The Federation for the Study of Infant Death Syndrome (FSID) has recently issued some new advice regarding dummy use and the role of pacifiers in reducing cot death. As anyone who has used the Baby Sleep System knows, there are a large number of babies with serious sleep problems as a result of "dummy dependency". Baby falls asleep with his dummy and when he wakes briefly at night as he goes through his sleep cycle, he cries out for mum and dad to come and stick his dummy back in.
My advice is that provided the back to sleep advice is followed see http://www.babysleepanswers.co.uk/reducing-the-risk-of-cot-death.aspa there is no reason why a pacifier needs to be introduced to a baby after it is 12 weeks old. I also advise that any dummy is removed immediately before baby is put down for a nap or at bedtime. There is also no reason why a baby cannot be seperated from his dummy when he reaches 12 weeks of age. The only exceptions to this is where mum and/or dad smoke (whether in the house or not) , if they allow people to smoke in their house or if the baby is co-sleeping with the parents in their bed.
The new FSID recommendation also includes no mention at all of the downside of dummies including increased levels of sickness and infection as well as sleeping problems.
I expect we are going to see more dummy dependent babies on the Baby Sleep Answers Forum over the next few months!
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Over 1000 baby's helped to sleep
It seems a long time since I have updated this log! Life is busy and so is the website. I have just celebrated helping the 1000th baby sleep through the night. What a satisfying job I have.
The Forum continues to go from strength to strength and the recruitment of the "Dream Team" has been instrumental in that success. The 10 willing volunteers go well beyond the call of duty to try and help as many parents as possible. The team represents a broad range of mums who have used the Baby Sleep System and now have baby's who are sleeping well.
The website is currently being upgraded to cope with the increasing number of visitors. A new payment system is being devised so that PayPal can be dispensed with and the Baby Sleep System will be available on Amazon from April. The number of workshops that I am running is increasing and I am providing expert advice to a number of parenting magazines.
Most important of all though, is that the feedback questionnaires sent to all purchasers of theBaby Sleep System continue to confirm that people are pleased with the product and are recommending it to their friends.
The Forum continues to go from strength to strength and the recruitment of the "Dream Team" has been instrumental in that success. The 10 willing volunteers go well beyond the call of duty to try and help as many parents as possible. The team represents a broad range of mums who have used the Baby Sleep System and now have baby's who are sleeping well.
The website is currently being upgraded to cope with the increasing number of visitors. A new payment system is being devised so that PayPal can be dispensed with and the Baby Sleep System will be available on Amazon from April. The number of workshops that I am running is increasing and I am providing expert advice to a number of parenting magazines.
Most important of all though, is that the feedback questionnaires sent to all purchasers of theBaby Sleep System continue to confirm that people are pleased with the product and are recommending it to their friends.
Saturday, 15 December 2007
Our Christmas Tree Looks Rubbish
Well Christmas is here again. As usual Hub’s contribution has been zero. He seems to take the opportunity at this time of year to celebrate as much as possible whilst making the minimum amount of effort to do the things that make this family time of year special. He has to be fair, bought his own family presents (only because if he left it to me they wouldn’t get anything!). They will be receiving books from Amazon and chocolates from Thornton’s – exactly the same as last year, and the year before that, and the year before that!!!!). I doubt if he actually knows what we have bought our children.
Back to the celebrating. Last night he went out with his “keep fat friends”. A bunch of old codgers who are still trying to play football every Thursday. He set off with the sole intention of getting hammered - why do men have to do that? Meanwhile I was cleaning up sick at 11.30pm. Ben had puked at the top end of his bed, then moved to the bottom end and threw up again. He then went for the treble and chucked all over his bedroom floor. Another man in the making. Neither my daughter or I have ever been sick anywhere other than the toilet or a “found in plenty of time” bucket.
This morning, hub was obviously unable to get out of bed because of the state he had got himself in the night before, so I flew around like a lunatic washing more sick covered items (my dressing gown included) and getting 4 kids dressed and fed so we could all troop to Caitlin’s horse riding lesson. After that we got petrol, bought a Christmas tree and visited the leisure centre to resolve the problem of Ben’s new football session clashing with the swimming lesson. I dragged the 6 foot Christmas tree out of the car down the steps and weight lifted it into the house. Carl then looked for a round of applause because he had managed to get out of bed, stick Ben’s mattress on the trampoline!!!! And volunteered to take the dog for a walk.
