I am...

...disgustingly aware that I am not keeping up with my own bargain of regular blogging. I did intend to use my blog as a personal diary, but, well, I'm too feckin' busy to be frank!

Running two businesses from home is hectic, but enjoyable. If I could only squeeze some extra hours into my day, then I could spend MUCH more time on Pinterest (my time-wasting hobby). How much prettiness is out there to gaze at

I have managed to see about half of my friends this month - so much harder now one pixie is in school. Small pixie and meetings/coffee dates/consultations combines pretty well, as long as I am armed with distraction techniques (a grown-up pad and pen works amazingly well). So whoever is reading this that I haven't seen, hugest of apologies, a large slice of virtual cakey, a kiss and I promise I'll see you soon. Gah.

Marathon training is still rockin' - five months to go and I'm well up for it. I've lost nearly 2 stone since December (I'm running 40 miles a week - it's gonna happen) and my old injuries are holding up well (*touches headboard of bed with, well, one's head*). The trouble with a commitment to running 26.2 miles in one go is that it requires training that is disciplined and regular. I am neither So it's a battle with myself, my diary and negotiating with the husband that yes, I AM off out running AGAIN and no, I have no clue when/if I'll be back. I'm sure he understands...

A race to prepare for tomorrow and I've just found my bloody shorts in the washing basket so another flippin' load to bung in this evening, so I'll leave you with a picture of the only proper job I've managed to complete today: tidying of my desk. Ta da!

Conversations

Conversations. 

With the Big Pixie:

"Mummy, I was thinking. If we write down all the opening paragraphs to a new 
exciting story, then we can see how many similes and sections of alliteration 
we can spot! That'll be fun!"

With the Small Pixie: 

Me: "Sweetheart - what are you doing?"

Small "Me no say. Me needa gimp. Me no fine me cock me go a garnen pay." (I 
can't say the words. I need a drink. I've lost my Crocs again and I want to play in the garden)


I LOVE the intensity changes! I have one child who doesn't know which colour is which, and one who could breakdown the compounds and decipher the electronic bonds. Makes for an interesting breakfast conversation.

I am rubbish!

I am scarily aware that it has been 4 months since I last blogged! 


I don't really have much to say to be honest! I am so busy living and loving life, that there is little time to write about it.


Business has been all-consuming with our new shop and website set-up; freelance writing has also been steady, and I have turned work away so we can concentrate on the expansion on the sweets.


The pixies are still bloody gorgeous: one is extra tall, smiley, in-love with school and has been assessed as gifted, able and talented. She is having the curriculum altered to keep up with her pace and so it seems one year of HE has given her the room to expand at her own rate. 


Little pixie couldn't care less; has no idea of the difference between red and green and laughs manically when one suggests that we should learn our colours. 


I love how polar opposite they are.


She will probably end up going to school, to be frank. She says she is definitely going. Definitely. But she also says she definitely ate a button. You decide. It will be her choice however, but I will encourage her to go to school, as having experienced both sides, school has definitely provided the most normal social contact for the big pixie. She is flourishing.


And training is going well. 6 months until the marathon, and I'm happily running up to 16 miles. I slipped a disc a few months back, but hey, shit happens. It's all good now.


Gay Paris at the end of May, so I am hastily bookmarking all the tourist and literary things to see. Hopefully I will have some company to them!


So long :)

Tick-tock

Tick-tock, tick-tock...time has gone and skipped a few weeks again. Madness.


Here is the new addition in our house:

He is the most mischievous kitten I have met and is currently residing somewhere inside my piano - I have no clue where or how, but it's true. Tiger Tonks is his name. He is so cuddly. Aside from when I have spent hours editing a client's work, he casually hops across my laptop, trampling on delete-delete-delete, for a laugh.


So first day back at school today after the Chrisumerism break for my Big Pixie, who is now a whopping six-year-old. She was so excited to see her friends again and was up early (well, 07.30, but that is early in our house). The beautiful little weirdo.


She won a prize at the end of last term, for the child who had done the most book reviews. My swotty little mushroom did 47, which is not surprising as her head is in a book continually. She has been placed on an enrichment programme for high-achieving children, so they are constantly providing interesting tasks for her to take part in. The latest is a Dragon's Den-style challenge to build and design a moving toy. I hate to say it, but she is totally built for school.


She is also teaching me how to play chess. Honestly, I'm freakin' lost. She is like a sponge, soaking up information and regurgitating it at the most appropriate times. Which is good, because my memory is shocking. "Now, mummy, let me explain how you move your prawns..." Ugh. My head hurt after an hour of instruction.


Small Pixie is doing incredibly well too, and is the most playful thing. We've been away staying with good friends and she was the sweetest child, unlike her older sister who cannot cope with any sort of sleep deprivation and turns into a moaning Mary. Lots of late nights, but we really enjoyed our time away.


Small Pixie is a entirely different child: she has no interest in anything other than play; is content to make cupcakes in her wooden kitchen and couldn't give a shit if she knows her colours or alphabet. Which is a huge relief after the bombardment of questions the Big Pixie has thrown our way. I'm glad our two girls are polar opposites.

We've just booked a holiday with the above-mentioned friends, to a Gite outside Paris - I'm so excited to visit the Louvre and the cellar tours we've planned. It might make up for me missing the NYC Marathon this year :( I'm thinking of the Dublin Marathon in Oct '11 to compensate, and do NYC next year when I can afford it!


Lots of 10k and 16k races lined up. And a bit of a juicing fast for a few weeks until I shed my festive pot belly that has appeared (probably from a cakey fest and few sessions with Jack Daniels).


So Happy New Year, enjoy the fresh new feeling of 2012 and aim high.


xxx