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Catch up.  Marshaling at Parkrun Sat, got me up and out at least.  Took Garcon. Stayed dry for once and v little wind.  Amazing. Think fresh air did me good.  Some nice people go to "our" parkrun - I particularly like that some people stay near the finish line after they've finished and encourage slower finishers.  Darling brave big sister F (who ran despite massive discomfort) then took Garcon out with all his dog cousins down beach for some very well deserved fun.  Left park (if only I'd stayed I could have helped avoid "stake-gate", SOMEONE left stakes OUTSIDE the lockup leading to Fakebook recriminations).  I'd been a cheapskate and parked on road to avoid £2 - part of my cutbacks to pay yesterday's feckin £25 parking fine - I'd worked late in righteous indignation (some colleagues take the piss). Despite feeling awful decided to go the leaving "do" for an hour, drove down towards venue. Would normally park in Park Tawe which is free for 3 hours and walk the 10 mins to Wind St but felt carp and weather atrocious so parked on the road, I DID pay for a ticket but only had £1 change and incorrectly believed an hour would do it, then the meal was served much later than expected so the hour turned into 1 hour 20, Grr! Rather expensive Glamorgan Sausages and mash!.

So, having slipped in mud on slope back to car and got rather wet and muddy derriere, I decided against going to Marks = further money saving!  Indulged in 2 hours of reading Sense and Sensibility before acceding to Y's request to help out with kids at 2 (felt really tired but figured they'd cheer me up a bit).  Went down to girls' house, saw Y's lovely brand new yellow peril (car). Lovely, but led me once again to the question of how she can afford it again, but gave myself a stern warning to remember it's none of my business ... until/unless I'm asked to help (again).  Started off by having a medical by nurse J and Dr I,  then persuaded them to get shoes on and come out.  Girls decided to make their own way to park, and although it was freezing and damp and they;d already been to Jersey park with Mama and 3 dogs, I went along.  I didnt have much energy but we had some fun. THEN darling F came by in her car on her way to deliver tired happy Garcon back, and saw us and joined in the fun, girls thrilled to see her and bestowed big hugs and kisses (EVEN MS J!) .  I had to drag girls out of park as it clouded over and got colder and I needed to pop into market, bribing them with promise of sweets! Miss I thought we'd go to local shop for local sweets and even started walking down towards the shop, but I insisted she get in car to come to town.  Not a happy madam! She DOESN'T LIKE THE SWEET SHOP IN TOWN (she didn't even know where we were going!) I told her she could either go home ie without sweets or come with Ms J and I to a fabulous huge sweetie shop in the market. She got in car very upset & grumpy as hell, insistent the sweet shop in town was MUCH SMALLER than our local shop.  Really out of sorts - at one point when I had a coughing fit she said "You don't even sound very ill"!!! Very out of character, she is normally very kind and considerate to anyone who is unwell or injured.  She was ashamed almost immediately and said sorry in a tiny voice, bless.  She did brighten up when she saw the choice of "penny" sweets in our lovely market.  As they didn't spend half their allotted £1 on sweets we stopped off at a bakery where I told them they could choose their own cake for our afternoon tea (becoming quite a little ritual).  They were both pretty shattered by now and both plumped for the one remaining trifle. Neither was going to give in, but we agreed it was big enough to divide in two.  We had a fun afternoon tea - using their tiny toy tea set with much spillage - followed by a cuddle on the sofa watching, of all things "The Lonely Goatherd" and other clips from the Sound of Music (Miss I is learning "my favourite things" so we originally looked that up), which led us on to yodelling videos (of ever younger aspirational little horrors murdering yodelling songs on America;s got talent which unfortunately Miss I found very impressive).  Dragged them home - Miss I almost too tired to move by this time, dropped them home and rushed off to pick up baby brother C from train station after his 2 day sociable London trip, bless him.

Early night. bushed.

Sunday. Literally mooched around in dressing gown all day feeling miserable, guilty, fed up with myself.  Drizzly day.  Didn't even take Garcon out, poor thing, just happy to be with me all day with short bimbles round the garden.   At least I didn't spend any money, not even on line :-)   Only achievement was finishing Sense and Sensibility.  It had been so long since I read the book.  I've seen various tv and film versions and recently watched the lovely 1995 film directed by Ang Lee, with (admittedly miscast but wonderful) Emma Thompson and the late lamented Alan Rickman. I love that film but I'd completely forgotten how beautifully intricate the book is. Especially the scene between Willoughby and Elinor whilst Marianne lies ill.

Bed by 10 but totally unable to settle, probably linked to doing bugger all all day? Even resorted to YouTube videos of "sounds to soothe you to sleep".  

I've been told to rest and get to GP today by (former nurse) Y who noticed when I dropped girls off Saturday evening how knackered I looked! Y and her mum and dad covering the school run.  It's 10.30 and all I've done so far is let the dog out, bring coffee back to bed and listen to R3.