I'm going to be posting lots of food shots I think over the coming month or so because when the chips are down it's the only thing in my daily routine on which I won't compromise. A real meal is cooked in our home every night, regardless of the hour and regardless of how tired I am. Yesterday, I got home from footie at 9pm and we ate at around 10pm BUT it was real food!

I am going to be very busy. I'm not going to see much of home, David, dogs and the rest of my family until Christmas. I should be happy - I am happy, I'm delighted. I wrote a proposal on Friday for the single most important project that we've been asked to pitch for this year and I won it. I should be celebrating. It's wonderful for our business....we've wanted to land this particular client for ages. But of course, it's a poison chalice - the project is very hard and I will have to work just about every evening and weekend and more importantly I have inflicted this on my team too to get it done and to deliver to the client a job of the calibre he expects by his deadline.

It's right for the business but not so right for all of us. Christmas is coming and the team all needs to have their own time to prepare and none of us wants to spend the all-too-short break as a burned out wreck. Did I do the right thing? Yes, of course.....but it still feels tough.

Still, at least it's only work. My dear, dear friend spoke to me on the phone today and tells me terrible news of her partner's family. How tough is that for her and her man? I will spend my travelling time and every spare moment willing for good news. Look after yourself as well as him!Makes me think a bit of midnight oil burning isn't so bad after all.