Losing the plot

Spent most of the day tweaking my 'Losing the Plot' story, ready to send off tomorrow. Will have to go first class to have any chance of meeting the deadline, Friday the 15^th. Will also need to post poems off tomorrow for the same reason, not to mention Australia parcels as the recommended last date for that was today. A hamper for us arrived today also, from Al and Wanda. A sneaky peek revealed things like chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and Arnotts Tim Tams. We-hey!

Barely been out of the house at all. A quick dash in the car to drop Eddie off at the station to catch his bus to college. He's still in a lot of pain – getting worse he says – which is not good.

Sorted the little kids out for school when I got back, Lucy needing cooking ingredients again: pasta with a cheeses sauce again. Not a great deal of variety on the menu. She has to make the same dish tomorrow, with the addition of peas, pistachio nuts, and some breadcrumbs. Interesting.

Found a few Xmassy gifts to drop round at Jojo and Simon's, but didn't have any wrapping paper, or a proper card or anything, so all a bit naff really. Especially in comparison to what they gave us. Beautifully assembled homemade mulled wine kit, a jar of homemade mincemeat, and a bumper box of chocs. Jojo was being really sweet too, very aware of how low-key our Christmas is going to be without any family around. I guess the kids will be ok, as they'll get to hang out with the Read clan for a few days post December 25^th. See all their cousins and get spoilt by the grandparents. And eat loads of crap.

Why am I being so funny about Xmas this year? It really shouldn't be such a big deal. Probably just another off-shoot of being tired and over-stressed. Will be relieved to see the other side of it though, that's for sure. Not looking forward to the kids' lack of excitement when they open their presents. Things that they don't want, as usual.

Have arranged to pick up a TV, VCR and DVD player off of free-cycle. The telly sounds as if it's going to be monstrously large, but maybe the other things will be ok? Not sure why I'm bothering as don't really want the stuff, but I guess the kids will. Merry Xmas kidlets, from me.