Later this afternoon Carl has gone off to watch Manchester City (another Christmas treat to himself, although he takes Ben to make it look like he is spending quality time with ONE of his children). Caitlin and I have been left to sort the Christmas decorations. We have untangled lights (of course one set no longer work), put the baubles on and added the tinsel. I had a daft idea that Ewan and Joseph would really enjoy helping. Ewan did – he armed himself with a Christmas cracker and started wacking the tree, destroying several baubles in the process! After dispatching Ewan and Joseph to bed, Caitlin and I eyed our handy work – it looks rubbish. Other people's Christmas trees look really professional and adult like. Mine looks like it has been styled by an unartistic mother and her six year old daughter and finished off by being whacked with a Christmas cracker!
We did eventually see the funny side and collapsed with laughter. Poor Caitlin as I write, is desperately trying to make it look better – I fear she has inherited my artistic talents. I have promised to take her to the garden centre tomorrow to seek inspiration and invest in some new baubles and a proper fairy (the one we have is made of a toilet roll and a snapped in half CD, Carl made it and I used to think it was sweet – those were the days before we had kids when he helped with the decorations!)
Oh well, off to make a hash of putting up the really badly made Christmas paper chains – last years’ effort.
Back to the celebrating. Last night he went out with his “keep fat friends”. A bunch of old codgers who are still trying to play football every Thursday. He set off with the sole intention of getting hammered - why do men have to do that? Meanwhile I was cleaning up sick at 11.30pm. Ben had puked at the top end of his bed, then moved to the bottom end and threw up again. He then went for the treble and chucked all over his bedroom floor. Another man in the making. Neither my daughter or I have ever been sick anywhere other than the toilet or a “found in plenty of time” bucket.
This morning, hub was obviously unable to get out of bed because of the state he had got himself in the night before, so I flew around like a lunatic washing more sick covered items (my dressing gown included) and getting 4 kids dressed and fed so we could all troop to Caitlin’s horse riding lesson. After that we got petrol, bought a Christmas tree and visited the leisure centre to resolve the problem of Ben’s new football session clashing with the swimming lesson. I dragged the 6 foot Christmas tree out of the car down the steps and weight lifted it into the house. Carl then looked for a round of applause because he had managed to get out of bed, stick Ben’s mattress on the trampoline!!!! And volunteered to take the dog for a walk.
Later this afternoon Carl has gone off to watch Manchester City (another Christmas treat to himself, although he takes Ben to make it look like he is spending quality time with ONE of his children). Caitlin and I have been left to sort the Christmas decorations. We have untangled lights (of course one set no longer work), put the baubles on and added the tinsel. I had a daft idea that Ewan and Joseph would really enjoy helping. Ewan did – he armed himself with a Christmas cracker and started wacking the tree, destroying several baubles in the process! After dispatching Ewan and Joseph to bed, Caitlin and I eyed our handy work – it looks rubbish. Other people's Christmas trees look really professional and adult like. Mine looks like it has been styled by an unartistic mother and her six year old daughter and finished off by being whacked with a Christmas cracker!
We did eventually see the funny side and collapsed with laughter. Poor Caitlin as I write, is desperately trying to make it look better – I fear she has inherited my artistic talents. I have promised to take her to the garden centre tomorrow to seek inspiration and invest in some new baubles and a proper fairy (the one we have is made of a toilet roll and a snapped in half CD, Carl made it and I used to think it was sweet – those were the days before we had kids when he helped with the decorations!)
Oh well, off to make a hash of putting up the really badly made Christmas paper chains – last years’ effort.
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Two Nights in a Children's Hospital
Last week Joseph was admitted to Pendlebury Children’s Hospital to have his tonsils and adenoids removed and gromits fitted. It was clear that he needed to have this done as the poor little chap snored like a noisy adult. The ear, nose and throat consultant also demonstrated that no air at all was being taken in or blown out of his nose. At 4.00 we duly arrived at the hospital and at 6.00 Joseph was carried by is dad down to the Theatre wearing a tiny flowery robe. I was left in tears on the ward. For the next hour we clock watched. Eventually a nurse came to us and said that Joseph was a little upset and they needed one of us to go to him. I didn’t even give Carl a chance to volunteer, but leapt up and followed her down the corridor. When I went into the recovery room, Joseph was screaming his head off and had blood running out of his nose. I picked him up and tried to sooth him, the machine that he was attached to kept bleeping alarmingly. He stopped crying quite quickly, but his oxygen saturations were still low (hence the beeping machine). The theatre nurse said he would have to stay on oxygen for a while. We got him settled into bed and he was wired up to a mask (which he hated). He was still clearly traumatised by the whole experience so I went and put my pyjamas and got in bed with him. We snuggled up and eventually he fell asleep. The monitoring machine beeped every 10 minutes – I don’t believe I slept a wink. The following morning, Joseph still needed the oxygen. The paediatrician came to see him and said that he thought Joseph should stay in for another night.
