Five Years...

...of being in this house as of today. Frightening but true. House envy seems to be a growing concern, for both me and the kids. They're avid fans of Grand Design and those crappy property programmes which is more of a wind up then anything else – a reminder of how un-fab our home is. On Sunday I was atypically being a swotty student upstairs, when the kids shouted me down to see a news feature on the Politics Show to do with over-crowding. - picking up on the story of a family of five living in a 2-bed (council) house. As far as I could tell, they have it easy compared to our situation: the two older kids share a room, and mum and dad share their room with the toddler. Not a prob I wouldn't have thought. At least they have a proper lounge and kitchen – no doubt a garden as well.

Went on their website to email a response to the story – not that I expect any come-back. Clicked through from there to the page that says 'Do you want to be on a show?'; the only applicable one to my circumstances being What Not To Wear – they're looking for mature students. Am tempted to apply, purely for the opportunity to promote myself/my blog to try and get some publicity for my book idea, and maybe tempt a publisher in that way? A really long shot, but I guess you have to try all possibilities - even if it means pimping myself for posterity. So I'll have to get a couple of photos taken to send off, pretty soonish. Expect Penzance is too out of the way to be honest, and shame it's not something more exciting – one of those expedition/adventure programmes, rather than boring old clothes bollocks.

Later, I drove over to Hayle to collect Rosie's repaired surfboard, at long last. Far too gorgeous a day to be driving straight back home again, so thought I'd explore a part of Penwith I don't know that well – heading towards Gwinear way. As I was ill prepared to walk the muddy fields I found a bridal way which meandered down the hill, past the kinds of rural retreat houses that set my house envy affliction into overdrive. I start to question what I'm doing living in town, when there are these patches of paradise out there. And then I remember that I can't afford to move anywhere even remotely like these swanky residences – and I'd be spending my whole life carting kids around. And I wouldn't be able to stagger home of a night out either! Yes, to a country retreat at some point. No, to it being now. So I had to content myself with gazing longingly at other people's delightful abodes, and magnificent gardens. Scrumped a bunch of daffodils on the way back to the car to cheer myself up – always does the trick.

Still rabbiting on about Sunday when it's Wednesday already – what am I like? But as it's 2am, that's where I'll leave it. Til next time dear reader.