Geez Kim that is a long time with the kids without a break you poor bugger. Is there any chance that your DF can look after the kids while you do some part time work maybe on the weekends of even in the evening just so have that little something/time/conversation for yourself.

As for childcare crisis, I think it is a bit of yes and no.
I've just gotten Angus into the daycare centre that I wanted, they told me the wait would be 6-12 months and it's been pretty much spot on 6 months. They did tell me when I lodged the application to check every 4-6 weeks to let them know that I was still interested, so I did and then just yesterday finally got the news that we could get one of the days They said once he is in at least one day then I will have more flexibility to get the other day and even change days if I want too. There were other centres that he could have gone into straight away but I was really particular about this being the only one he went to so decided to hold out. I think that if you are really desperate tho you would just have to take what is available, and that is not necessarily fair.