Over the course of the day, the nurses worked hard to get him off the oxygen. It soon became clear that his saturation levels were good while he was awake, but dipped significantly when he was asleep. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea. After some discussion we all concluded that he had probably had this before he went in the hospital. What we needed to do now was reassure ourselves that when he stopped breathing, he started again simultaneously. I stayed awake for another night, listening to that bloody machine beeping. In the morning Joseph was a lot better and proved this when he rammed several people with a dolls pram that he was pushing up and down the ward. Two doctors checked him over and said he could go home.
At that point I took a moment to be thankful for my healthy children. Yes the hospital stay had been stressful, but I was taking home a well boy. Some of the children in that hospital had been in there longer than they had been at home. There were kids with really debilitating illnesses and disabling conditions. I recalled a mum the day before who had wept uncontrollably as her 12 year old wheel chair bound son was pushed to theatre for a 6 hour, spinal operation. Another mum had slept in a chair next to her 16 year old daughter for the last 4 weeks. There was a little Down Syndrome baby who had a catalogue of medical problems, peering through the bars of his cot. I wonder how these parents and children cope, I suppose the answer is that they have to. It makes me realise that there are a lot of brave people in this world who are not acknowledged as such and probably don’t even think that they are.
When we left at lunchtime, I saw the boy’s mother who had undergone the back operation the day before – it had gone well. The sixteen year old girl had been told she could go home and the little Down’s baby was having his operation that day. Joseph has bounced back much quicker than we thought he would and is already showing real signs that he is healthier – he no longer snores.
Over the course of the day, the nurses worked hard to get him off the oxygen. It soon became clear that his saturation levels were good while he was awake, but dipped significantly when he was asleep. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea. After some discussion we all concluded that he had probably had this before he went in the hospital. What we needed to do now was reassure ourselves that when he stopped breathing, he started again simultaneously. I stayed awake for another night, listening to that bloody machine beeping. In the morning Joseph was a lot better and proved this when he rammed several people with a dolls pram that he was pushing up and down the ward. Two doctors checked him over and said he could go home.
At that point I took a moment to be thankful for my healthy children. Yes the hospital stay had been stressful, but I was taking home a well boy. Some of the children in that hospital had been in there longer than they had been at home. There were kids with really debilitating illnesses and disabling conditions. I recalled a mum the day before who had wept uncontrollably as her 12 year old wheel chair bound son was pushed to theatre for a 6 hour, spinal operation. Another mum had slept in a chair next to her 16 year old daughter for the last 4 weeks. There was a little Down Syndrome baby who had a catalogue of medical problems, peering through the bars of his cot. I wonder how these parents and children cope, I suppose the answer is that they have to. It makes me realise that there are a lot of brave people in this world who are not acknowledged as such and probably don’t even think that they are.
When we left at lunchtime, I saw the boy’s mother who had undergone the back operation the day before – it had gone well. The sixteen year old girl had been told she could go home and the little Down’s baby was having his operation that day. Joseph has bounced back much quicker than we thought he would and is already showing real signs that he is healthier – he no longer snores.
Sunday, 9 December 2007
We met the "REAL" Father Christmas
Well we went to Lapland. It was absolutely brilliant. It was a bit of an early start (up at 3.30 am), but the flight went without a hitch and we landed in the remotest airport I have ever seen. As we waited for our luggage the elves that had come to greet us, encouraged us to sing Jingle Bells. Once on the coach we sang a series of Christmassy songs from the provided song sheet. The snow was thick on the ground (the UK would have ground to a halt), but our driver sped along at top speed!!!!
Once armed with our artic suits, thermal boots, gloves and socks we headed for our accommodation. It was simple, but comfortable and the bathroom had a sauna. Once unpacked we met the rest of my family (mum, dad, brother, sister-in-law, nephew and Niece) and the 12 of us lobbed snowballs and rolled in the snow. It got a bit fraught when Steph lost her apartment key, but by some miracle we found it. After a buffet tea we all headed to bed, tired but happy.
