As I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my world to keep.
For even though MJ is both brother and son,
I want to keep the home I've won.
And though I know it will hurt her so,
I still pray to You that he will go.
...Soon.
A-men.
Alice x
Tuesday, 29 September 2015
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
And Thus, Life Trundles On.
I haven't had anything much of note to write about of late (hence the lack of posts).
Mostly I've been at work.
And when I haven't been at work I've been walking the dog*.
And when I haven't been at work or walking the dog I've been writing**.
And when I haven't been at work or walking the dog or writing I've been doing little odds and ends around the house (vacuuming and such).
And when I haven't been at work or walking the dog or writing or doing little odds and ends around the house I've been watching various things on the computer and sewing together scraps of material to toys.
That's it, really.
As for this week, I've am on holiday (yes, again, and yes, it hasn't quite been a month since my last one. Things weren't able to be very well set out this year, due to maternity leave, sickness and such, and as a consequence there have been long periods with no holiday at all and then a rash of them close together) and am filling my days with fun stuff such as indulging in lie-ins, taking the dog on longer dog walks, and making plans to spend time with friends and family. Thus far I've popped up to Worcester to see Cousin.1 and her partner (Luke. Henceforth known as 'L') for an afternoon - great fun, pizza and a few old films - and enjoyed a grand meal out with Mother, and arrangements have also been made to see Best Friend.1 and Best.Friend.3 - if all goes well, both on the same day, one for lunch, one for an evening of wine, television and (if there's enough wine) song - and to spend a day out somewhere - not sure where yet - with The Grandpapa.
Fun, fun, fun.
And when I'm not doing that, I am lounging around not doing much of anything useful; watching things on the computer and continuing to sew together my toys. I'm working on a little doll at the moment (seeing as Bingo now has three toys to choose from and another ready and waiting); around 6 inches high. The body is finished, all limbs attached, and I am now concentrating on making her clothes, then when I've done that, I'll turn my attention to giving her a face and hair. Unless something goes badly and unfix-ably wrong, she will be the second one I've successfully completed so far, and while the end result is hardly what one would call professional (far from it), I am terribly pleased with it.
In other news:
Term time has begun and work has started to trickle in. As usual, whether it will end up being enough for Mother to keep going (or even if she will want to if she can), remains to be seen. Nothing can be decided certainly until the end of October.
On the home front; MJ is still here for the time being. The council having finally done their job, however, he is now 'in the system' as they call it and able to apply for housing. 3 bids on 3 separate properties are permitted each week, with the system - you can only bid online or by phone - resetting every Monday. MJ put in his first 3 bids as soon as he was allowed to, and is continuing to do so as often as he can. So, while we are still stuck, at least steps are being taken in the right direction.
Meantime, after eight weeks of sharing my double bed with Mother, I reached the point where I wasn't able to cope with doing it anymore, no matter how inconvenient that made things. After reassuring me that I wasn't being a selfish cow and that she understood completely and indeed that I was to be thanked for my patience, understanding an unselfishness so far, Mother looked with my help into the purchasing of a folding bed. Once we had found one that seemed suitable, we ordered it and at last it was delivered, yesterday afternoon. We had to move my bed back into its original position against the far wall and some rearrangement of lamps and cabinets and so on was necessary too, but that didn't take long and then it was lugged upstairs and put in place. At my anxious insistence, Mother tried it out as soon as it was unfolded and she pronounced it not just bearable as she had expected, but comfortable (swearing on the dog that she was telling the truth). And then last night, for the first time in nearly ten weeks, mother and I retired for the night into separate beds, and oh, reader(s); I just can't describe to you the bliss.
And there you have it. That's what has been occurring at the Collison house over the past few weeks.
...Bored yet?
Alice x
* don't be too impressed by that. We're not talking epic hikes, more short strolls. The dog is happy enough and gets as much exercise as he wants or needs with the aid of balls/sticks/water/other dogs, but I myself don't get much of a workout to speak of.
Or indeed, any workout at all.
** again. don't be too impressed. I am what is known as an inefficient or 'scatty' writer. I jot down stuff as it comes to me - I've filled notepad after notepad with it over the years - but half of it , if not more, gets scribbled out as I go and not all of what remains afterwards is actually use-able material.
