Finding joy in the everyday

After a busy day at work, coming home to do all those chores that need doing + make dinner, I like nothing better at 9:30 (or perhaps slightly earlier) to slip into my PJ’s, heat my wheat bag (heat pack), making a mug of tea and climbing into bed with a book.  The wheat bag goes to the bottom of the bed to keep my toes warm and I lie back on my 3 comfy pillows and RELAX – all the worries of the day slip away and I can finally enjoy peace and quiet.  Sometimes I will also listen to calm relaxing music via the iPod or watch a DVD, but generally I read. Did I mention that I also have 3 (small) cubes of chocolate (caramello is my favourite) to have with my tea.  This is pretty good for a busy girl!! How do you like to wind down after a busy day?

Now that school has returned, there is one thing I must do every morning - wake up a 17 year old - he is soooo grumpy first thing in the morning.  This is an impossible task and one I don't enjoy.  He groans and looks like he is awake, but the moment I turn my back he is asleep again.  I have started phoning him once I get to work to make sure he is awake - this morning however he had slept in - and guess what  - he missed the bus and was late for school. We had pork spare ribs for dinner (with salad - which contained freshly cooked beetroot which I just love and radishes also very yummy).  To go with the ribs I added caramelised onions (as an condiment)  which I bought from a gourmet deli - it was divine - the jar was called "caramelised onions marmalade" -  and would be excellent on cooked lamb or beef.   Stephen, now I can make that recipe by Nigella! **** Another food discovery was chick peas - I have eaten chick peas in soups and hummus...

I am half asleep and in need of a hot cup of Jasmine tea - but I wanted to write this blog tonight before I settle into my comfy chair with the tea, mint chocolate and a DVD (The Proposal). My husband has gone to bed and the children are out with girlfriends. Tristan started his new job today - thought it was great - covered in ink as he learnt to fill cartridges (the sort that go into printers and photo copies).   Caius has finished his first week at school - he is feeling very happy - therefore I am feeling very happy.   Steven spent a week with his parents - his mother has gone home from the hospice - she looks very sad and frail but so glad to see her son.  She only has weeks to live.  At least she is going home to heaven which is such a comfort. Me - had a good week at work - being researching the statistical limitations of suicide statistics (under counting) in case you were wondering.   The dogs have been wonderful while Steven was away...

I found an interesting article the other day about the lack of sleep in children and how it is affecting their mood, their behaviour and their academic ability at school - with a growing number of children suffering from lack of sleep. A doctor from the Sleep Disorders Clinic at Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney believes electronic media and mobile phone use take much of the blame. Until my sons hit their teens, sleeping was never a problem - they went to bed at set times, were allow to read for awhile or listen to audio tapes (stories) then off to sleep.  This all changed when they became teenagers - 14 onwards.  Now at 22, Tristan (my eldest) has very poor sleep patterns - often struggling to get to sleep (he has been known to hop in his car and go for a drive - which I don't like him doing) - he has tried different herbal teas with mixed results.  He wakes up early so he may only get 6 hours sleep per night.  It will be interesting to see if this poor ...