The following morning we were taken by coach to our activity day. This was held at a remote clearing in the trees. Open fires were burning and hot berry juice was available in a log cabin. There was also a sauna like building, where you could really go and warm up. The kids played on skidoos tied to a tree. We sledged down a slope; we made an ice sculpture and went on a reindeer ride. The highlight of the day was a 25 minute husky dog ride through this arctic wilderness – it was brill!
The last hour saw us “search for Santa”. All 12 of us piled onto a trailer pulled by a skidoo. We rounded a corner to find Santa’s upturned sleigh with presents scattered around it. The children’s faces glowed with excitement. Finally we came across Santa’s cabin and the elves were there to greet us. We entered a room where a fire glowed warmly and there he was – the real Father Christmas. In his hands he held the Children’s letters that they had sent to him. He promised he would try his best to bring the gifts asked for, although seemed to be a bit confused as to what a Ninky Nonk was. “Thank you Father Christmas”, said a wide eyed Ben (aged 8) as he shook his hand. The twins and young Harry were a bit frightened, but still very interested.
The following day we didn’t have enough time to do very much. Grandad took Ben and Caitlin down the official Toboggan Run and is still suffering the consequences a week on (at 58, he had a better time than the kids). At the airport 2 people dressed in traditional Lappish costume, bought a reindeer to look through the window. This really helped to pass the time and made even the departure very special.
Overall a really fine holiday. What really surprised me was how uncommercialised the whole trip was. No souvenir shops at the activity day. No-one trying to flog you a photo of your visit to Father Christmas, no tinny Christmas music and no MacDonald’s. The whole trip was brilliantly organised and made as pain free as possible.
We travelled with Esprit to Saariselka on their 3 day “Santa’s Magic” tour. The cost was around £850 per adult and £750 for the kids. The only money you need once you are there is for drinks and souvenirs.
Once armed with our artic suits, thermal boots, gloves and socks we headed for our accommodation. It was simple, but comfortable and the bathroom had a sauna. Once unpacked we met the rest of my family (mum, dad, brother, sister-in-law, nephew and Niece) and the 12 of us lobbed snowballs and rolled in the snow. It got a bit fraught when Steph lost her apartment key, but by some miracle we found it. After a buffet tea we all headed to bed, tired but happy.
The following morning we were taken by coach to our activity day. This was held at a remote clearing in the trees. Open fires were burning and hot berry juice was available in a log cabin. There was also a sauna like building, where you could really go and warm up. The kids played on skidoos tied to a tree. We sledged down a slope; we made an ice sculpture and went on a reindeer ride. The highlight of the day was a 25 minute husky dog ride through this arctic wilderness – it was brill!
The last hour saw us “search for Santa”. All 12 of us piled onto a trailer pulled by a skidoo. We rounded a corner to find Santa’s upturned sleigh with presents scattered around it. The children’s faces glowed with excitement. Finally we came across Santa’s cabin and the elves were there to greet us. We entered a room where a fire glowed warmly and there he was – the real Father Christmas. In his hands he held the Children’s letters that they had sent to him. He promised he would try his best to bring the gifts asked for, although seemed to be a bit confused as to what a Ninky Nonk was. “Thank you Father Christmas”, said a wide eyed Ben (aged 8) as he shook his hand. The twins and young Harry were a bit frightened, but still very interested.
The following day we didn’t have enough time to do very much. Grandad took Ben and Caitlin down the official Toboggan Run and is still suffering the consequences a week on (at 58, he had a better time than the kids). At the airport 2 people dressed in traditional Lappish costume, bought a reindeer to look through the window. This really helped to pass the time and made even the departure very special.
Overall a really fine holiday. What really surprised me was how uncommercialised the whole trip was. No souvenir shops at the activity day. No-one trying to flog you a photo of your visit to Father Christmas, no tinny Christmas music and no MacDonald’s. The whole trip was brilliantly organised and made as pain free as possible.
We travelled with Esprit to Saariselka on their 3 day “Santa’s Magic” tour. The cost was around £850 per adult and £750 for the kids. The only money you need once you are there is for drinks and souvenirs.
