Cut Euan's hair today because he was starting to look like cousin It. It's not necessarily that much of an improvement, but at least his hair's shorter now.
It's just a bit... uneven. Tufty, perhaps. Not exactly symmetrical. Well, he won't stay still! And if I try and do it when he's asleep I can only cut the hair on one side of his head.
Ah well. It will grow back eventually.
Hard-boiled some eggs and painted them for Easter (well, I painted one, and gave Euan crayons for the others). Only one of them remained intact, but it's a work of art.
Made a rhubarb & banana crumble and took it round to Mum's for tea - Tom was still staying there to help Dan with his computer. Home for some much-needed sleep before yet another early start, to travel down to Brecon for the Prince's Trust residential week.

Thursday night was fun - Paul, Dan, John and I hopped into Paul's car and pootled off to Stoke as planned. John and Dan slept on the kitchen floor, I got the luxury option - the carpeted floor of Paul's room!
Friday morning up early and via the station to pick Jayne up, and on to Alton Towers to meet the rest of the gang. Went on rollercoasters. I ate fish & chips with curry sauce. We didn't get to go on the new one - Rita, Queen of Speed - but were told that it might be open the next day... So after a little conferring, a brief telephone argument with Karl, and a hasty babysitting arrangement with Mum, we decided to stay another night at Paul's (with Tom too this time). Friday ended with a yummy meal at the Mughal. They probably wonder where we come from: every few months we descend on the place in large numbers, order ten chicken kormas ()and a couple of more interesting dishes, then disappear in several cars in different directions.
Anyway, we did get to go on Rita today. It's great fun, very fast. Travelled back, got sprog, slept.

Was very tired this morning... yesterday was a long day, as we got up so early to avoid the French transport strikes and make sure we got our plane!
I only join in on one day of Prince's Trust on induction week, and this was it. Scary. Hopped in the minibus at Yale College in Wrexham, and it takes about an hour to drive to Rhyl, which was really pleasant in the sunshine.
We're based in a chapelly thing. The Salem Centre. And today was also the Food Hygiene course - it was really quite daunting walking in and meeting a roomful of strangers (they had already spent three days in each others' company, and as I later learned, several of them lived in the same place anyway).
Most of them tried really hard to include me, which was really nice of them, so I didn't feel quite so scared about the residential next week. Just mildly petrified now.
No time to think about all that though, off to Stoke tonight to stay in Paul's halls of residence (Staffordshire University) ready for an early morning Alton Towers trip...

Had a fantastic trip - it was hard work with Euan to think about all the time, but to be fair he was really well-behaved.
I was worried about the combination of toddler and plane, but Euan took it in his stride. Just kept shouting "air-pane" every few minutes. It was me who ended up feeling distinctly unwell as we took off. Not fair! I love planes! I love travelling! I ignored the increasing panic attack and concentrated on talking to Euan. More for my benefit than his, but don't tell anyone...
The weather was unusually warm, so we went out without our coats most days and enjoyed the summery sunshine. Took several days to work out the best way to sightsee with a toddler - yes, you do need a pushchair, because a tired/irritable child needs somewhere to doze. And the Metro, although not very accessible, is usually busy, and there wasn't a single set of steps where I found myself without an offer of help from passers-by. I usually refused because I'm a stubbornly independent cow, but at least there was always an offer.
Took Euan to Notre Dame - he chased pigeons and watched the rollerbladers showing off.
He liked the Seine, with all the boats full of tourists to wave at.
He demanded tacky touristy souvenirs from the stalls along the banks of the river, and ran around trying to catch remote-controlled boats in the Jardin du Luxembourg. The Père Lachaise cemetery was nice - we weren't impressed by Jim Morrison's grave, but enjoyed walking along the cobbled paths and finding a nice bench to picnic on.
The Eiffel Tower didn't inspire Euan; again he ran around after pigeons instead. He liked the fountains in the Jardin du Trocadero, and it was so warm some people were jumping in the water.
The Jardin d'Acclimatation was really good - plenty of animals to look at, and a huge playground for all ages of sprog. Euan did wonders for international relations by trying to hog the slides. He hasn't quite understood the concept of sharing yet.
Went for a Chinese meal with Nick, Carole and Flavien (very yummy) and Euan just kept pointing at the 30 or so fish in a tank, saying, "Nemo!" Close, nice guess.
It was lovely to see everyone again - although Euan paid more attention to Lucky, Chance and Flynn (the cats), Naia and Tess (the dogs), and Chipie (the ferret). At least the menagerie kept him entertained!
Their house was somewhat chaotic, with major decorating going on, so we stayed nearby with their friend Monique. Had a lovely barbecue at Christine's house, where Euan did a startlingly good impression of Nick: ! (Trust me, this is worth a look.)
Went to Disneyland with N&C's friend Isabelle (free entry because she works there! ) Euan loved "It's a Small World", but the theme tune is still haunting me... He laughed on the Pirates of the Caribbean one, and thought Phantom Manor was hilarious.
The thing that struck me about Disneyland was the sheer tackiness of it all. It's kitsch, but done to such excellent standards that you can't help but be impressed. It's so far over-the-top it's off the scale, but it's well maintained and clean. I would definitely go back again, probably when Euan's a bit older though!
I didn't want to come back. I like Paris. There are bits that still feel like home, and I have the benefit of four years' worth of rose-tinted memories. It was lovely being able to join up two very distinct bits of my life - the me that lived in France, and the me that's got a little boy.
Euan likes French food, as long as it's baguettes, brioches or crêpes. Oh, and real coffee. As if he wasn't hyper enough already!
One interesting part of the trip was giving Reda (pronounced "redder", my friend who we stayed with for part of the time) a reality check.

