Snot, Charity Shops & Work

The past few days seems to have just mushed into one looooong snot filled mess. First Zoe developed a cold, she really struggles to sleep well when she has one, so the first night was a nightmare with her being up most of the night and both me and James having work the next day (meaning lots of coffee was consumed). Then I caught the cold, which leads to me snoring and keeping James awake! And James was in bed last night sniffing Olbas oil so no doubt he'll come down with it too.
She's been such a grump too, which for her is so very unusual, she's normally never whinging or crying, unless she's had a bump or I've walked out of the room. So I really hope that she feels better soon so that I have my happy cheery baby back.
Just when she was doing well at sleeping through the night this happens. Can't win!

After my pointless dentist appointment this morning me, mum and a fast asleep Zoe wondered around the town. I'm always looking in the windows of Charity shops to see if there are any good baby books for Zoe as I find this is the perfect way to build up her library. 

However on this occasion I found the most perfect thing ever!

My bargain at £4.99!

A wooden walker with actual wooden blocks in it. Most walkers you get these days have plastic blocks in, or are more like her other one, which sings and flashes at you which she loves just as much, but just not as cute as this! And Zoe loves it already, putting other toys in it and pushing them around. My perception of charity shops was that you never really find good things in there, and it's mainly for older people. But actually, you can get some pretty decent stuff in there! 

Also these last few days I've felt really uncertain about work. Having been back about a month now I would've thought that I would have settled back in nicely. I still find it a struggle sometimes to remember to do the simplest of things, that I used to be really good at and organised with. And I am finding that I am also struggling with some of the people I work with. I find that as long as I'm open and honest with work that they do endeavour to do their best to help, but sometimes I do just want to go home and be with Zoe and James.

Instead of ending this post on that note, I thought I would share this picture with you. 
We'd just had a bath in the hopes that she would feel a bit better and we'd been in there so long that her feet gone all wrinkly. Thought it was sweet :)

To Vote Or Not To Vote, That Is The Question...

And the answer is YES!

I asked my partner James earlier whether he had voted before today, he said only once when he turned 18 and his reason being was just because he could. Which is great, you should vote because you can. And then I asked him what was different this year, why did he vote. He said it was because of Zoe, which is also the reason why I voted.

Today was the first time I voted, and over the last few weeks I have really felt like I wanted to, because we have a child and the plans and changes we make now are going to affect her whether it be in the short term or the long term. And also because being female, women died for my right to vote! That should be reason enough.  

Before Zoe my knowledge of the government and the politics world was quite small. I don't think it was ever properly explained to me, or perhaps I never really cared to listen when it was being explained. Perhaps I was too young to really understand, maybe this is why younger people don't really vote, because they aren't given the tools and the knowledge to understand. It is true that if more younger people vote the more than government will bring in policies that affect younger people! I had briefly studied Economics at University (but this was unfortunately the year I met James, so studying took a back seat). I understood tax, VAT and NI - only because it was what really directly affected me - other things I didn't really notice. 

Now though I find it more important to vote, being a parent and being a homeowner. Which is why I voted. I want my child to have the best health care that she can have, I want her to grow up in a country that will help her study and achieve her goals, aid her in getting a job that pays well.

Someone said to me that they weren't going to vote for a certain party because they didn't like the leader. To me that seemed a bit silly - because it's not that ONE person that is going to lead our country, there is still a team of others behind that person to stop them making mistakes, or help them make the right decision for our country. It is the policies that they endeavour to put in place that should be the reason that you vote.
I believe that you are entitled to your opinion when it comes to everything and anything. But when it comes to politics and the government, if you don't vote then you shouldn't really complain. It is something that you can have your say it, you can be the change, and your vote matters! If you have a problem with the way the country is run, then don't just whinge about it, vote! 

Thought that this was quite appropriate

NB. I would just like to add, that as a mother that breastfed (and in public!) for a member of government to want us mothers to "sit in the corner" and breastfeed in my eyes, is awful. We have every right to breastfeed our children wherever we are, breastfeeding is the most natural thing that a mother can do, and for some mothers to do it in public is the hardest thing to overcome, so for someone to come along and agree that it should be done under a napkin, or in a corner makes me very upset and angry! Women should be able to breastfeed whenever and wherever they want!