Monday miscellany

How was your weekend? I know for some of you it is a Bank Holiday Monday but we are not so lucky here in Scotland. I have been quietly sweating in my little office. We did have an absolutely amazing summer weekend though, which we celebrated with a Sunday afternoon BBQ with friends. What a scorcher, I have been wearing my shorts all weekend, after thinking autumn was just around the corner and dusting the fireplace.

I am rather tired today after a busy weekend following a busy busy week. I am not complaining, it was a good kind of busy. Well, mostly. There was the usual pile of laundry and a few chores, a flat tyre and a few arguments with assorted children but on the whole, it was a good weekend.

James has taken over Sam's bedroom now that Sam has moved the last of his stuff. Having said that, I keep finding oddments of socks and whatnot. I washed the curtains and scrubbed the window and floors. Richard painted the walls and is currently addressing defunct plumbing in the big airing cupboard in the room. It was basically inaccessible for the last 10 years, when it was filled with all sorts of collected memorabilia that Sam couldn't bear to throw out. He actually moved several years worth of magazine subscription to his new digs... he is a hoarder, that is a fact. The room is not quite finished yet but James is happy with what is already in place (bed, rug and desk). We'll sort his wardrobe out next week, and a bedside table and lamp and of course some posters. He rather likes the Tintin posters in what was previously a shared bedroom but is now Alistair's bedroom. He would like one or two of those. James slept well and even made the bed in the morning. Long may it last.

Alistair on the other hand didn't sleep well on his own. He ended up in our bed at some point, claiming bad dreams about spiders for the need to squeeze in between Richard and I. I moved to his bed a short while later so that we all could get some sleep.

Sam visited for a BBQ. It was lovely to see him. He looked well and happy and I am pleased that he enjoys living in his own place, which he is sharing with two friends. He is the only one of the three young men that can cook. He found a slow cooker in one of the cupboards in the flat and made a stew. He is also the proud owner of a George Foreman grill. Best thing ever apparently. He doesn't quite get the principle of this grill... drizzles the fat that collects in a cleanable container back over the food. Good for flavour I am informed. The grill is also great to heat up pizzas, folded over calzone style. Not so suitable for eggs sunny side up though... When I miss Sam, I'll go and open the microwave, finding it still clean is a good reminder of the chaos he could create.

I went for another run on Sunday quite early in the morning before it got too hot. It was enjoyable and quiet out on the roads and down be the river. When I got back, I found a tableau of pure domestic bliss. Richard was mowing the lawn, James was ironing his school shirts, Annie and Alistair were folding the laundry in companionable silence. It lasted for about 10 minutes before usual business resumed but I burned this image to the back of my retinas for future mindful moments. Talking of mindfulness, I listened to a report on the Woman's Hour where a group of women discussed that the business of mindfulness and having to carve out time and money to engage with it adds more stress and pressure on already busy lives... We do live in a weird world!

Woman's Hour reminds me of a parental failing actually. My daughter thinks I am too much of feminist and gender inequality is a thing of the past in this country of hours. Oh to have the convictions of a 15 year old. We'll have that conversation again later in her life, I am sure of that.

Work is beginning to feel unnameable again. Term is around the corner and so much needs to be done. I recorded three lectures on Friday and I am working my through the audio to edit any undesired sounds away. I recognise the sound of my sharp intake of breath just by looking at the visual audio output. I am thoroughly sick of hearing my own voice. So are my children apparently and no doubt my neighbours, too. Of course that sort of shouting is not the learned and well-modulated voice I adopt for teaching. I have played with the different narration vocal presets in my sound recording to lighten the mood. It is a bit like taking silly selfies really. I am tempted to release one of my lectures sounding like a Smurf.

I am currently stitching the last of 68 ice cream soda blocks. I still have 8 half blocks to make. On the photo above, a few are still missing on my "design wall". I am looking forward to moving the blocks around until they are all in a position where I am happy with. Blue-tack is such a marvellous invention. I am going to connect the blocks using white fabric. I did briefly consider black or dark grey but I think white is more cheerful.

There has been a lot of den building in the living room. I have given up tidying it up every night, we do it once a week now and only to collect debris and toys really.

The garden keeps on giving.

We are settling into the new school year routine. James has embraced Secondary School and is loving it. All except the homework of course. He is so much more independent already. There is no after school club for him now and he loves having a key to the house. His big sister is of course following the same schedule and he has yet to be on his own. Annie has finally settled for her Highers subjects and will hopefully be less stressed and therefore less grumpy. For Alistair, I dare to hope that he will actually enjoy learning this year... it is his last year of primary school, unbelievable. Jack is once more spending more time on his own, guarding house and garden and making sure there are no fox intruders.

That's all for today. Thanks for visiting. Christina xx