Couldn't think of any kind of witty, snappy title to my blog tonight.

One of my husband's aunts was killed in a car accident last night, aged 75. He's flying over to Ireland for the funeral tomorrow.

Even though I've only met the lady once or twice, i find that I am more touched than I expected by the news. It just brings it home how random death can be. My husband's father's family are notoriously healthy. There are nine of them - all children survived in the family and they are now aged 65 to 80, and all in good health. Remarkable. And now suddenly one is gone. Not to disease, but some random, tragic accident. I just can't get my head round it.

I'm also finding it a bit odd, how fast they've laid on the funeral. It's been fast tracked because of Christmas. I'm not even sure what I think the right length of time between death and funeral should be, but it seems to me that 48 hours is hardly long enough to gather the clans and get used to the fact that you are going to say a final goodbye to your loved one.

My husband is going tomorrow. He's lucky with a stay at home wife and a sympathetic employer he can just drop everything and fly off to Ireland at a moment's notice. His sister, deep in dentistry studies, is not able to get away.

Don't really know what if any point I am trying to make here. My brain is shocked, confused and very little in the way of coherent thought is coming out. I think I need to get some sleep...

We really kick started Christmas today.

Started off by going to Mass. Sang a few of my favourite carols and swapped cards with people. Watched Chicken Little on our new Christmas telly when we got home - we haven't had a working DVD player for nearly a year so my daughter was overjoyed.

Had a full roast chicken dinner with plenty of veg - we're not having turkey for Christmas this year so I guess that's the nearest we'll get to it.

Put the tree and room decorations up this afternoon. For the first time this year, my daughter was actually helpful and I enjoyed having her around while I decorated. She put some balls on the tree plus some of the home made decorations she had brought from nursery. One of my Christmas chores has become good fun family time - hurrah!

Bacon and sausage samdwiches for tea (you'll note that entries on the healthworx blog have stopped over the Christmas season). I nearly set fire to the kitchen as I was too busy listening to my daughter sing carols to her Grandma on the phone and forgot the sausages, but we ate the burnt remains anyway.

Then I know I'm supposed to be a Catholic now, but I was brought up in the Church of England, and Christmas just isn't Christmas for me without the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. So I took my daughter over to the local CofE church tonight for theirs, which was absolutely lovely. The choir were excellent, I had a good rollicking sing of all my favourites, and my daughter enjoyed joining in with some and also holding her candle as the whole service was candlelit. She made very good friends with an old lady in the row behind us, who nearly cried when my daughter sang along perfectly to Silent Night. Then into the hall for mulled wine (squash for Anne-Sophie!) and a mince pie.

Now I'm really starting to feel festive. Roll on big dinners, too much booze, Queens speech, scrapping with the relatives and all things Christmas!

Well for all I don't like about my mother in law, I can't fault her generosity this Christmas. She came to visit our new house, listened when we said we needed a new (smaller) TV and has given us the money to buy one, as a Christmas/housewarming present.

We were going to wait until the January sales, but I'm afraid two days without the electronic babysitter (aka CBeebies) has me climbing the walls already, and I decided we couldn't survive till the end of Christmas. So off to the shops today, just to see what they had.

The shop was manic, woefully understaffed with new staff who didn't have a clue what they were doing. Even the managers were completely clueless. The place was heaving with customers, who were getting more and more frustrated with increasingly long waits. Small children (mine included alas) were tearing about, wrecking displays and causing havoc. Somewhere there was a karaoke machine being demonstrated, and the noise of kids singing Christmas carols at full blast could be heard throughout the store.

Still we braved it, and managed to hold our children more or less steady for just over an hour, while a very patient and calm salesman sorted out what we wanted, whilst fending off other customers left, right and centre. In the end we came out with two TVs (one for the living room, one for the spare room which will eventually be the gym)and a DVD player. Came home, dropped the tellys and went out to eat to celebrate.

Have just been watching edited highlights of my favourite DVDs for the first time in over a year. Yahoo!

So big, big thanks to Nana Anne for her generosity. I now declare that the Christmas season is well and truly open!

Somehow I thought this Christmas was going to be easy. From the moment I accepted the invitation to lunch at my sister's house on Christmas day and realised that I didn't have to worry at all about preparing food for the day, I've been coasting, somehow assuming that it would all get done.

Now sudddenly I've realised just how close everything is, and some things are just not going to get done in time at all.

