Even little worries have big effects

I've had quite a tricky few days this week as my little girl, Daisy, has been "proper poorly" with a stonker of a cold.

This has really reminded me how lucky I have been, as she has really ailed little over the years - apart from the odd winter cold and a bout of chickenpox - and has very generously let me get on with life in my hectic little world.

My time is either spent doing what I refer to as "proper work", which is the jobs that have to be done on a daily basis to keep the machine ticking over, "service", which I never miss, or "extra jobs", which are the bits and bobs that can be done at the same time as doing the Mummy bit.

These jobs are never desperately important but, when I have a few days of not getting them done because of being Mummy, they start to mount up and I get a bit edgy.

We've also been spending quite a lot of time on a possible new project which, if it comes off, will be quite big for us. I hope I'll have more news in my next diary.

On top of this, I'm due to give birth in three weeks so, all in all, time has been limited and the old nerves are a bit wobbly. The thought of a new baby is more daunting than it was last time. I think it's because I know what to expect.

I did think that I was quite organised this time but, true to form in the all-too-predictable world of catering, two of my front of house team are leaving prior to the birth.

One person I expected wouldn't stay. The other resignation, however, was very unexpected and he is going two weeks before the baby is due. On a personal level, this was a bit of a blow, as he has been with us for nearly two years and we have had a good working relationship.

I know that people feel the need to move on, and in this case the person fancies a change of career. I understand this completely but the timing is very unfortunate.

In the big scheme of things, my petty worries are minuscule compared with those of the unfortunate people affected so dramatically by the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Considering we are in a rural area, we have been extremely lucky not to have been greatly affected so far. How long this will continue will depend on whether there are any future outbreaks on our doorstep.

With one thing and another, the next few weeks should be fairly interesting.

JACQUIE PERN and husband Andrew own the Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire

Next diary from Jacquie Pern: 3 May