It's been too long :)

7 months since my last post...

I've been busy.

It's now just over 7 weeks until I'm due to go back to work... I've reluctantly agreed to go back full time. The extra money will make a difference - sort of... but once you factor in the cost of childcare I'm not actually going to be earning that much. Such is the life of parents.

You know, I can't understand why childcare payment aren't take deductible - it's not as if I could go back to work without it - so it's a direct cost. Maybe someone (with loads of money and time - ie not me) should challenge it in the high court like that woman did recently with study expenses and youth allowance. Imagine the boon. I've figured out that next year we'll be spending over $30K in childcare. Now that's a lot out of a family income.

One of the other things I've been doing while on maternity leave is I've joined this market research group called "Soup" (www.thesoup.com.au) which is a "word of mouth advertising agency". I've been able to try a range of products including muesli bars and hand soap. Why this is interesting is because it looks like I'm going to be able to try a new brand of beer... now that's right up my alley!

I've been enjoying these last few months of maternity leave now that the little one is a bit bigger. Today we went on a public transport excursion and went on some trains and ferries and ended up in Watsons Bay. While Nathan slept, Liam enjoyed building some sand castles - and knocking them down and washing his filthy feet off in the (freezing cold) harbour. We had a great day that we all had a small snooze when we finally got home. It's days like this that make me wish I didn't have to go back to work... Which is good because there are lots of days when I can't wait!

Next thing on the agenda is a short break to Port Macquarie on the NSW mid north coast next week to coincide with the NSW Touch Football Association State Cup (where I am refereeing) and then the first birthday party.

What a year!