I've put up my new nativity set in the window and the neighbours have all been commenting on how nice and tasteful it looks, which is lovely. But I was saving putting up the tree until we sold the large TV on ebay. The TV went today, and I was kind of assuming that I'd put up the tree sometime while my daughter was at nursery and my son was asleep. But she breaks up from nursery tomorrow and I haven't wrapped the kids' presents yet, so that will have to take priority.

And some of the presents aren't even bought yet. Too late to rely on the internet now, so that means that sometime next week I have to brave the shops with both my children. Even the thought of it is making me shiver.

Added to that and the few little projects that I set running in november are all coming together. I've had several people come round and quote me on my new kitchen and I've finally signed up for that. We had the chimney swept (for Santa Claus) and my husband has promised to get some firewood this weekend. I've found someone who will replace my boiler in the New Year and he's been round to do his survey. Plus we've had people putting insulation in our loft, raising the boards so that the thicker insulation will fit in there, and installing a loft ladder.

I've also started back at the gym - thankfully I'm feeling better at last, and attended two school nativity plays. I've taken my daughter to the doctors three times, my son once and myself twice. I'm in constant contact with my mum who is preparing her house for the return from hospital of my stepfather. Don't know how that is going to go as he seems a lot weaker than when he went in, but I keep in daily contact and support her as best I can.

All in all December has been a very busy month. I'm very much looking forward to getting Christmas out of the way and making a fresh start in January. Who knows I might even get back to regular blogging. I miss you guys.

My daughter, aged 3 1/2 has decided in the last week that Brussels sprouts are her new most favourite food, and I can cook them for her evry day if I so wish. I have cooked them for her, several times in the last week, and she has wolfed them all down.

This is peculiar and somewhat spooky. Firstly because my daughter is a confirmed vegetable hater. She has been known to eat the odd bit of cucumber or tomato, and to swallow the occasional carrot if mum is sitting there watching and pleading, but hot green stuff? Never!

I say spooky though, because when I was little brussels sprouts were my first vegetable, and the only one I would contemplate for many years, and they still rank among my favourites. I very rarely cook them nowadays though, as my husband detests them - even the smell of them cooking, a view shared by most normal adults and children, I understand.

So I never thought to serve them to my daughter. Having failed with broccoli, peas and spinach, I decided not to put her through it. Until I got some in my organic vegebox last week and decided I had to have some myself and to give the kids a taster. I expected my son to eat them - he eats absolutely anything. But when my daughter wolfed them down too and demanded more I was truly amazed.

Seems like food preferences must have some kind of genetic link. Wonder what she'll make of a good rare steak washed down with half a pint of good red wine........?

My daughter, aged 3 1/2 has decided in the last week that Brussels sprouts are her new most favourite food, and I can cook them for her evry day if I so wish. I have cooked them for her, several times in the last week, and she has wolfed them all down.

This is peculiar and somewhat spooky. Firstly because my daughter is a confirmed vegetable hater. She has been known to eat the odd bit of cucumber or tomato, and to swallow the occasional carrot if mum is sitting there watching and pleading, but hot green stuff? Never!

I say spooky though, because when I was little brussels sprouts were my first vegetable, and the only one I would contemplate for many years, and they still rank among my favourites. I very rarely cook them nowadays though, as my husband detests them - even the smell of them cooking, a view shared by most normal adults and children, I understand.

So I never thought to serve them to my daughter. Having failed with broccoli, peas and spinach, I decided not to put her through it. Until I got some in my organic vegebox last week and decided I had to have some myself and to give the kids a taster. I expected my son to eat them - he eats absolutely anything. But when my daughter wolfed them down too and demanded more I was truly amazed.

Seems like food preferences must have some kind of genetic link. Wonder what she'll make of a good rare steak washed down with half a pint of good red wine........?

Well I've finally surfaced at the end of my whirlwind week for family duties. We entertained father in law last weekend, and I went down to see mum on Sunday as reported. Wednesday we met my mum in London and went on the London Eye, Thursday we picked MIL up from the airport and took her to see SIL, and today we've seen MIL and SIL again (it's my hubby's birthday), plus had my son's 2nd birthday party this afternoon with 15 children aged 1-8, their parents my sister and some of my very best friends.

It's no wonder I've not been posting much recently. At the end of each day I'm just too exhausted. At least my bugs are finally clearing up - thank heavens for modern medicine.

The party was great and a great destresser for me - I love watching little kids running about having fun. We had a great big venue, lots of music, balloons and plenty of unhealthy food and sugary drink. Everyone had a whale of a time - including my son who ignored all his guests pointedly the whole time. While they played pass the parcel and I set up the food tables he wandered over to me and helped himself to his food. When everyone else came for food he toddled off and went to play with the toy cars. The perfect host!

