warm/cold front

Well the good news is that Warm Front grants will be back next year and concentrate first on elderly and poor households. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Resources/Energy-saving-news/Energy-bills/Warm-Front-will-return-DECC-says/(energysavingtrust)/808901

I haven't written much over the past few weeks as I have been hit by a nasty bug - otherwise known as proper flu. I spent the majority of last week in bed and am still very run down with little energy. I can't believe that I caught this bug over my birthday as well as I had, for once, got a lovely birthday weekend planned.

The cold weather has once again returned to the UK after a week or so of warmer weather. It was snowing yesterday and its trying to snow again now. I must admit the weather reports are frustrating me though - it would be nice if for once they got it right. The midlands didn't get much of the snow last time but according to the current forecast we will be getting more this time. I don't mind too much though as all the Christmas shopping is done and my husband is on his way home later today and doesn't have to go back to work for another two weeks. It will be lovely to be able to spend some time with him and the kids love having him at home.

a little more personal

I have been reading up on what you are supposed to put on a blog, how to encourage comments on your writing etc and have got to admit I am confused so I am just going to carry on regardless and hope that people like it. I would love to see comments and I would love to have "followers" but I am new at this and if some of the energy advice/news I put up on here and then comment about helps someone then thats enough for me. For this post I thought I would put up something alittle more personal than energy related issues.

Its very quiet work wise at the moment, too quiet for me with Christmas looming it is an expensive time of year and I'd love some more work in so that I can have a really nice Christmas with my family. There are several reasons why Christmas is very important to me this year - all 3 of the children now understand what presents are and it is going to be incredible watching them open them, my husband is due to be at home on leave so we will get to spend some real family time together and to hopefully make it a better Christmas than we had last year.

In November of 2009 my mother in law was diagnosed with cancer. A week later she had the full diagnosis - it was small cell lung cancer with secondarys to the brain and liver. She was living alone in a bungalow at this time and wanted to come home from the hospital so that visitors could come to see her with ease. The following weeks with trying to organise care for her in her home and ending up doing alot of the caring myself, and watching a very strong, independant woman waste away were horrific. She died on the 27th of December, 4 weeks after getting her full diagnosis and a day after her birthday. I can only hope that where ever she is now that she is happy and that is pleased that we followed her wishes to the letter.

So after the Christmas we had last year we want to make some happier memories this year.

Its never too early

I have a fairly busy life, no busier than any other working mothers life but with 3 kids and work and then all the other little bits that come into it - housework, taking care of the dogs, washing, school/playschool run, organising childcare etc it can get pretty hectic. Thats why I am devoted to my diary - everything that needs to be done gets put down and ticked off once its done (allows me to feel smug when I've done everything).

Today I have managed to get all the christmas presents either ordered online or bought. I have my list of who is getting what and its a nice feeling especially as I hate the shops in December. But is it too soon?

I don't think it is, it pays to be organised nowadays and it will free up time that I would have spent battling my way through other panicing shoppers in December, queuing up for the till, getting rammed by pushchairs and stretching my arms dragging bags and annoyed kids round the shops.

There are other things that can never be done too early - teaching your children about how to save energy, just little simple things like turning off the tv completely instead of leaving it on standby, switching off the lights when you leave a room and insulating your house to a good standard - the people who got the grants and got cavity wall/loft insulation in spring and summer 2010 will now be starting to feel the benefit they won't get such large bills over the next quarter and will be able to save energy and money.

So in the spirit of starting early - I wish everyone a very merry christmas and a happy new year :),