But, ah well. That's how t'is. I am what I am.
Mostly I've been at work.
And when I haven't been at work I've been walking the dog*.
And when I haven't been at work or walking the dog I've been writing**.
And when I haven't been at work or walking the dog or writing I've been doing little odds and ends around the house (vacuuming and such).
And when I haven't been at work or walking the dog or writing or doing little odds and ends around the house I've been watching various things on the computer and sewing together scraps of material to toys.
That's it, really.
As for this week, I've am on holiday (yes, again, and yes, it hasn't quite been a month since my last one. Things weren't able to be very well set out this year, due to maternity leave, sickness and such, and as a consequence there have been long periods with no holiday at all and then a rash of them close together) and am filling my days with fun stuff such as indulging in lie-ins, taking the dog on longer dog walks, and making plans to spend time with friends and family. Thus far I've popped up to Worcester to see Cousin.1 and her partner (Luke. Henceforth known as 'L') for an afternoon - great fun, pizza and a few old films - and enjoyed a grand meal out with Mother, and arrangements have also been made to see Best Friend.1 and Best.Friend.3 - if all goes well, both on the same day, one for lunch, one for an evening of wine, television and (if there's enough wine) song - and to spend a day out somewhere - not sure where yet - with The Grandpapa.
Fun, fun, fun.
And when I'm not doing that, I am lounging around not doing much of anything useful; watching things on the computer and continuing to sew together my toys. I'm working on a little doll at the moment (seeing as Bingo now has three toys to choose from and another ready and waiting); around 6 inches high. The body is finished, all limbs attached, and I am now concentrating on making her clothes, then when I've done that, I'll turn my attention to giving her a face and hair. Unless something goes badly and unfix-ably wrong, she will be the second one I've successfully completed so far, and while the end result is hardly what one would call professional (far from it), I am terribly pleased with it.
In other news:
Term time has begun and work has started to trickle in. As usual, whether it will end up being enough for Mother to keep going (or even if she will want to if she can), remains to be seen. Nothing can be decided certainly until the end of October.
On the home front; MJ is still here for the time being. The council having finally done their job, however, he is now 'in the system' as they call it and able to apply for housing. 3 bids on 3 separate properties are permitted each week, with the system - you can only bid online or by phone - resetting every Monday. MJ put in his first 3 bids as soon as he was allowed to, and is continuing to do so as often as he can. So, while we are still stuck, at least steps are being taken in the right direction.
Meantime, after eight weeks of sharing my double bed with Mother, I reached the point where I wasn't able to cope with doing it anymore, no matter how inconvenient that made things. After reassuring me that I wasn't being a selfish cow and that she understood completely and indeed that I was to be thanked for my patience, understanding an unselfishness so far, Mother looked with my help into the purchasing of a folding bed. Once we had found one that seemed suitable, we ordered it and at last it was delivered, yesterday afternoon. We had to move my bed back into its original position against the far wall and some rearrangement of lamps and cabinets and so on was necessary too, but that didn't take long and then it was lugged upstairs and put in place. At my anxious insistence, Mother tried it out as soon as it was unfolded and she pronounced it not just bearable as she had expected, but comfortable (swearing on the dog that she was telling the truth). And then last night, for the first time in nearly ten weeks, mother and I retired for the night into separate beds, and oh, reader(s); I just can't describe to you the bliss.
And there you have it. That's what has been occurring at the Collison house over the past few weeks.
...Bored yet?
Alice x
* don't be too impressed by that. We're not talking epic hikes, more short strolls. The dog is happy enough and gets as much exercise as he wants or needs with the aid of balls/sticks/water/other dogs, but I myself don't get much of a workout to speak of.
Or indeed, any workout at all.
** again. don't be too impressed. I am what is known as an inefficient or 'scatty' writer. I jot down stuff as it comes to me - I've filled notepad after notepad with it over the years - but half of it , if not more, gets scribbled out as I go and not all of what remains afterwards is actually use-able material.
But, ah well. That's how t'is. I am what I am.
Friday, 11 September 2015
(Yet Another) Thing I Never Thought I'd Say.
~~~
.START.
Scene is set; Alice is running around half an hour late as she arrives at the house of Best-Friend-1 for an eagerly awaited 'Old Girls Night In'*.