We got home afterwards with a few friends who stayed until about 5.30. After they'd gone my little boy slipped off upstairs to play in his room as he often does, but I found him fast asleep on the landing at 6pm. Poor little love!

That's me done for family socialising now. All I have to do is coast downhill to Christmas, thank heavens!

Took the children up to London today to meet my mum and finally take her on the London Eye. We certainly picked a good day - the sky was clear and although it was a bit misty the view was fantastic. Also, I thik that Wednesday lunchtime in November has to be about the least touristy time of the year. There were only nine of us in the car including the children so it was a thoroughly pleasant "flight" (as the owners British Airways insist on calling the experience).

Went to wagamama for lunch and mum wisely avoided the chili beef ramen that had been her undoing last time we tried to go on the London Eye. Then back to Waterloo and home on our separate trains. Mum seemed very relaxed - she's still enjoying the fact that she doesn't have an invalid to go home to. Latest news is he's going to be in for another two weeks or so, so she's joyfully making hay at the moment.

Half way home I suddenly developed a blinding headache. Couldn't figure out what it was, then it suddenly hit me. I hadn't had a cup of coffee all day. Got home and rectified the problem immediately and the diagnosis was proved correct. Good grief, what kind of caffeine addict must I be?

Tomorrow I've got yet more unscheduled in-laws - mum in law this time. Why she can't travel with father-in-law is beyond me. Same deal, she told us when she was coming and I've had to reorganise my life and let down some good friends, to fit in with picking her up from the airport etc. Hopefully this is the last of it now - there are no more in-laws and this should take care of my family duties until well past Christmas.

However I have drawn the line at moving my little boy's second birthday party. MIL announced she was coming to see us at home on Saturday but she'll just have to come to the party instead. My husband can entertain her, while I concentrate on making sure my two have a fun party to remember with their friends and mine.

Nothing and no-one gets in the way of my childrens' happiness.

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Went to the doctor again yesterday as my throat infection had still not cleared after one dose of antibiotics.
 I had the youngest doctor in the practice - a lot younger than me, and she looked at me patronisingly and said "The reason it's not healing is its a virus that antibiotics are no good against. If you're a fan of antibiotics I suppose you can have some more but if you wait two or three weeks it'll clear up on it's own"
 Two or three WEEKS. Of coughing myself hoarse all night and not having the voice to yell at my children - no thanks! I took her antibiotic prescription and left in a huff.
 Now I know that doctors are constantly bombarded with people asking for antibiotics for their common colds. But I'm not someone who pops down the doctor's at every ittle sneeze. I know the difference between a cold (sore throat, runny nose, sneezes, whole family goes down with same) and a throat infection (no sore throat, no runny nose or sneezes, barking like a seal if I have any voice at all, and rest of family totally immune even after three weeks).
 I also know that the first antibiotic she gave me was the one commonly dished out to kids (and I expect it is prescribed to adults mainly as a placebo because I'm sure most adults have developed an immunity to it). So I'm not surprised it didn't work and I asked for something stronger this time.
 Twenty-four hours in and my voice is noticeably better, and I slept for most of the night without coughing. See, I told you I had an infection. Three weeks my a**e!
 I did get one piece of good advice from the mature lady at the pharmacy counter. If you've got a persistant throat infection then buy a new toothbrush and throw the other one away. Disinfect the new brush regularly until the infection clears. Now that does seem to make sense - why can't doctors dispense such wisdom?

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My name's corioboria and I'm addicted to blogging.
 I've had a truly lovely day with my mum - firstly watching my delighted and over-excited children playing with their beloved Grandma, then after they went to bed, having a lovely long quiet conversation with her - a very rare occurrence in the last few years because normally my stepdad has the telly on so loud you can't even think, and she's so tired from looking after him all day that she falls asleep as soon as she sits down, despite the noise.
 So a lovely day altogether, and good to see her in such good form and well rested. But I've been sitting there tonight with itchy fingers, waiting to send in my despatch. The internet hasn't quite reached this corner of the world yet so I can't look at all my friends and say hello, but at least with my trusty mobile I can partially feed my habit.
 What a poor sad creature I've become.

So hubby and father in law have departed to their grotty football game.

I look out of the window and see a fantastically huge low grey cloud fill the sky. As the lightning flashes and the rain comes lashing down, I can't help it but a sadistic little grin is spreading across my face............

I should have been in Brussels this weekend.

It's my husband's birthday next weekend and I had hatched a plot, with the assistance of my Dad and stepmum. They were going to come up and babysit the children for me and I was going to meet him from work tonight and whisk him off to Brussels for a romantic weekend on the Eurostar. Would have been perfect, just what the two of us need at the moment.

