A Monster in the Room

We went to the sales yesterday. Were we crazy? The city was packed with people jostling for bargains. We bought a television!! For the past seven years we have happily watched a bulky, old fashioned box - in no way could it be described as chic, slim and flat-screened. But we haven't noticed or cared that there has been a revolution in the kind of televisions most people watch. A revolution - that's the right word I think.

But now - after one discussion - we have a huge, flat-screened monster which looms scarily in the corner of our room. I ask again. Were we crazy?

And we bought saucepans. I'm very pleased with them - very, very pleased with them. Do I sound 40? I fear I do.

And don't ask about the sinusitis.

Post-Christmas Blues

It's the day after Boxing Day and I'm feeling a bit Christmassed out. The kids had a lovely time, which is after all the most important thing after all that rushing around, and I spent my days and nights coughing. I think I've averaged four hours' sleep a night for the past couple of weeks.

The sinus thing decided not to let up and as a result I'm feeling a bit fed up on that front. To say the least. What I wanted for Christmas is six months of good health without being constantly reminded through coughs, colds, shingles, sinusitis, tonsilitis and flu of what has happened to me in the past couple of years. I was at the docs on Christmas Eve and she said that the only comfort she could offer was that the rubbishness (is that a word??) of my immune system shows that the chemotherapy and radiotherapy had been as effective as possible - so effective that it wiped all good things out too and I'm constantly ill. Maybe I'll get that Christmas present just a bit late and be fighting fit through January. I hope it'll be a happy new year in that respect.

We're still at my mum's but heading home later - lots or re-packing here and then unpacking at home. And then another Christmas family gathering on Tuesday to catch up with my brother, sister-in-law and nephews who have spent Christmas with the other side of their family. And then New Year's Eve.

But, I did get some lovely presents and ate some lovely food (too much I fear). And our lovely woodburner waits for us at home. And some (relative) peace and quiet.

End of Advent - the Woodburner Arrives

What a lovely squat, black and very hot woodburner is cooking in our kitchen now. The perfumed smell of the wood fills our house. I can't be long writing this because I have to go and re-re-readjust the draught regulator (technical term? I think not) to get the optimum flame on my wood. I think I may spend many hours burning wood and watching the flames. It's all too exciting - a new loft bedroom and a new woodburner. And it's Christmas.

Squabbles, Bugs and Woodburners

So, the school holidays are here. The children are so excited that I think they'll combust before Christmas gets here. And they're fighting all day long, at least they did today. They don't seem to believe that Santa (or Mummy and Daddy), 'knows when you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake!'.... However much I remind them.

I think my posting may be a little patchy over the coming holiday time - it's going to be hard to find time to think over the next couple of weeks, or to sit down to write without constant demands. I'm determined to keep going with some writing though, so we'll see.

Anyhow - I'm still feeling not at all well and am getting well and truly fed up with it. And the baby has broncholitis which can be a little scary in the middle of the night - last night she was so short of breath we almost took her to A and E. And I think Ed is revving up for one of his regular ear infections. Well, I suppose there's time for us all to recover before Christmas Eve if we get a move on.

And on a more cheerful note - we're getting our new woodburning stove tomorrow. Just at the right time to snuggle around it as the snow falls outside. Lovely.

Curry

Have you ever made a very hot curry with very, very hot chillies and then put your fingers in your eyes?

I was trying to blast away my sinusitis which makes me feel as if someone is squeezing my neck until my eyes feel as if they might pop out. But all I've achieved is that now my eyes are burning as well.

Apart from that I'm fine.

Really. And I couldn't taste the bloody curry anyway. Apparently it was hot, garlicky and gingery. I wouldn't know.

Teaching Again

Yesterday, I did some tuition for my neighbour's daughter who is studying A-Level English. In my previous, pre-illness incarnation, I was an English teacher. I was working in a high school, heavily pregnant with the baby, the others two kids at nursery when I was diagnosed.

Although we're skint, I haven't really been in a rush to go back to work. I want to spend time with Hattie as I missed out on so much at the beginning. And really, I'm pretty sure that although I've taught on and off for the last seventeen years I don't want to resurrect my teaching career. I'm considering re-training in social work when Hattie is three.

But, last night I really, really enjoyed talking about Philip Larkin. It was good to feel useful and productive in a wider context rather than just on the domestic front, and good to use my brain in a different way again. It reminded me that teaching literature to A-Level students was always the best part of the job for me - mostly because it makes me read and re-read all the greatest stuff, and because it's the best fun discussing it and encouraging students to love it too. After all, since childhood reading has always been my fiercest passion.

Maybe there's life in this old teacher yet!

Grotty

Oh - am feeling rubbish. This sinus thing just sets in and stays. I haven't got time for feeling ill - I feel as if I have every moment between now and Christmas mapped out with jobs to do. I need to build in some MORE rest and recuperation between now and Christmas Day or I'll implode. More(??!!) after your weekend away? I hear you ask!

By the way have just found a good website called pinkstinks.co.uk. It kind of reflects some of my thoughts regarding trying to bring up my daughters in a less 'pink' and more empowering way. Check it out if this interests you - it's quite an eye-opener.

Sorry that I'm being so lacklustre today. I'll be back to my sparkling self (ha, ha) when, um, I'm back to my sparkling self I guess.