A good start to the New Year.

Well I really feel the gods have been looking down kindly on us this week.  Amanda turned 16 on Tuesday and she wanted to have a family meal, so we went to The Heron Inn at Malpas, which I can fully recommend for excellent food, service with a smile and all at a reasonable price.  Wednesday saw us all returning to normal, work, college and school, just as if the last two and a half weeks had never happened!  Thursday turned out to be the best day of the week as Bernadette passed her driving test first time and Mick finally .... and I mean finally heard that his job with the council is safe - we were suppose to hear the beginning of November!!!  It wasn't until I heard that I realised how the wait had got to me - such a relief.  Now I can concentrate on worrying about Bernadette being out on the road on her own, though I know I will get use to it after awhile.  Have to say it was nice when she offered to pick Amanda up from the station today for me... I could get use to this!

After weeks of living off two to four hours sleep a night due to Sammy's nocturnal activities we gave in and spoke with the vet yesterday who prescribed sleeping tablets for him.  I had seven hours sleep last night and actually felt like a human being today - wonderful.  We did and do feel guilty about it - but there was no way we could carry on as we were and I'm sure he will feel better for it in the long run.

Thought I would post a photo of Amanda, not taken on her birthday, but on the 22nd Dec an hour after she had her braces removed flashing those lovely teeth off.