Today I have managed to get up at a normal time, (having slept better, hardly aware of waking to cough through the night at all), I was admittedly rather slow getting my shit together but got down the hill in time to pick up the girlies who were nearly ready (Heavens be praised) to walk them to school. They were a joy, taking turns to do "Simon says...." all the way (some mornings I have to cajole/bribe/threaten at least one of them to get a move on towards the school, as snails speed past us).   The drivers of passing cars might have been slightly distracted by me following orders to walk like penguin, do heads shoulders knees and toes, etc.

Walked Garcon briefly, nipped to Lidl, bought some "bear necessities" (chicken, broccoli, pink iced doughnuts (!), baguette) mainly to get the cashback to pay the very long awaited floor blokes, who were due at 10 to lay boarding in the back room (a project that has been on very slow burn due to lack of money and, more to the point, my lassitude, for 10 months).

Very pleasant flooring guys arrived promptly at 10 (making up for not turning up at all for the booked 2pm slot on a Monday before Xmas - finally ringing me at 5.50 to say they were in Llandeilo but would be with me in 15 mins (Llandeilo is about a 45 min drive away), When I had the cheek to ask why they were so late, they seemed to think "everyone is expecting their carpet before Xmas" was a reason. Now bearing in mind, I hadnt asked for this and didnt need mine fitted before Xmas, but had been sort of pushed into it by the carpet shop guy (who presumably didnt want to delay payment any longer now the carpet I ordered in early Nov was now in stock), but having been booked in I sort of felt it reasonable that they would come, even if a tad late.  Anyway, I refused their kind offer of breaking the speed of sound to get to me that evening, not least because I had been hanging around in the house most of the afternoon with two increasingly tired infants who I was keen to drive home. (I also felt quite relieved that I could delay coughing up the £156 for carpet plus £60 for fitting the boards till after Christmas - Just as well, as I then had to find £130 at short notice to replace a short area of fence that finally gave in and turned into large splinters in the gales a few days later :-(


They did a lovely job. and finished in time for me to pick Ms J from nursery at 11.30. She was obviously very very tired, but wouldnt give in.  We played quietly, dominoes, reading etc. At one point she said "No, I dont want to rest... but I want to put my head on this cushion and my feet up ... there ... move, Garcon!....and can I have a blanket please?" She didnt actually fall asleep. After a little rest she wanted a cwtch, and chatted away, on a wide variety of topics, starting nearly all her sentences with "sometimes", including the following gem "Sometimes, actually, some naughty men go too near fireworks (inspired by a glimpse of a you tube video on my FB page earlier) and get "hurtened"  - which I think should be a word if it isnt already!

Minor rant. After being asked  to come back soon as poss after morning's errands, the children's Mama did her frequent trick, dragging it out till time to pick up Miss I at 3.15, after which she came to pick up Ms J who by this time was beyond tired, and had been asking plaintively for her elusive Mama for about an hour off an on. Bless.

So ... things that make me feel happy about being alive today .... punctual pleasant polite competent tradespeople, a chance to spend time with Ms J and get further insight into her developing world view /coining new words,  staying awake all day - so far! (8.20 pm).

And last but not least those amazing women The Coxless Crew finally reaching their destination in Cairns after rowing the Pacific for 9 months in a tiny boat http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35398753