Every Sunday I pop on here and can always find at least one postcard that I can relate to.

Today was this one.

I never worried about turning 40. You can't go back and be 21 again (not that I want to) and you can't stop the passage of time. I saw some friends approach 40 with trepidation, fear, looking constantly in the mirror for more tell tale signs of ageing, for another grey hair. Not me. i embraced being 40. I have come to a time in my life where I can be myself again. Ok the kids are still here, I will always be a mother, but with the passing of time comes independence, freedom to go out without the worry of babysitters, to start spending time on me, to start spending time doing what I want to do.

It has also brought about the ability to meet new people, to make friends through other sources. It has given me a new confidence. I am married I don't need a man, I am not looking for MR Right, there is no hunt for the perfect mate, but it hasn't stopped me from flirting, from enjoying myself and to enjoy being with good friends and having a laugh.

I like being in my forties possibly more than being in my twenties or thirties in some ways. There are still days when I worry about what I look like or how fat I am, but they are getting fewer and farer between, because in reality life is for living, for enjoying every moment, as we never know when it will be our last.

So far it has been a funny day. I laid in bed feeling sorry for myself having spent the night coughing, watching the big black clouds float past the window as if they were in a hurry and only allowing an occasional glimpse of blue sky where the occasional cloud didn't quite join with its companions.

I wanted to take a photo of what I could see only the camera was downstairs and no one could hear me call with my croaky voice and throat that was hurting as if someone had taken a brush to the inside of it and scrapped away.

Eventually I emerged to face the day and breakfast cooked by my lovely husband, a breakfast of egg and bacon rolls that were lovely even if they were hard to swallow.

We have been out, Nig had to look at a job so I went with him then though we weren't out for long as it was so cold outside. Not much warmer inside either, but better than being out there I suppose. At the moment I am chilling and trying to pluck up courage to face the washing machine again, but loading it leaves me feeling breathless and all I want to do is lay on the sofa with a good book. Mind you it doesn't help when your 16 year old child tells you that "it isn't my job to walk the dogs" when it is his job, that was one of the conditions of getting another dog let alone two. He also thinks that it is unreasonable of us to make him wash up, feed the dogs and to load the tumble dryer once in a while.

That's ok though, I do not consider it my job to clean the house, do his washing, or feed him, I do it because I have to, but lets see how far he will get when I withdraw my services because it isn't my job - after all it isn't as though I get paid for it

Don't you just love Sundays NOT!!!1

Youngest is watching Newsround.

I hear the word snow and look at the telly.

"Is that China?" says I

"Yes it is Japan" he replies

"No, its China" says hubby

"Yes" says youngest child "China is in Japan therefore it is Japan!"

I often wonder what they do teach them in school, geography is clearly not his strong point poor child!