First Day Back!!

It wasn't too bad in the end and even managed to do a heap of work. It did drag rather in the morning but then zipped along as I got engrossed in manual reassignment of resource request properties for the monthly dashboard (yes, my job IS thrill a minute!)

One thing that is better about being at home rather than at work (apart from all the obvious things) is that you can fart without fear...I was holding them in like no-one's business today, although I think one may have slipped out! My car does stink a bit though. Apologies if I've offended anyone but at least I'm not contemplating an online poo-diary (or log-blog, if you will) like someone I know!

Got great use out of the iPod as well and have just spent the last 30 minutes making some new playlists for it...exciting!