Today is a down in one sense. Down to London. Knowledge and Information Management Conference in Whitehall. Seem to have spent loads of time in London since the beginning of the year. Of course some of that was for fun - wonderful weekend away with the Boyf, food, shows, lots of walking. But more than that work work work. And a bunch more planned for the next couple of months. Busy busy busy.

It;s a beautiful sunrise this morning. The only benefit of early trains. Had to stay at mum's last night to get to the station in time. I was glad to see her. My uncle died at the weekend. He'd been ill for sometime, with cancer (initially mouth but progressed to bone) - so it was not unexpected, but still, it is sad. He was a nice man. And he was kind of the only help my mum had with my gran. She has another brother but he has Downs Syndrome and is in a home himself. So is another person she will need to care for. So I was glad to see her.

 I keep saying I must go see gran. I must. Though I don't really know how I'll cope. At the moment all these trips are keeping me too busy but they will no doubt diminish. Especially as the new boss will be based in Leeds. God, how strange. I hate changing managers, but this is more than that. I hope it is a positive change. I've never had a man as a boss. I'm quite nervous. I rely heavily on good support from my manager to keep me going these days. Fingers crossed we can develop a good relationship.

Anyway.

Here's hoping for more ups in the next few weeks. I'm cheered by the news that my friends are getting to see their new adoptive daughter (presuming all goes well) this weekend. How wonderful. I am so pleased for them. I have other friends who haven't had the same luck with the adoption process so it is good to see it can work.  I am jealous as hell. Children are heavily on my mind at the moment. My colleague is pregnant with her second child. I wonder if it will ever happen. If it should. And if it doesn't. I know I must find something else rewarding so I can feel positive when I am older. I don't know what. So many complications. Sigh. What used to be the simplest thing in the world.

It's not letting me post the video which is hopefully a good thing in that it's to busy...

but here's the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb407Y2Em-o

Call 0845 053 5353

Go to:

https://www.redcross.org.uk/emergencysite/campaign.aspx?id=88917

Lots of other options for non UK on

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/haiti-earthquake-relief-h_n_421014.html

The winds are howling outside and the snow is swirling and whirling. I made the mistake of staying till five at work, the train was delayed, and then when I got to Hebden the buses weren't running up the hill so I had to get a taxi. So I shouldn't have been surprised that the food delivery couldn't get through either. Oh well, not so bad. Just need to get cat food tomorrow to leave for J at the weekend. Not that I'm expecting him to eat cat food!

Quite excited. About London, but also May, when I'm being taken to Sissinghurst. Reading Adam Nicholson's Sissinghurst: An unfinished history to prepare. Would be nice to go up to Knole too but not sure we'll be able t get there with public transport with any ease. 

Only been back five minutes and the diary is filling up with meetings already. Another year of never quite knowing what I'm doing I suppose. I wonder if it will ever make sense. Just before I leave probably.