...and other things that have been preoccupying me...

Other things have been preoccupying me too - not least how to get the least worst balance between work, self and family. I could try and put down my thoughts on this, but it's all been much better expressed and researched by Gaby Hinsliff on her blog and in her book (necessary disclosure: Gaby and I worked on the university newspaper together 20 years ago, and I enjoyed seeing her again at a party recently where we talked about all this). It's succinct and very well written, and pretty well sums up the dilemmas my wife and I seem to face most days. Worth investing the time in, particularly for fortysomething parents.