Monday, 26 November 2007
A most unpleasant week
Last week was not a good week. As some of you will know, one of my twins, Joseph has had a number of health problems. To be fair I have had a break from what at one time seemed like a constant merry go round of medical appointments. This week it all started again. On Monday we met with an ear, nose and throat consultant. He informed us that Joseph needed to have his tonsils and adenoids removed and grommet's fitted. On Wednesday Joseph's medical care was reviewed by the community paediatrician. She referred me to a physiotherapist, a speech therapist and a dietitian. Just for good measure I also have to go and see her again in 4 months time. How are you, she asked. How do you think! I felt like saying.
On Friday Ewan (my other 2 year old) decided to lock himself in the changing room at the swimming baths. After shouting through the door for 5 minutes, suggesting that he opened it, I beetled off, (with Joseph screaming in my arms because we had deserted his brother) to find someone who had access to a flat headed screwdriver. While a search commenced I found myself on my hands and knees peeping through a 2 inch gap talking to a small boy who was shouting "stuck" at periodic intervals. Finally just as the cavalry arrived in the shape of 2 maintenance men, Ewan decided that he was fed up of being "stuck" and calmly unlocked the door.
Yesterday was my eldest boys 8th birthday. We took him and 5 friends ten pin bowling. I was mildly amused by my dad and husband intently trying to to beat this band of small boys. Fortunately I didn't present much competition. By lunchtime I was starting to feel a bit rough and being stuck in a traffic jam with a lively, noisy bunch of first year juniors was not helping. By the time the extended family met at a restaurant for a birthday tea I was coughing and sneezing and generally feeling terrible. Carl also has a cold which meant that his snoring kept me awake all night. Aggghhhhh! Hopefully this week will be better.
On Friday Ewan (my other 2 year old) decided to lock himself in the changing room at the swimming baths. After shouting through the door for 5 minutes, suggesting that he opened it, I beetled off, (with Joseph screaming in my arms because we had deserted his brother) to find someone who had access to a flat headed screwdriver. While a search commenced I found myself on my hands and knees peeping through a 2 inch gap talking to a small boy who was shouting "stuck" at periodic intervals. Finally just as the cavalry arrived in the shape of 2 maintenance men, Ewan decided that he was fed up of being "stuck" and calmly unlocked the door.
Yesterday was my eldest boys 8th birthday. We took him and 5 friends ten pin bowling. I was mildly amused by my dad and husband intently trying to to beat this band of small boys. Fortunately I didn't present much competition. By lunchtime I was starting to feel a bit rough and being stuck in a traffic jam with a lively, noisy bunch of first year juniors was not helping. By the time the extended family met at a restaurant for a birthday tea I was coughing and sneezing and generally feeling terrible. Carl also has a cold which meant that his snoring kept me awake all night. Aggghhhhh! Hopefully this week will be better.
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
A weekend away
Well last weekend was great. Carl and I jetted off to Madrid for the weekend minus the kids. It didn't start all that well as I had to face a number of my intense dislikes in the first 4 hours . I initially had to get up at 5am (not a time when I am at my best) and then suffer Carl's horrendous driving all the way to East Midlands Airport (which is even worse these days, because I have to put up with the droning noise of the sat nav as well). Upon arriving I had a run in with a not very customer focused Ryan Air check in clerk who seemed to think that I should have answered "yes" when asked if I knew what priority boarding meant. OK I perhaps could have worked it out, but she should have been happy to tell me! She was forced to tell me, but she wasn't very happy about it.
Next we headed for Costa Bomb to await my best friend Siobhan whose flat we were staying at in Madrid. She was held up in the check in queue thanks to a bunch of people insisting on being told what priority boarding was! Meanwhile we were not enjoying our £4.50 latte's. The day was not improving when I had to chuck my Avon anti-wrinkle cream in the bin because it was in a 200ml tub. It was however, only half full so in my view met the 100ml quota. The officious woman on the security desk (who frankly would have been more at home in Prisoner Cell Block H), then tried to make me buy a 50p bag to put a three quarter empty Dove Deodorant in. I told her I would smell for the weekend and binned it. On the departure side we went into Boots (where the staff were rubbing their hands together in glee) and re-stocked our liquids, remarking on how easy it would be to buy a large pair of scissors and a packet of razor blades!
Once on the plane I said a few prayers (since I had the kids I now hate flying) and settled down to chat to Shiv about her plans for the future (she leaves next weekend to travel South America for 6 months and then will live in the USA for 2 years while Epi (her US boyfriend trains to be a teacher - in the Bronx, nice). When we stepped off the plane I then had several escalators and a tube journey to endure, not great if you hate heights, escalators, tubes and are slightly claustrophobic. Finally we arrived and once armed with the first beer of many, we began to relax.
