-

It is sunday afternoon and I have not moved from the couch yet. Still unshowered and sitting under a duvet. R left 3 hours ago for the air port. He has gone away to denmark for the month to guest lecture on an MA course. Am happy for him but feeling sorry for myself that I have to be without him for so long (bar a weekend visit or maybe 2)

I got goodbye gifts: dried fruit for beside the bed (now that im 'eating for two' midnight trips to the fridge are common), a collectible japanese toy, and two copies of the Baby Whisperer by Tracey Hogg (one for him and one for me to read at the same time - can you believe that??).

I'm starting to 'round out' a lot now. Breasts refuse to sit happily inside my bras. I need to go shopping for new parachutes. I am also becoming privy to the secrets of pregnant people: YOU MUST OIL AND MASSAGE THE PERINEUM DAILY they hiss. oh fuck off. (but I do it anyway).

I haven't told work yet. I want to work out where I stand vis a vis redundancy (which I'm taking in May) & my entitlement to the corporate maternity package (I should get the statutory one on offer - so that is something) but am keen to milk the snake pit where I work for every cent. Hopefully i can get the advice I need from somewhere.

I can't wait for spring.