Happy year of the snake!

Hi! *waves* - yes, I'm still here.  I've just been busy with Chinese New Year celebrations, searching for child care and caring for a suddenly cranky teething baby.

Child care is really getting me down. It's very cut throat out there.  I started applying when I was pregnant, and I was told I needed a baby.  I applied when Ellie was a month old, and I was told that January was when they filled their vacancies so that was the best time. Come January/February, I'm getting asked why the heck I'm applying so late.  Just can't win!  So, it was planned I go back to work part time in April/May, but unless we can get a place, that doesn't look like it'll happen.  I'm going to be a picky mama too, and I won't take just any place - I've immediately crossed off the ones that didn't talk to Ellie when I inspected the centres, and I've crossed off the ones where the babies were left alone and/or looked bored.  I have a very short list left... and of those, there are very long waiting lists.  Some of the centres have told me I'd be lucky to get a place before her third birthday. Holy 'industry needs a shake up', Batman!

In other, more cheerful news, look what I grew! When I spread out the last lot of compost in the vegetable patch, I got a whole bunch of random things sprouting up.  I left them all to grow because who doesn't love surprises?  I suspect what I have is a whole bunch of pumpkin, some rather ragged looking tomato, a couple of grasshopper attracting eggplants (which still manage to produce a bumper crop regardless), and this glorious sunflower.  I don't know how it got there, and I'd thought it was a weed originally, but I'm so glad I left it to grow because now this lovely sunny flower looks amazing standing tall surrounded by sad looking mystery plants.

Finally speaking of surprises, the other day I won a competition on Facebook for an organic spa gel mask. Vegan, organic and FREE, what's not to love?! I haven't had a chance to test it out yet, but will report back when I do.

Does anyone have any tips for getting into child care? Or tips for dealing with teething (that's a whole post on it's own....)