We spent the weekend drinking, eating tapas, sight seeing, drinking, eating more tapas, drinking, visiting art galleries, drinking and playing pontoon. The weather was beautiful and we didn't stop laughing. Unfortunately, I can't remember exactly where we went, but it was all good. There were several rather dodgy pieces of modern art and sculpture on display though - I'm seriously considering a career change!
Unfortunately, my mood changed when we got up at 4.45 on the final morning. This was to be the last time that I would see the lovely Epi (who incidentally voted for George Bush twice and has thus provided us with hours of entertainment value) for a couple of years and I was quite upset. In fact I howled all the way to the airport. I could see Carl and Shiv getting very uncomfortable and it was dawning on them that I might keep it up all the way home. Fortunately I managed to pull myself together in the very long security queue, mainly because I was so incensed at the number of people who thought it was ok to push in! I held it together all the way home and didn't start again until we got into arrivals.
Siobhan has played a very special role in my life. We met when I was 22 on a management training course, when we both trying to find a TV to watch "Neighbours". Since then we have stayed firm friends and have been there for each other through the many ups and downs of the last 18 years. She was my witness when I got married and is the Godmother to my daughter. We have never had an argument and I really value her opinion. In many ways our lives are totally different but I think our values are the same and we think in the same way. Although she has been out of the UK for extended periods in the past, she has never disappeared for 2.5 years. I am glad for her because she is doing what she wants to do. I am desperately sorry for myself. Anyway that was the last time I will see her for a while unless I have a weekend away in New York - now there's a thought!
Next we headed for Costa Bomb to await my best friend Siobhan whose flat we were staying at in Madrid. She was held up in the check in queue thanks to a bunch of people insisting on being told what priority boarding was! Meanwhile we were not enjoying our £4.50 latte's. The day was not improving when I had to chuck my Avon anti-wrinkle cream in the bin because it was in a 200ml tub. It was however, only half full so in my view met the 100ml quota. The officious woman on the security desk (who frankly would have been more at home in Prisoner Cell Block H), then tried to make me buy a 50p bag to put a three quarter empty Dove Deodorant in. I told her I would smell for the weekend and binned it. On the departure side we went into Boots (where the staff were rubbing their hands together in glee) and re-stocked our liquids, remarking on how easy it would be to buy a large pair of scissors and a packet of razor blades!
Once on the plane I said a few prayers (since I had the kids I now hate flying) and settled down to chat to Shiv about her plans for the future (she leaves next weekend to travel South America for 6 months and then will live in the USA for 2 years while Epi (her US boyfriend trains to be a teacher - in the Bronx, nice). When we stepped off the plane I then had several escalators and a tube journey to endure, not great if you hate heights, escalators, tubes and are slightly claustrophobic. Finally we arrived and once armed with the first beer of many, we began to relax.
We spent the weekend drinking, eating tapas, sight seeing, drinking, eating more tapas, drinking, visiting art galleries, drinking and playing pontoon. The weather was beautiful and we didn't stop laughing. Unfortunately, I can't remember exactly where we went, but it was all good. There were several rather dodgy pieces of modern art and sculpture on display though - I'm seriously considering a career change!
Unfortunately, my mood changed when we got up at 4.45 on the final morning. This was to be the last time that I would see the lovely Epi (who incidentally voted for George Bush twice and has thus provided us with hours of entertainment value) for a couple of years and I was quite upset. In fact I howled all the way to the airport. I could see Carl and Shiv getting very uncomfortable and it was dawning on them that I might keep it up all the way home. Fortunately I managed to pull myself together in the very long security queue, mainly because I was so incensed at the number of people who thought it was ok to push in! I held it together all the way home and didn't start again until we got into arrivals.
Siobhan has played a very special role in my life. We met when I was 22 on a management training course, when we both trying to find a TV to watch "Neighbours". Since then we have stayed firm friends and have been there for each other through the many ups and downs of the last 18 years. She was my witness when I got married and is the Godmother to my daughter. We have never had an argument and I really value her opinion. In many ways our lives are totally different but I think our values are the same and we think in the same way. Although she has been out of the UK for extended periods in the past, she has never disappeared for 2.5 years. I am glad for her because she is doing what she wants to do. I am desperately sorry for myself. Anyway that was the last time I will see her for a while unless I have a weekend away in New York - now there's a thought!
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