Kat-out-of-the-bag

I will make this one a quickie... Just to say that I have actually booked the skydive! My fingers trembled as I submitted the details and haven't stopped since. In other words I am bricking it! This has been on my bucket list (things to do before I die) ever since I can remember and, with thanks to some like minded colleagues, I am actually doing something about it. I am jumping with some other crazies  colleagues including my Managing Director who has a strange urge to jump when standing on the edge of places, he hopes this will help cure him of this irrational feeling. This is all taking place on the 30th June (just waiting for confirmation of the date). I won't include the location as I don't want all my fans rushing to watch. The important part and the entire reason for doing this is to raise money for Shooting Star Chase which is a fantastic charity. They are a children's hospice service, supporting local families with a child or teenager not expected ...

The weekend bought about the first bit of sunshine since before the winter. It is amazing how much it can change your state of mind. Wanting to make the most of this we decided to take the kids out to Alice Holt (a local Forrest trail). We took Summers newish bike as we thought it could be fun to try to teach her to ride without stabilisers. Picture a typical 2.4 family, mum pushing baby in the pushchair smiling with pride as she shows off her wonderful family to the world, taking in the crisp fresh air and beautiful surroundings. Dad holding the back of the little girls bike seat running alongside her shouting encouragement. The little girl grinning with pride as her confidence slowly builds to the point where dad lets go and the girl peddles away unaware that dad has let go, she notices and starts shouting with joy that she is "doing it"! Although this scene played in my head on the car journey to our destination it is a far cry from the reality. The true image was th...

Dieting sucks! It is really hard to stick to a healthy routine when you don't see the immediate effect. In August I am going on a beach holiday abroad for the first time in 5 years. For most this is something to be excited about for me this is filling me with dread. The thought of sitting on a beach in a swimsuit terrifies me as I lost my figure a long time ago and I don't want to subject people to seeing my giant arse making sandcastles with the kids. So rather than get downhearted I started a healthy diet and have started frequenting the gym to try to rectify this situation. Just to clarify I am not ON a diet or trying out the latest fads I am simply changing my eating habits and exchanging meals and snacks for healthy ones. I have even taken to having sweetener in my coffee rather than sugar. The biggest obstacle is trying to eat breakfast as I have never been able to eat so early in the day but apparently it is the best way to get your metabolism going so I am trying......

During my second pregnancy I wrote about my battle with, and subsequent diagnosis, of depression. During this time I stopped my medication and assured myself that I would reconsider the pills after I had my baby. When Dexter arrived I felt fine and strong enough to go it alone. This tactic has worked up until recently. Having a 5 year old who rebels against everything you say, an 11 month baby who just won't sleep, a husband desperately trying to give up smoking, a hectic, full time work schedule - throw into the mix money worries, family worries, going on an extreme diet, beginning a novel and seemingly untreatable psoriasis and you can start to understand why the downward spiral is happening again. For me the key to all of this is to recognise when it is happening which isn't always easy until it has gone too far and the dark cloud has really set in. Deflection is something I adopt when the pressure is on. Rather than admit that I am not in control of my mood swings...