Much better couple of days with Joey, a joy to be with most of the time.  Working out well with Remy, our new day-time child minder, and played nicely with Chris and Jack.  let's hope it lasts.

Another rough day with Joey.  We went up to Ridgewood.  Rob and crew were there and it was also Anne's Uncvle Dick's b'day - he lost his wife a couple of weeks ago.  Anne and I both spoke to him about how difficult the afternoon might be and how important it was, particularly for Anne, that bpth the kids be very well behaved.

In some ways Joey did try very hard - a bit too hard in some way, slightly hyper.  But in other ways, it was not a good afternoon.  we know that Joey is over-active and finds it hard to do nothing, but, despite what Anne told him, he kept coming up and telling us he was 'bored' and then demanding more food that he could not eat, and complaining that Danny did not want to do anything etc etc.  Anne was very upset.

Two very rough evenings with Joey, which ended in him calling Anne and ugly witch (although I thought that the second word was an even nastier one).  All starts with either dinner and a 'This is all disgusting' approach from Joey, or bloody Minecraft and not getting what he wants from it.  Coincidently, we allowed Joey to have, as an experiment, chips two days ago, chips in batter.  If Joey is better in the next day or so, we will know how bad an impact 'illegal' food has on him.  V upsetting for all of us, 

We close on our new house tomorrow and are both rather underwhelmed by the prospect.  Not sure why, perhaps just the general uncertainty in our lives, perhaps also the fact that we do really like living in the Boro, and the kids have all the neighbouring kids to play with.  Oh, well, we shall see what happens when we actually move.

We are still alive but I struggle to find the time or the energy to write much.  We are closing on the house next Wednesday, my little windpower business is keeping me busy - have not actually earned much yet but am now up to about 14 people enrolled, of whom 4  or 5 have the potential to do well.  What I  really need is  for a few not for profits to sign up, then I will be on a roll.

And, of course, the kids take up lots of energy, especially joey being at home all day.  We have decided to hire somebody to help out, basically being a companion to joey so that he is kept busy, and allow us to get on with everything else.  We were recommended a young man called Remy and Anne and Joey met him.  Seems to be what we need so he starts Monday.  Hopefully, that will work out well.

Joey had a very good Monday and Tuesday morning but not such a good Tuesday afternoon.  The problem is that - because of insecurity, we think - he tries to dominate the conversation, the play or other kids.  And then gets upset and over-reacts when things don't go his way.  This happened yesterday when he was playing with the neighbours kid.  It was getting a bit edgy and L's Mum called him in.  I asked Joey to come home and he stood there and simply refused.  So what was a minor episode became a major one. 

The other problems is that Joey struggles to listen and accept what Anne and I tell him about this, that this is why some kids don't want to play with him anymore and why he risks having Alex and Maury getting tired of his behavior as well.  He has to change.

On the positive side, he is listening more than he was and most of the time he is fine.  Chris and Jack came around later and the kids had a great time playing outside.  They love playing with Joey because he is so full of energy and ideas.  If he could just be more secure and hill, he would be fine.

I am wasting away!  Down to below 190lbs ie 13 stone and 8lbs.  Haven't been this light, I think since school.  Apart, perhaps, when I had Denge in Brazil.