Reasons to be Cheerful

Today has seen lots of little bits of positive news, which makes a pleasant change after a stressful October.

1. We now have an extra four guests coming to our Halloween do on Monday, making a total of seven children, which will be a nice number to have. Now I just have to worry about a) whether I've got enough "stuff" and b) whether and how to change some of the things I had planned which fitted perfectly for three children but may not fit for seven, lol. Yes, I know, I'm never satisfied ;-)

2. The BBC have finally paid us what was overdue plus paid the next one slightly in advance, which has been a huge help as far as cashflow is concerned.

3. The Press Agency has asked me to quote for a big new job which is highly likely to come to fruition :-)

4. Emily is agog with deight having visited the village library with Jon this afternoon and borrowed the cassettes of HP & Order of the Phoenix. She's been trying to get these and the Half Blood Prince audio ones for *ages* but they're never in. Since she definitely won't be getting either of them for Christmas or birthday (can't afford it having been defrauded on them both on ebay) I'm really pleased she at least gets to borrow this one for a while.

5. Having asked to practice ballet again this morning, Emily dissolved into tears mid routine sobbing that she "can't do any of it". Which is utter nonsense, but tbh we'd been waiting for the stress and pressure of it to get to her sooner or later, and it was a relief to get it out of the way. She's very, very good at the exam routines, but the teachers really are making a big deal of it which isn't helpful with children so young. When we had to pay the entry fee ages ago we gave Emily the choice of entering for the exam or not and she did want to and she does still want to do it, we certainly wouldn't make her if she didn't want to....this morning's episode was positive in that it gave us the chance to talk it through properly and put to rest some of her fears and worries about it.

So that's all right then. I think :-)