Back in the game...

Hurray, having had my epiphany that I was lost and confused, I am not any more! Yay!

I spent yesterday working out what was going wrong and righting - and writing - it. So I am now left happily with a chapter plan that makes sense but a tight deadline... It's Bean's Beeday on Wednesday, after we have family coming until Monday, and then I have that week to finish up and start looking at my next chapter until the day before Xmas eve when we are going into the countryside for a long hike and some booze that will mark the beginning of xmas. Hurray!

Downside is that I am rather ill. DB and Bean have been completely germ filled, snotty creatures this whole week and finally I have caught some of it - am not that bad but for a throat that is so tickley it makes my eyes water so I look like I am crying. Not a good look for interviewing childminders! Not found a good childminder yet but have started the hunt properly - exciting! What a change.

So I have until Weds:
Today: PM (till 6)
Friday AM
Saturday PM
Sunday AM
Monday AM
Tuesday not at all - DB workday. Maybe Tues PM.

I have tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday to finish writing the text. Then I have Monday and Tuesday night to link it all together and make the first draft coherent enough to send to my sup.

As part of the disentangling of this chapter I have started planning, or working out what needs to go into, my discussion chapter which is really exciting - I had *no* clue a week or so ago and now it is becoming clear. However, what is also becoming clear is that I am going to soon reach a stage where the first, clumsy draft is written and I shall need to re-read all my current literature, and read new lit - with no break so I don't forget it, and apply it rigourously to this first draft. So when I make comments about the way something appears in the research I can fluently say 'drawing from so-and-so we can see that' (not that I would say that but bla bla ;0)) and constatnly be referring to prominent, up-to-date authors and ideas in the field. Look like I know my stuff. Then, when that is done, I shall have my Actual First Draft. This will be in June :0) As it stand I don't see why I can't reach this, particularly once the dude is in childcare for 15 hours a week :0)

I feel pleased and in control!

Also, by-the-by, I am having an X Factor final-cum-xmas partay at my house on Saturday. I am not one to have parties, I am very shy and easily offended if someone says they can't come (I know, am daft) but have decided as we are having a quiet xmas to have a party before so I feel I have been sociable. Quite a few peeps are coming and I am really looking forward to it! Am going to make home made mince pies (filo pastry ones, soooooo easy) and drinks lots of mulled wine, cava and prosecco :0)

I love chrimbly time. Oh and I have the decorations in from the car (we have to have everything in storgae because we have seriously outgrown our house!) so I can start decorating the house tonight. Tomorrow I want to get some holly and ivy to strew around. And I am making DB and Bean xmas stockings! I am *such* a mum.

heheeeee.

x J