Rushing up the path, she knocks the door.
Best-Friend-1 opens the door...
ALICE: (a little breathless) sorry I'm late! I got carried away stuffing the heck out of Bingo's fish.
BEST-FRIEND-1: (opens eyes wide, stares) ...okay...
.END.
~~~
Alice x
* as opposed to the kind of 'Girls Night In' that young things under the age 30 are popularly rumoured to have. At its base the general idea remains the same - junk food, drink (wine is popular), a compilation of trashy television/films, girls lounging around in pajamas or nightdresses and a lot of vulgar talk and giggling - but there are important differences. There is less alcohol, for a start. And nobody breaks any furniture (or limbs) by dancing on things they shouldn't or accidentally sets anything on fire trying to (drunkenly) cook. And the police aren't summoned to keep the volume levels in check. And, above all; it is understood, thanks to repeated early starts and hectic days due to work/kids/life in general, that no-one present will have the stamina to stay awake much past 11-PM.
Wednesday, 9 September 2015
(Yet Another) Overheard Conversation.
~~~
.START.
Scene is set; Alice is in Iceland (the shop, that is, not the country) making her way up and down the aisles looking for various bits and bobs on behalf of The Grandmama. Nearby is a man walking beside a tiny and frail looking elderly lady. The little old lady is wearing a red jumper and a dark grey skirt. The man is wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. Their progress is slow and the man's stride is deliberately narrow, keeping carefully in-step with the delicate creature clinging to his arm.
As they pass close to Alice, Little Old Lady notices a display set up advertising Walker's crisps.
The following conversation ensues...
LITTLE OLD LADY: (brightly, slowing to a stop) do you want some crisps? Look, there are some crisps over there. Let me buy you some crisps.
MAN: (kindly but firmly) no thanks, mum.
LITTLE LADY: (persuasively) oh, go on, let me buy you some crisps. You like crisps. Let me buy you some crisps.
MAN: (kindly but firmly) I've got crisps coming out of my ears, mum. I haven't got down the last lot you got me yet. I've got loads of crisps. Look, we're here to do your shopping, okay? Why don't you find that list you made and we'll get started.
LITTLE OLD LADY: (plaintively) but I want to buy you something.
MAN: (kindly but firmly) I know you do, mum, and that's nice, but I've already got everything I need at home. I don't need anything. Have you got your list?
LITTLE OLD LADY: (plaintively, finally locating a scrap of cardboard from the depths of her copious handbag and handing it over) but I want to buy you something.
MAN: (kindly but firmly) I know, and that's nice, really, but I don't need anything, so let's get what you need, okay? Right! First thing you've written is orange squash. Okay; I think squash is in the next aisle over. Come on.
LITTLE OLD LADY: (plaintively) but I want to buy you something. Please, let me buy you something.
MAN: (stops walking as little old lady digs her heels in, looks down at her pleading little face and sighs) mum, please, I don't need anything...
LITTLE OLD LADY: .....(lips begin to tremble).....
MAN: (sighs again, rubs forehead, gives way) ...okay mum, okay. You win. If it will make you happy, you go ahead and buy me something.
LITTLE OLD LADY: (brightly, cheering up immediately) do you want some crisps? Look, there are some crisps over there. Let me buy you some crisps.
MAN: (wearily) that would be great, mum, thanks.
Scene ends; with little old lady hobbling happily past Alice a few moments later heading in the direction of the orange squash while her son walks carefully beside her glumly but gamely carrying an utterly ginormous bag containing 36 individual packets of Walkers 'traditional flavours' crisps - special offer: 36 packets for the price of 28 - in his free hand.
.END.
~~~
Aw; sweet.
Lovely little old lady. Lovely man, too. I know from experience that trying to do the right thing by your mother and keeping her happy at the same time is no mean feat, so he has my sympathy and understanding.
I'm guessing that they have a similar (or possibly the very same) conversation every time he takes the old dear shopping.
Bless.
Alice x
P.S. for those of you wondering, yes; I did indeed loiter round, pretending to be engrossed in the masses of choice that Iceland had to offer in the way of rice, so that I could witness how this particular battle of wills played itself out from beginning to end.
...=shrugs= ...
I'm nosy. Sue me.
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