Overwhelmingly Behind

It is possible that one shouldn’t write blog posts when one is in a foul mood or very, very tired. But quite frankly if I waited for optimum conditions/inspiration/time then this blog would be updated annually.

So here I am, in my pyjamas (which undoubtedly conjured up a nice image for you there) looking bleary eyed at the screen, wondering what exactly I am going to write about.

I’m sure I have some ideas but mining for those in my sleep-hungry brain would take us back to the start and the annual updates.

So you’ll just have to make do with me as I am; hair sticking up on end (the joy of having it short, you frequently look a bit Dennis the Menace-like), wishing I could spend a day at the allotment while studiously avoiding the blogs of those that have, full to the brim with green tea with apples and pears (my new fave) and listening out for the patter of small feet.

We have a lurgy. When I say we I mean the children, well most of them. This is the downside of large families and the reason why I get a bit ratty when I hear mothers talk about how their child coughed all night or had just had some Calpol but really wanted to come to school today. When I hear that I know I shall, like as not, be housebound for about three weeks.

Not that I’m complaining really. I’m thankful that I can rock up to work at my kitchen table in the middle of the night, clutching a cuppa, and manically type away hoping it will all make sense in the morning.

We haven’t really ventured outside, except to go to the doctors, collect medicine, do banking and send off for a passport. During these past eight days I have gone out on my own once, thanks to a lovely friend who babysat. I felt the sun on my face and it was good (although I was hurrying so much I could have just felt a bit hot).

There has been much snuggling on the sofa. Lots of film watching (which I point blank refuse to feel guilty about). I haven’t been able to sneak off to the greenhouse. But there are worse ways to spend your days, lying on the sofa with some of your most favourite people.

And it’s made me feel all nostalgic. It’s felt a bit like life before school and reading books and records and red letters telling you off if your child has too much time off school. In that way, it has felt good.