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I experienced life as a normal person today on two fronts - my hangover was finally gone, and due to several perfectly placed cancellations, didn’t have to go to work hideously early. Mr Dog and I went for a huge walk at 7am and met the most gorgeous group of people and their dogs, who were so welcoming I almost couldn’t believe it. Mr Dog was shy, and even though there were two other Kelpie hybrids playing, he divided his time between wandering off alone to find giant sticks, or sitting on my feet. When we came home, he went straight to sleep, which kind of reminded me of Miss M after a big day out with lots of new people.

I went in to Hunt’s today to do the 9.30 yoga class. I like being at yoga as a student, so I don’t have to think, hmm, ten minutes to go and we’re only at x or y - or worse - ten minutes to go, what the hell are we going to do? This afternoon when I taught my class, I cleverly left the plan behind and had to make things up on the fly, which actually worked well. Before I left, I invented a new kind of osso bucco, which involved throwing everything into a saucepan, putting it in the oven for three hours, then finishing it on the stove for an hour. I also replaced wine (see previous two days posts for why) with stock, and it was awesome. It was part of our advent calendar activities (photos below), and Miss M liked it so much she’s taking it to school for lunch tomorrow.

I’ve bought myself a Christmas present in the form of spectacular bling, which Miss M has documented wonderfully. It looks especially good when taking out the rubbish, which I’m about to do now. I’m also excited because today I was able to do some technical stuff to this site, and now have a visit counter on the bottom of the home page - tres magnifique!

Today I’m loving: my growing ability as a computer geek.

Hangover: Day 2 … headache, depression, general malaise. I’ve been trying to explain the reasons grown ups drink to Miss M, but haven’t been able to come up with any convincing arguments for the process at all.

However, our advent calendar activity in the form of fish and chips from Rex Hunt’s D’lish Fish yesterday was fantastic, and made me feel much better, as did some salty sea air. And a long tram ride, which almost sent me to sleep. We even got on board entertainment, in the form of a frank “discussion” between a man without a ticket and an inspector, which I reckon was going to get ugly after the inspector and his buddies hustled the guy off the tram. Miss M was most intrigued, but couldn’t stop asking if we had a valid ticket.

I’m about to head into Hunt’s for a few hours of work, then I’m looking forward to some serious sleep. And taping tonight’s two hour episode of “So you think you can dance” which has to be the most terrifying and wonderful show I’ve ever watched in my life.

Today I’m loving: that tomorrow I’ll feel normal again!

It doesn’t happen very often, but today I’m suffering after drinking too much red wine at Miss M’s school food fair. However, I claim mitigating circumstances a) it was for a good cause, and b) I had a great time. This morning when we woke up, Miss M said to me “mummy, I didn’t know you could dance like that!” I think doing heaps of backbends at yoga yesterday helped.

Even though I know I’ll regret it, I’ll admit I ate breakfast at McDonalds (Glen you can hassle me on Monday) and instantly felt better afterwards. There’s something about fat, sugar and total lack of nutrition that seems to have a calming effect on any hangover symptoms. So yes, last night was really good fun, but I think it’s the last time I’ll be drinking for while.

Before we went to the food fair, I shocked myself by doing something that could be called “craft”. I am totally inept at anything requiring visual creativity, but this is effective, and easy. I stole the idea from a website I both despise yet drawn to, similar to my feelings about Nigella Lawson. It’s an advent calendar, but each day, your child opens an envelope and discovers an activity inside. Yesterday’s was to go to the park and lie on the grass looking at the stars (which we didn’t actually do because Miss M was begging to go home after the food fair, and nearly at the point of tears), and today’s is to go to the beach and get fish and chips, which we’re about to do. Depending on the weather, we may even slide in some stargazing this evening.

I’ve put little chocolate Santas in each envelope, which I made out of different coloured hand made paper. The box I’ve put them in looks fantastic, but I’m still slightly puzzled about why I actually did it. I have a suspicion by the time the 25th rolls around, I may be cursing my out of character craft activities.

Today I’m loving: hydration and silence!