Hi-ho, Hi-ho.. it's back to work I go.

Well to be honest I went back on the 16th so I've had a full week back there.  I have to be honest, after 4 weeks off it was a bit of a struggle to get back into it.  It took a little while to figure out how all the programs we use worked and even longer to get all the settings back to how I like them.  Whoever was using my station managed to change just about everything.  Pretty funny in hindsight as I have been happy to do that to others.

We don't seem to be able to get much time to ourselves, I guess it's to be expected, but I figure I'd hoped with a little one who is supposed to sleep, what 18 hours out of 24, there should be at least the ability to eat dinner in peace.  This is about the only thing I have enjoyed, no counted on, throughout my life, some time to sit quietly and eat.

I am aware, from what everyone tells me, that we have a really good baby who is settled and easy considering.  We have learnt that with me back at work that it's harder to get him to settle during the day.  We are thankful he sleeps well at night, in spells of 4 - 5 hours, however it seems he'd be lucky if he will settle for more than 2 hours the rest of the day.  Naturally he's way over tired by the time 5 pm feed arrives so I'll take him while Mrs HBR gets a break, goes for a walk and later makes some dinner.  He still won't sleep by this stage and remains unsettled until about 7.30 when he gets his last feed.  Again I stress we understand we are fortunate he will then sleep till about 1AM feed and then till the 5.30 AM feed..  Apparently that will be it for sleep until about lunchtime even with the feeds in between.

Oh by the way, he's one month old today.  OK, 4 weeks was Tuesday just gone so I guess today is 4 1/2 weeks.  We understand it's still early days but understanding these things doesn't make it any easier to deal with.

Weekend has arrived, I hope to send Mrs HBR out or away for best part of the day at some stage, we have plenty of stock in the freezer to give her a break.

No photos this post..  just thoughts.

Thanks

Holidays at home cost more.

Well if you thought that staying home and taking some holidays might mean saving some money I am pretty sure I have proved you wrong.

I still have a week to go but I seem to have been spending money, mostly at Bunnings, hand over fist.
The plan was to just complete a couple of small things.  We own a really nice, 3 bedroom, townhouse.  It's small yard is about twice the average size, compared to other townhouses which it turns out is

about right for me. 

To pretty up the little garden by the front door was on my 'to-do' list from not long after we moved in.  It took some time and is almost finished.

I cleaned up the little 'daily' garden beneath the citrus trees and added some more seedlings for everyday use.  We use the 'Daily' garden for things like lettuce and beans.  We have a 3rd garden for the likes of herbs and tomatoes currently, it's due for overhaul soon.

  For the longest time I have had plans for a large raised vegie' garden along the side fence but as I've been finding ways to spend the money we had put aside for that, it will have to wait.  Mind you I did manage to build a 3/4 garden here. It's about 2400mm long, 1200 back.  I have planted some seeds there earlier today.  See the big spikes should mark out where it will finish up one day.

Finally, we've lived here for almost 3 years but rarely, if ever, managed to fit a car in our garage.  Well on the right side of the car I finally built some shelves which has allowed a lot of storage boxes to go up above head height.  Hanging Bike Racks on the left and a little judicious culling or re-stacking further up the garage.  Mrs HBR now has access and safe parking for the 'family car'.  It seemed prudent to try and reduce the car temp.

Don't tell her I said that! I think we'll be in strife if we get a 'medium' sized car.  We might have a visit from a newer Forester tomorrow, I'll see if that fits, to put some ideas in her head.