Following neatly on from my last blog, I’m going to write about some big and small things we can all do to make ourselves feel a bit better. I’m not that great at sticking with my goals and am the first to reach for pizza and wine when the shit hits the fan. However, I’ve noticed there are some things that very quickly make life a bit nicer. If you take a bit of time for yourself you can notice almost immediate improvements to your mood.

So, as my children shoot up and become more headstrong but adorable by the day, the big wide world they live in, is also evolving. Every time I check the news, it seems that this planet is becoming more tumultuous, messed up and uncertain. Insane extremists are indiscriminate in their terror and politicians seem determined to upheave everything secure about the societies and communities in which we live. It may be that I am noticing unrest and change more now that I am a parent/grown up and that’s just how things feel when you’re an adult. Or it might be that things really are quite messed up out there right now. *Take a deep breath – that was a bit heavy*

 At around 2.30 this afternoon, I seriously began to think that the boys would embed Brio trains in to each others eye sockets if I didn't take action, pronto. We've done our best over the past two weeks, but entertaining two small boys for 12+ hours a day, when you have severe sniffle snuffles, is no joke.  They've had more than their fair share of screen time and I've felt like an accomplished parent if they've eaten something not sourced from Birdseye. So, I persuaded Ben, aged 3 and easily cajouled into most things, and forced Thomas, aged 5 and determined to do the opposite of what's required at all times, to head out for a walk.

 It turns out that it is now quite uncool to make New Year's resolutions or to make big fitness goals for the year ahead. The fact that (based upon zero scientific evidence) 99.9% of all resolutions have been kicked to the kerb by mid January, makes rubber stamping a list of big life goals for the coming months, seem a bit daft and whimsy.

Today I ate a modest bowl of porridge at 6.30am before the children surfaced. A large hummus salad at 1.30pm at work. A half chewed chocolate danish pastry, a couple of sausage rolls and a packet of haribos with the kids. A lamb and potato stew this evening. See my problem?