Then four weeks ago hubby's sister rings us. "I've arranged for dad to come over and stay for the weekend (from Ireland). These are his flight numbers, he'll arrive on Thursday, you can pick him up at the airport, then deliver him to me on Saturday and I'll take him back to the airport on Sunday". Just like that. Thankfully I hadn't bought our tickets, cos Brussels was out of the window.

I made a little grumble to my hubby. Actually its not convenient, I've planned something. "Oh It's OK" he said "You just go ahead with what you have planned and I'll look after Dad" . So I'll just go to Brussels on my own and celebrate your birthday, shall I? But I couldn't say that, because I still want to do this trip sometime and give him a complete surprise.

I've got nothing against my father-in -law. He's a lovely man, the children adore him and he's always welcome in my house. But some other members of the family I've married into drive me nuts. This is how they always communicate between themselves. Never mind checking if the other person is available before making plans of that sort of nature.

I can't say anything though. If I kick up any kind of a fuss, then the in-laws don't speak to us for months on end, and my husband goes into a funk and becomes unbearable.

The last time this happened it didn't really make much difference. But this time, they've really spoiled what was going to be fun. I can't rebook the weekend away till after Christmas due to lack of suitable babysitters. So I've had to find something else for hubby's birthday and it's all ruined.

And then it goes on, although I have to say that this bit just makes me laugh. My husband's sister has booked for my husband and father-in-law to go and watch a football match tomorrow prior to meeting her. Again she's just gone ahead and arranged this without asking either of their opinions beforehand (nor asking me if I mind being stuck with the children).

My hubby has absolutely no interest in football, and neither, I believe does my father-in-law. His sister isn't even coming herself - she booked it because she's studying herself and too busy to look after f-i-l. And hubby has also realised that they will have to do some fairly complex travel around London to get to the ground and will have to leave f-i-l's bag at a left luggage somewhere - the logistics are atrocious (ooh didn't think of that, said his sister!). It's likely to be cold, probably wet, and my husband is fuming at the whole thing, particularly as we could have dreamed up far more fun things for us all to do with the children if we had been given a say in the matter.

But will he raise this matter with his sister? No, of course not. If it was me, I'm sure I'd just refuse to go and tell her to consult me before organising any such daft things in future. But who am I?

I'm taking the children off to see mum, and staying out of the whole unhappy mess.

A very quick update, as we have guests.

Mum just phoned. My stepdad has been moved to an intensive rehabilitation ward. They have increased his medication and yesterday he was able to move his feet up and down while sitting in his chair.

They're going to try and get him up and walking next week. So he may be coming home after all. Mum is very pleased and so am I.

Thanks to anyone who prayed - looks like there could be some good in it.

You don't know how great it is to say that nothing much happened today, after the delights that the last two weeks or so have had in store for me.

But it does leave me somewhat with 'bloggers block'.

So I shall content myself with recounting a conversation between my daughter, A, (then just 3) and my friend's little boy, L, (just 4), which took place in the back of my friend's car, with the two of us in the front seat.

L: I'm very old. I'm older than you are!

A: (long pause) hmmm..... well I'm bigger than you are! (true)

L: (long pause) hmmm.... well my mum is very very very very old! at this point L's mum looks at me, eyebrows raised.

A: (pause again) hmmm.... well my mum is very very very very big!

At this point my friend and I fell about laughing and nearly crashed the car. Out of the mouths of babes!

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Just testing this mobile blogging feature from my mobile phone. If this works you may never hear the end of me cos I shall blog whenever I'm bored out & about, which is all the time.

Hi guys, its still me - in my new guise as pro member.

Two main reasons - firstly I'm really enjoying this blogging lark, so I thought I'd invest and see what fun I can have with a pro account.

Secondly, I went on Google last night to see how my (will be) business website looks. Because I gave my first blog the same title as my business (before I knew what I was really going to do here), if you search on Google for healthworx in the UK, you get countless entries of my personal life, which are deemed much more relevant to Google than my real business (I presume because lots of you visit me here, whilst nobody is going to my business site yet, because I haven't really launched it). Not exactly the image I'm trying to portray, and I expect quite awkward for the other companies in the UK who have similar names too (Apologies to the guys at Health Worx UK).

So I'm switching over to corioboria.blog.uk for the fun (and not so fun) stuff about my life, and I'll keep healthworx for the health and fitness stuff. And who knows what other stuff I may dream up to blog about now that I can.