Well, this seems to be about the first time I have really had a chance to sit down and catch up a little bit, although I feel like I need DAYS and DAYS to try and see all the people that have joined since I drifted away, and read just a few of the articles.

Life is ticking along a pace for me. I went back to work three weeks ago and am still trying to find my feet. It is really strange returning after maternity leave as someone else has been doing my job (and she covered for me last maternity leave too) and my return means she is out of a job. I don't feel too bad about that in that if I hadn't gone off, she wouldn't have had the job at all, but it is a shame she has to leave. Feeling sorry for myself, it is also weird feeling like everyone is more sad to see her go than they are pleased that I am back. I wonder if she did a better job than me, and whether everyone would have preferred her to stay. Perhaps this is just paranoia on the part of someone feeling a little lost after more than a year off!

I am out two nights a week as I have kept up with Pilates and also am doing a 10 week First Aid course so that I can be a "First Responder" - a volunteer who does time on-call for emergency medical situations that an ambulance can't get to straight away. I don't know how much time on-call I will manage as my other half is also regularly on-call for work, but I guess anything is better than nothing. So, in my remaining evenings, I try to fit in the chores and helping with the decorating which is going ainfully slowly! Never mind, we are getting there.

I just wanted to say "Hi!" to my Minti friends - Izzy, EF, AllyP, Tink and all the others who are kind enough to pop in to my Minti lounge to post nice messages. I do think about you all but only seem to pop in for the very odd five minutes when something I have seen in the daily email has really got my curiosity going! I apologise for not writing back to people, keeping up with friends or joining groups - I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed so just log out again and go and do some tidying! I hope everything is going well with you all, esp. Izzy and your mammoth pregnancy - good luck with the twins. Wow!

Chele - hope you are also well and will catch up with you soon, too, I hope.

Well. Hope you are all having a great time and life is being easy on you. Nyle and Leala are doing really well at nursery and have settled brilliantly, which is such a relief. Nyle is walking and climbing like a mad thing (comment from nursery - "I have never seen a child climb on and fall off so many toys") and Leala is just getting smarter by the day (biased - me??). Love em! My Mum and Dad are on their mega, 10-week trip round Australia (look out for them in the Sydney area!) and so no babysitters until they get back in April, so maybe I will find the time to be on here after all.

Keep well and speak soon. Love Helen