running on fumes

Just one more week, then I shall pack away my laptop and all other work related items cluttering my desk and go on holiday. We'll be camping in Dumfriesshire, where there are no midges and the sun always shines. I have a pile of books to read and some socks to knit. I'll be watching the swallows dart around the sky and I'll be doing very little else. We'll be gone for 10 days. 

I might have a couple of meltdowns and tantrums before we leave but it is what it is. The school holidays sneaked up on us and the thought of keeping two active boys busy for seven weeks is not appealing. I tried to book them in a holiday camp but all the outdoorsy ones that they enjoy are fully booked until August. I could kick myself for not doing this earlier, I am usually all organised for this by May. They are on the waiting list for a day here and there. 

Because work is so busy, I try to cram everything else into my weekends. On Friday night, and on a whim, I went to the pub with the husbands of two friends, a book group friend and her partner. It was a dry evening and not too cold so ok for sitting in the beer garden. Beer garden doesn't quite describe it, the pub is right on the main road, with a few ramshackle gazebos forlornly flapping in the wind but after 18 months of pandemic life, expectations are low and we had a good time. 

I get up as early as I wake up because I don't want to waste precious free hours sleeping. On Saturday, both bathrooms were cleaned by 9 am, when the boys returned from they scout overnighter. They had to sleep in individual tents to comply with regulations and I wasn't sure if Alistair was quite ready for that but he was fine. Both boys smuggled their phones in their packs and of course Alistair lost his. It is probably still in the side pocket of his tent....the group checked the pitch site and the scout hall for any items left behind. It will be safe in the tent until the next scout evening. After hearing all about the exciting night away, I walked Jack and then went to get my hair cut. I had it cut no long ago but it felt so middle-aged and mumsy, I couldn't bear it. Now it is short and a bit edgy and I like it very much. I was going to get it coloured (magenta maybe) but of course one needs a skin test these days to ascertain that the hair dye is not causing a reaction and this needs to be done 48 hours ahead of the appointment. I had the test now so can go green or purple or brown anytime from Tuesday. 

I spent Saturday evening sewing a t-shirt. I had pre-cut fabric for a stripy t-shirt and a linen dress, all good to go. I like to hit the ground running and when I have time, I cut fabric out and place it in a bag with the pattern instructions and notions. I learned this from my friend Jo over at Three Stories High. 

On Sunday morning I woke at 8 and was out on my run by 9 am. When I got back at 10, the house was still quiet. When I say running, I mean my walk and run routine. On my way back along the river Kelvin I collected elderflower for a batch of cordial. Any excuse to take a break to slow down the racing heart. The flowers are steeping in water now and I'll make the cordial tomorrow evening, after my evening classes. I spent the afternoon sewing my linen dress while listening to a book, both enjoyable. I was listening to This Fragile World by Susannah Wise. It is set in England in the near future, an end of the world scenario of sorts. The final part of the book is a bit weird, even for a dystopian near future novel but it was entertaining enough. I ignored the living room cleaning chore, which is usually on my Sunday to do list but I did clean up my sewing studio and converted it back to office space, in readiness for the worst week of work all year. 

I feel a bit weak thinking of the next five days but it is just five days. l three evening teaching sessions, which is exhausting. I hope I can carve out an hour to play with my brand new work laptop, which is as fancy as they get. It is a Microsoft Surface, touch screen and all. The screen detaches, turning it into a tablet, useful for online teaching when I want to scribble on the whiteboard. I don't really like Windows based computers but my old working horse, a wee MacBook Air is not compatible with an application I use for converting boring old lectures into something fun and interactive. 

All the laundry, which is always a bonus. Annie cooked a delicious chicken curry for our dinner and now I am trying not to fall asleep on the armchair. Jack is asleep on my lap and my laptop is balanced on top of him. On the whole, life is good. 

Thanks for visiting. Have a good week xx