I still feel bad about the wheel - destroying it while adjusting the audio entertainment for my morning drive. Feel slightly better about my driving attidude this morning, though, after seeing someone driving down Fields Hill blow-drying her hair.

I'm tired again this morning. I have slipped into the cycle of falling asleep putting various kids to bed (they love a bed-time cuddle), waking up at 10pm, clearing up and washing dishes until about 10.30, wanting some time to myself hence making coffee and pursuing other activities until 1am, and finally going to bed and being completely unable to sleep.

Last night, over coffee, I coincided with Oprah on TV. She was interviewing a couple who were married for ten years with two children when the husband finally told the wife that he had always needed to be a woman (had always known s/he was a woman in the wrong body). S/he had a complete sex change. They are still married (though celibate now) and are still together as a family. Sounds weird until you see them and hear them talk and realise how strong and loving they are.

No further progress on the budgeting and finances (blame Oprah and Deedee and Jim/Jen). I simply must make myself go on with it tonight. We are noticing that the frugality is taking a bit more control and willpower now. Days since last purchased Woolworths food: 22.

The kids are back at school for the last term of the year. This is a short term, just 9 weeks, and will be hectically filled with end-of-year things. Lauren starts swimming again this afternoon and is incredibly excited. Peter was supposed to take Daniel for his first swimming lesson ever this morning (and was really looking forward to it), only unfortunately couldn't make it due to a really important quarterly meeting which happens today. Robyn won't be doing swimming anymore as an extramural as she has enough on her (and my) plate now. This will be Robyn's last term of gym as she wants to replace it with Brownies next year. I hope she loves it as much as I did.

Peter is happy about doing swimming lessons with Daniel (these are active parent swimming lessons as the parents are in the pool with the kids). He's doing well in general actually. Yesterday morning we woke up to the smell of freshly baked bread as he'd set up a loaf to bake overnight ready for breakfast. This is a Good Sign. Months and months ago, the last time I asked him when he was going to make bread again, with his breadmaker that he simply had to have, I got a comment about just Trying to Survive at the Moment.

I am wondering what they would say at work if I asked for an extra month of unpaid leave over the kids' summer holidays. In December and January it really bites having to leave the kids at home and go to work. This is assuming I don't resign of course, and frankly I don't think we can do it. Having the kids holidays off would make the job less hateful.