Great Expectations

For many of us this is the first full week where our children are back at school.  Apart from a few hiccups (one friend has already had her sons off sick and another spent yesterday afternoon in casualty when her son broke his arm), we can try to get some sort of routine and normality back into our lives.  After everything that Christmas involves we see the New Year and new term as this amazing opportunity to get a million different jobs done.
I agree that it is important to try and get on top of the basics (which I find almost impossible during the holidays), but I do wonder if I set my expectations of what can be accomplished too high.  Today I did two school runs, two loads of washing, stripped my son's bed, went to get a couple of bits from the supermarket, popped into a friend, did some cleaning at home and am now talking to you.  It is 1.45pm and I need to make sure I eat lunch, start preparing some vegetables for supper, re-make my son's bed, make a couple of calls I should have done on Monday(!), and sort myself out for book club at my house tonight in the time that is left!  I am already sure something will be missed, but in my six hours am I unrealistic in what I expect?  If I was in an office and did not finish everything would I be so bothered about it?
I am sure that the perception of many is that stay at home parents have loads of time and do very little, so therefore what needs to be done should be easily accomplished in the time they have.  Perhaps these people are right, although I personally don't agree with that view.
When my youngest started primary school I had these dreams of clearing my garden and growing vegetables, sorting out all the photos from the last ten years that are still in the cupboard and putting them into albums, maybe even a bit of decorating.  Surprise, surprise the vegetables are still being bought, the photo albums have not been opened and I have not even chosen the colour of paint that I want.
I'm not sure what the answer is, or even if there is one, but I have decided not to beat myself up over it and to be pleased with what I have achieved. I will also ensure I make those calls first thing tomorrow!

Virgin Money

At a Central London location with a beautiful building as it's back drop Virgin Money was being launched.
Now they have moved into the world of banking, and it is easy to forget where they have come from.  I remember going into their music stores, I have been fortunate to go to America and have flown Virgin Atlantic.  We all know people who use their trains or have Virgin Media in their homes.

Richard Branson was there for the launch and swung the champagne to start the proceedings.

 

It will be hard for Virgin Banks to compete with the established banks, but competition has to be good for us as consumers and maybe will make some of the other banks re-think some of the ways in which they operate.  As a group Virgin has been in our lives for forty years, and as it starts this new phase begins it will be interesting to see what the next few years brings.