Spring-cleaning is so very hard to do
I was exhausted when I eventually go to bed last night, and did not expect to wake until 9, but I was up before 8 again, feeling refreshed, but quite relieved the sun isn’t shining.
Some positive comments about yesterday’s playlist, so that is gratifying. it would be interesting to find out who is actually listening, and for how long. I now feel bad about not listening into other people’s selections, but unless I have earphones and a machine I could carry around with me, I’m not sure how I would do it anyway. And if I am not going to sit at a computer for 3 hours clicking on links every couple of minutes, why should anyone else? There must be a flaw in my processing of this conundrum.
Managed to catch Johnson back at his No.10 podium this morning.H might have combe this hair for once. I noted that his primary aim was to reassure the business community that all would be well eventually, but he can’t let them have their workers back yet awhile. (He discreetly made no mention of the fact that East European migrant labourers have been flown in to pick fruit and veg in the meantime.)
For all his bonhomie, I suspect that he has some fractious ministers on his back wanting to end the lockdown and concentrate on that other disaster waiting to happen – Brexit.
The downturn in the weather means I now have little excuse for not starting to work on clearing up the house which has been slowly disintegrating as the garden flourished.
But first, surely there are some emails to write and phone calls to make…
Trouble is housework is not much fun to write about, But it has to be done. I was grateful for many interruptions. The chickens needed some attention -especially as they crapped all over the lovely clean patio – so I tidied up their coop and then sent them back there to sulk for the rest of the day. They did produce four eggs for the first time today – all different colours and sizes – so I almost forgave them their mess.
Oh, and the greenhouse needed a watering
My younger son was going to come and collect some timber, but didn’t turn up; my daughter was going bring some shopping, but didn’t turn up; and a neighbour was going to bring some geraniums for the hanging baskets, but didn’t turn up. (Actually my son-in-law did turn up with the shopping at the end of his first day back at work as a driver for a Essential Foods Co-op). Nonetheless all of them kept me waiting in the kitchen so I could see and hear the front doo. I used the time to make some soda bread – all of which kept me off the housework I had determined to do. It involved clearing a back room and cleaning it, never a thrilling task. But dealing with the cobwebs revealed the need to clean the windows. As ever spring-cleaning is like pealing an onion, each task reveals another. (A bit like switching on the lap-top and finding another email to deal with, then casting a quick look at Twitter which reveals yet more messages to respond to, etc., etc., etc, -one of life’s great time-wasters.
Still, by story-reading-time the room is not quite finished but I am. It will have to wait until tomorrow, again. Trying to find new places to store the stuff that’s been clogging access to the room has tested my patience as well as my imagination.
Then I can’t find my internet copy of The Master, just as things are getting tense, and the boys don’t want to wait until I can trace it. So I begin read them stories from The Sharing Circle which is by and about Canadian First Nation traditions. The boys are so hyper that this won’t do. One departs for bed, and the other offers to read to me. It’s great; he is excited about the Greek gods and has been reading about their origins. Brought back many childhood and student day memories. It was a really good experience, and we shall do it again.
Later that evening my house guest and I share a very tasty Iftar, and then while he goes for a walk I settled down to watch Ex Machina at my son’s recommendation. I discover that my kids have been watching Devs and it is suggested that I should watch Alex Garland’s earlier work before joining them. What I liked best about the film is the wonderful mountain locations rather then the rathe clunky twists, but the sfx were wonderful. I certainly didn’t recognise Domhnall Gleeson as his father’s son.
My house guest returns with cake and ice-cream. A nice note on which to end. Goodnight.
