Thursday was my all day at work day. I’ve been struggling with work since we got back from holiday for various reasons. I think one is that it is just hard being on my ankle all day really. It is far, far better at nearly 5 weeks in and although it is stiff first thing in the morning and gets slightly swollen throughout the course of a day if I am on it too much I am no longer needing painkillers or the support bandage. I’m not really limping any more and whilst it is still puffy you wouldn’t really know without looking closely that there was anything wrong. But I am very cagey about doing something to it, still struggle a bit with steps and stairs and can’t see me wearing anything other than very flat shoes for quite some time to come.
Partially I am already no longer working for the library in my head. I have been there nearly four years now which is about the longest I’ve ever held any job and nothing is new or exciting any more. I am highly thought of and I like my colleagues but I feel bored and restless really. Knowing that we’re off next year so I’ll be leaving anyway has meant I am no longer trying to find new challenges and things to get involved in, just biding my time.
I actually had quite a good day in the end, despite having three hour long sessions of shelving which is my least favourite task. I learnt the not particularly surprising news that one of the supervisors is leaving and despite everyone else being a bit doom and gloom I actually felt quite relieved that I have my escape route already planned.
Ady had been home with the kids in the morning and then Dad had come along for the afternoon. Davies had rung me during the afternoon to say they’d lost one of the quails so I’d told him to get my Dad to help him – not sure whether to feel pleased they thought I’d be able to sort it out remotely or frustrated that they don’t think anyone else can deal with it. Frustrated would have been the right response though because I was really fed up when I got home and found the house in utter disarray, loads of toys out strewn across the floor, a chicken sitting on the sofa (on a blanket!), the quail still missing, cups, plates, empty crisp and biscuit wrappers all over the place and TV and radios blaring 🙁 .
I waved Dad off and then had a bit of a rant at the kids about the state of the house, livestock remaining in the garden, not eating junk all day just because I wasn’t around to stop them and clearing up after themselves. They sorted the house out while I cooked them some dinner and then Ady arrived home with the news that his boss had handed his resignation in that day too!
I read some story (why the whales came) and enjoyed the last hour or so of the kids day with them. I hate being ranty and lecture-y with them, particularly when I’ve not actually seen them all day.
Friday We were seeing Tasha, Toby and Vinnie for the day :). We had a slow start with Scarlett and I starting the slow process of going through our en suite bathroom and digging out things to go into a car boot sale box. I have stacks of lotions, potions, lipsticks, powders and paints which Scarlett not being a girlie girl isn’t really interested in having them so they need to go and hopefully raise some funds. While we were doing that Ady appeared home, in a state because he thought he’d lost his camera and had been ringing me and getting no reply (because I was upstairs).
Ady found his camera at home, Davies got up, Scarlett and I came downstairs and then we all left the house together – Ady back to work and off present hunting for my Dad. Davies, Scarlett and I nipped into town to get birthday cards for my Dad and then to Tasha’s. We also got him a mug, a helium balloon and some birthday banners because he absolutely hates a fuss so I love to make one 😉 😆
We had a lovely few hours at Tasha’s admiring the kittens, cooing over the wedding plans, the kids played and we chatted. It was good :). We caught up on each others’ news and have planned to get together again next week – we keep leaving it far too long inbetween meeting up.
Ady had beaten us home and we all got ready to go out with Mum, Dad and Frazer to a local steakhouse which they have visited before but we’d never been to. The food was excellent although the service was a little slow and we probably had at least one round of drinks less than we’d have liked. Mum monopolised Ady and Dad chatted to Frazer so I ended up talking mostly to Davies and Scarlett across the table which is fine but always seems an odd thing to do when out for a meal with people they don’t spend all day every day with.
Meal over we all came back here for coffees. The kids were a bit hyper so after a while they went up to Davies’ room to watch a video and ended up having a sleepover while we chatted. We had a slightly morbid conversation about what happens to them when they are too old to look after themselves, triggered by talking about my Grandma (Dad’s mum) who they put into a home. Frazer is of the opinion that Mum and Dad are wealthy enough to pay for the best of care if the time comes, I am of the belief that aslong as possible they should be cared for by us as I think even the most expensive care is shoddy in most cases. I think Dad was touched by what I was saying but I’m fairly sure all three of them think I am some sort of cuckoo child and really don’t belong to them 😆 None of them really believe we are off WOOFing either I don’t think with Mum and Frazer sharing smirks while looking at our plotted map of the UK and Dad repeating again that ‘there’s no money in farming’ as though we are on some sort of get rich quick scheme with the whole idea…
It was nonetheless a very nice evening talking about birthdays of the past and remembering times gone by.
Saturday Another work session for me, just for the morning. I spent some time on the desk, some on the counter and some working through a training website for the nhs website as the intention is for all council workers to be able to assist on various things (probably so half of us can be made redundant, I think the idea is that if libraries continue to exist they will be combined with council offices and probably doctors surgeries and schools aswell :lol:) which looks quite impressive.
Before I went to work Ady ran me a bath and put a cup of tea ready for me, when I got home from work he had made me tea and a cheese toastie for lunch, he is such a good wife – can’t wait to have him around full time :).
This afternoon we had agreed to commence Operation Crap Clear – part of phase one of getting ready for WOOFing – reducing the amount of stuff we have both for storage reasons and to raise some funds. The playroom was first port of call and Davies and Scarlett were really good at being ruthless about stuff. We are keeping some things and are hoping to stuff our loft space with as much as possible to reduce the amount of stuff we have to have at my parents but large amounts of the things we have need to go on the basis we simply don’t need them anymore. So board games, puzzles, art and craft stuff that can be replaced if needs be when we get back are all in the pile of things to be got shot of.
We now have 3 out of 4 shelving units in the playroom stacked up with stuff to go. Tomorrow we tackle the cupboard under the stairs :). I’m hoping to clear the two bathrooms of anything to go too ready for next weekend when Ady and I are hoping to leave D&S with my parents and do a car boot sale on Sunday, weather permitting.
Ady took D&S off to Sainsburys with him while I finished off the playroom and that about brings me up to date.