Him: Would be great to see you! When are you coming over?
Me: It's tricky with Euan...
Him: I love kids, bring him too! Really, I mean it!
Me: OK then, if you're sure...

To be fair, Reda coped really well. I mean, I didn't notice a nervous breakdown when we were there, but there's probably some lasting psychological damage.
I just want to go back again (perhaps without sprog, for the sake of my sanity) and sleep on Nick & Carole's sofa for a few nights, because I enjoy their company so much and felt that the constant toddler-surveying was a bit of a distraction.
Ho hum, I'll see if I can escape for a weekend or something in the near future.

Normal week in work. Euan kept me busy. Thursday: went round to Steve's and watched Fame Academy. I still think it's crap. He disagrees. Friday: Red Nose Day! Fun & games in work, followed by a big night out in town. Everyone was out - all the usual crowd plus a few people I say "Hi" to every day but never really chat to. Ended up in Liquid somehow. I think we got lost on the way to Chicago Rock.
I've got a cold, but Euan's thoroughly under the weather, very huggy and clingy. And we're off to Paris tonight - hooray!
Going for a week and a half.
I'm terrified. Toddler to look after. And he's poorly. What have I done?
It'll be fine. He'll love the plane. He'll enjoy seeing new things. The weather will be great. I hope.

Been at Simon's in Chester again since Thursday. Spent all of Friday and Saturday trying to sort out a passport for Euan, because Karl can't look after him when I'm away next week, so he'll have to come with me. Two trips to Liverpool, £60 to UKPA, and about £30 on photos, birth certificate, trains etc., and that's before the plane tickets! It's turning out to be an expensive trip.
Went for a Thai meal on Saturday night, very nice. Then on to the Bells for rock night. Good fun, I didn't know there were that many leather waistcoats in the world, let alone in one pub. Add in all the piercings, tattoos and facial hair, it was like being surrounded by eau de biker. Fantastic evening. Nothing like being chatted up by lots of strangers to give you a bit of self confidence back. Stumbled back to Simon's and watched I, Robot. Well, I watched it. The other two were asleep within ten minutes. At 3am, Steve got up, phoned Karen to apologise for dozing off, and staggered home. I left Simon asleep in his chair and retired to the spare room.
But I get the Karen Seal of Approval. I'm officially allowed to renovate Simon's house for him, whether he likes it or not, and she can stop worrying about him for a while.

Yuck.
Work.
On a Wednesday!
Yes, I'm back to full time again. Hooray...
Went swimming after work with Mum. She's joined Llyndir Hall so she can feel exclusive, and not share Wrexham Baths with the proletariat (call it Waterworld if you like, I still think it's probably pure urine they're swimming in...)
Nice relaxing end to the day. Had the little pool to ourselves. Then home for a takeaway... second one this week! And I'd been so good. My parents are trying to fatten me up.

Had a lazy weekend (when was the last time I wasn't busy? Feels like ages!). Work was OK but dull yesterday. Dad came for an unplanned visit, so last-minute arrangements were made - me, Dad, Dan & Euan having a nice takeaway at my house, and a glass or two of wine. Very nice.
Today was St David's Day, and also "Go Red for Wales" day: a fundraising event for the Prince's Trust. It basically means that everyone wears a red item of clothing, and we try and get as much money as possible from them. I sprayed people's hair bright red. Managed to persuade 25 people to take part - and some of them needed a lot of convincing! Great fun though. Although I wonder how many people will still be speaking to me tomorrow when they find out their hair's still slightly pink...
Euan thought it was funny when I picked him up from nursery - he kept staring at my hair, then said, "Hat."
Photos in photos section. Of course.