I Am Not A Super Woman....

...and neither is anyone else out there! I've rather cheekily started this blog in response to what I feel is the tremendous pressure from society on women to be a brilliant leader at work, a fabulous house wife, a support mother all the while baking, knitting and filling our sparklingly clean homes with amazing things we have made.

Well - enough. I've thrown in the towel. I am not a superwoman. I have a 1.5 hour commute to work and back again each day. I put in 7 hours (minimum) a day working as a Project Manager. My bathroom hasn't been cleaned in 2 weeks, the last thing I baked came out soggy but I ate it anyway, my knitting has gone by the wayside (I have half a teapot cosy done and another one to get round too), I throw tantrums when I have to do the washing up and I have (once!) forgotten to feed my cats (although most nights they get fed at various times). I have a gym membership but don't manage to fit it in to make it really worthwhile (but I love the pool when I go so I keep paying), I am hopeless at managing my budget and have to be forcibly sat down (whilst sulking) to do my book keeping and I have a wonderful impulse buying habit which I adore.

So - for all of you who feel the pressure to be this incredibly amazing superwoman, just give it a rest! You don't fall apart simply because the bathroom needs a clean. The world doesn't stop turning because you fed your kids at 9pm rather than when you're 'supposed to'. Lots of chefs have written books about how to cook everyday, meals which you can make in 30 minutes or less. But, as my partner pointed out, they can do all that because their job is telling the rest of us how to do it.

I'm going to tell you how I do it. Its not pretty, its not perfect. But its honest. So to kick us off - we have today. The first day (be aware, this might not be a daily blog - I am not superwoman after all). I've been at work since 8:30am - and I swore at a number of drivers on the way in who were bullying me. Tea tonight is going to be leftover Chinese takeaway recreated as follows:

Leftover shredded duck
Onion
Garlic
Frozen pre-chopped peppers
Creme Fraiche
Rice (or noodles if they're less spicy than last night when they blew my head off)

I plan to grate the onion (as its easier and quicker to cook than chopped), mash the garlic, throw in as many peppers as makes me feel not guilty about my five a day and bung it in a pan with oil and leave it to soften. Meanwhile I'll either cook the rice or have a glass of wine (depending on which option I'm going for). Once they're softened I then chuck in the meat, creme fraiche (or greek yoghurt or double cream) and the sauce is done. That gets put over rice (or whatever) or simply served with some reheated soggy soda bread from the weekend. Job done. And all while drinking a glass of wine and watching the telly.

I do not plan to do any crafts tonight or go to the gym - I didn't sleep well and I'm exhausted. So there.