David's room is almost finished

I spent the weekend finishing the painting in David's room and enjoyed every minute of it. I shut the door, turned on Radio Four and painted away. I find it so relaxing and satisfying. Matt did all the "Mum" stuff - looking after the kids, feeding them etc. whilst also working in the garden.

I spied a small add in our local paper advertising a child's wardrobe, chest of drawers and low pine bed for £50. I reluctantly went to look at it as past experience has proved the small ads can be very unreliable. However, it worked out really well. The light coloured wardrobe and chest of drawers are from John Lewis and are not flatpacked so the quality is excellent. The low pine bed was absolutely perfect for Davis. We had to transport it all back in a six seater cab but the whole lot, including the cab, came to £80. We were about to spend £60 just on David's bed so it's a real bargain and looks great in his room.

On Sunday I went to the Curtain Factory Outlet in Finchley and ordered the curtains - red, white and blue stripe with blackout lining. They came to just under £300 and shouild be ready in four weeks. Now I just need to buy his mattress and bedding and he's all set to move in.

The Female Touch - a crazy idea?

I spent the weekend painting the final colour on the walls and ceiling in David's room. Matt hardly gets to spend time with the kids during the week so I decided to take control and assign parental responsibilities to him whilst I shut myself away in David's room with a pot of paint and Radio Four. I love decorating. There is something very therapeutic and satisfying about it and I find it really relaxing. It also meant I could escape from the routine of motherhood for a few hours.

I enjoyed the two days so much it started me thinking about something. I've been looking for a career change for several months now.. Something that would enable me to choose my working days and hours to fit in with the school run. How about I set myself up as a painter and decorator? I've always been envious of those small vans zipping around the neighbourhood - painters, plasterers, florists, handymen. Would a female painter and decorator be appealing to the Pinner market? Maybe it's not such a crazy idea.

Pinner Mums

The holidays are here and all the baby groups have finished for the summer. What do I do with a very active two year old? Luckliy, over the past two years I have made lots of yummy mummy Pinner friends and the invites have been pouring in thick and fast.

Yesterday a text message went round the group in the morning. Caroline and Claire had decided to meet in a local park and the word got out. David loved it and the only thing missing was the tea and cake.

This morning Gina invited everyone around to her beautiful house a short walk from West Lodge School. I had immediate house envy. It was immaculate and huge, with a great garden. I secretly salivated over the smart kitchen and tasteful decor.

There were a few new faces there and I met a girl called who has started a website about baby led weaning. I did a mixture of the trasitional puree and baby led weaning approach when David hit six months and it went really well. Chloe is loving her purees at the moment but it started me thinking bout baby led weaning again. I'm going to give Chloe some nectarine chunks this afternoon and see what happens.