Chickens in a box

I have a new Goddaughter! Isn't she sweet?! So tiny and a complete angel - I am over the moon.

I have just spent 1 1/2 hours putting James back into bed over, and over, and over again. Why did I think taking the side off his cot was a good idea? Infuratingly, he seemed to think this was absolutely hilarious and the crosser I got, the more he laughed. Unable to stand anymore I stormed out to the garage and returned with a spanner. Don't worry, the baby is fine - but is now barricaded into his room with the stairgate. Sod SuperNanny, desperate mothers call for desperate measures. I am waiting for my heart rate to return to something vaguely resembling normal....it may take some time.

Collapsed into bed at 1am this morning after a brilliant evening with friends, alas the downside of great nights is always the 6.30am starts....but after a Berrocca and some paracetamol life didn't look so bleak and I got started on the carnage that was our house. On a rainy, cold, hungover, Sunday morning Eddie held the winning ticket; he'd promised to take William to the cinema for the first time. The two of them set off to watch Madgascar; Escape to Africa (the first film being William's favourite) and half an hour later a text confirmed that they were armed with popcorn and Pepsi; William's cup runneth over. Moi? Stuck with a miserable James whinging for Daddy. He is adorable, but so high maintenance - especially having had little sleep, my patience wasn't what it usually is. However we've decided the time has come to give James his freedom and remove the side of his cot. At first he didn't quite understand what it meant, but it didn't take long...

With Eddie away in South Africa all week the boys and I took a road trip up Norf to see Saffi, Mark and Fleur in their new pad in Lincolnshire. Such a beautiful place, their house looks out on a stretch of lawn and then a huge, perfectly groomed polo pitch. Idyllic. I even had a chance to stick and ball on a beautiful black mare called The Duchess, a real confidence boost and it reminded me how much I'd missed them all. Alas the trip was not without its drama; this time in the shape of William's first really serious asthma attack. If I think about it, things started to kick off as soon as he went to bed, and by 2am he was coughing so much I went out to the car to get his duvet (which I'd packed just in case). By morning he was in a complete state; unable to breathe and terrified, which of course made things worse. He cried and cried and after trying all the inhalers I'd brought, I was at my wits end. Eventually we put him in a warm bath hoping that the humidity would he...

Too much to think about this morning; getting the boys ready for nursery, polo and then back home again in time to make school at 1pm. A tall order but I was determined to be ultra-organised. Managed the lot and even an extra trip to Tesco and Azzuza for coffees before heading off to Binfield Heath via Sonya's. Alas psyched myself out again after being run off with the previous lesson and just couldn't get my act together. Ended up swapping with Sonya and actually having a much better time on a gentle pony who just carted me along. Better for the confidence but another dent to the ego. Rushed home ready to leap into the shower and head over the the school when I suddenly realised I didn't have my house keys. Turned the car upside-down trying to find them and was just about to call every stop I'd made all morning when I suddenly noticed a text from Cate.... ....deep breath... ....to tell me I'd left them IN THE DOOR. THE OPEN DOOR. OF OUR HOUSE. I still feel sick. Ca...

Today we headed off to the Crofton Beam Engines, a bit trucker I guess, but you can't beat a cuppa and custard cream on a sunny day; watching the trains whizzing by and drinking in the atmosphere. With Eddie en route to Joburg, I am shrinking into my bubble; ultra-tidy, ultra-healthy....ultra-quiet! Still, lots on next week with polo on Tuesday and then our road-trip up norf to find out if Lincolnshire really exists. Exciting!