I almost died of boredom.

Yes, it's true. In fact, three days running I almost kicked the bucket due to extreme (almost unprecedented) levels of boredom.

Why?
Two words - Tax Return.

However, I was dead chuffed with myself when I submitted my self-assessment online last night. I felt all grown up (it's the first one I've ever done, and I think my brain was trying to justify the time taken by injecting a burst of pride into the equation). However, I didn't feel so great this morning when I realised that I'd done my sums a bit wrong. I halved something part way through an equation (which was fine, because it's a joint asset) and then I halved it at the end of the equation (which would have been fine if I hadn't already done the halving earlier) with the result that I had a figure that was too small. (Remember we're speaking financially here!).

The good news was that it meant I would end up paying less tax (by about £175) the bad news was that I had to resubmit in order to change the figures. So I went back to the drawing board (well, the computer, strictly speaking) and totted it all up again. It was part way through doing this that I realised I'd got some other figures wrong - I'd merrily added up all the months for the tax year, when I should have only included those where we weren't residing in our own house. D'oh. This changed the figures again and meant that I wasn't saving about £175, I was saving about £13. Unlucky for some, as they say! I can now understand why people pay other people good money to have their tax returns done for them. Oh well, just another reason to count down to retirement. My next job is to do Anna's return :(

But through it all, there are three reasons why I'm more than happy to pay my taxes:
1) Joshua
2) Mum
3) My old job


On an altogether lighter note. Another point of amusement (I don't think I've mentioned this one yet - forgive me if I have and I hope you find it amusing a second time...)
For some time now, I have had this conversation with Joshua every night:
Me: I love you,
Joshua: I love you too,
Me: I love you lots,
Joshua: I love you once.

He seems dead pleased with himself for saying it too. I like to think that he believes it to be a 'trumping' of my loving him lots, but I always go away wondering if I should be pleased or slightly offended :o) Sometimes he even holds up one finger, I guess to drive the point home. (Don't worry, I love it really, but it does amuse me every time)

Apologies for the lack of photos here - I could have one of the study floor as I was doing the tax return (well, more the paper on the floor than the floor itself, which was pretty well hidden), but then some criminal mastermind will read my post, see the photo, zoom in, get all my bank details and steal all my money. And I wouldn't want that to happen.
I could also have a photo of Joshua during his nap today - he'd left the siren on his Fireman Sam book running, opened his curtains, and then gone to sleep with a pair of trousers on his head. I could have a photo of that, if I'd taken one, which I didn't. But having said that, maybe I'll put a couple of others of him in bed... (and no, they're not set up - it's just some of the weird stuff he does when left by himself for more than about 12 seconds).