Snow, school and the most depressing day of the year

First day back after the holidays for most of us.  I was worried that we would all struggle to get out of bed this morning.  M and I have spent much of the last two weeks diligently training the kids to stay in bed until a civilized hour, well at least upstairs on their floor of the house, until its is "properly daylight".  I was convinced that they would be rushing into school, half dress and with their breakfast in their hands and I would the last one into the office.  I even practiced getting up before 10 o'clock yesterday.  

Well all to no avail.  The sound of gymnastics came through the floor above our bed at bang on 6.15 am, this is made all the more surprising by the lateness of bedtime on Sunday night (stories were finished by eight and the last ground floor visit was around 9.15).  We are talking about one four and one six year old girl here not a couple of teenage boys fueled by sugar and hormones.  So first Monday back we were all dressed, fed and ready to go by 7.30.  I was the first in the office, which was warm not the normal ice box and the view out of the window was Wiltshire at its snow covered best.

The only thing to spoil the start to the working 2009 was the Today programs constant discussion of some research that said Monday 5th January 2009 was blue Monday and we would all be silting our wrists over the water cooler.

I cannot say this has been the greatest day of my life but far from the worst and if 2009 doesn't get any worse than today it will turn out to be a great year.