Down to Earth

Well, the uplift of our outing didn’t last long for me, although it has cheered John up a bit, which is a bonus. I am still ploughing through household chores which are about as inviting as the slow death. And, is it just me, or is anyone else still trawling through all the Christmas stuff and not yet put it away?

I managed to take the last of the Christmas lights down today (required a stepladder) and the remaining Christmas cards that were still stuck to the brick pillar in the hallway, but I haven’t yet removed the banner which is still gaily adorning the porch – it also requires a stepladder.

The landing and ‘what-was-Andrew’s-sitting-room’ is now full of boxes – all still to be sorted and lifted to the loft….. I just seem to be so slow at this stuff these days.

Not only that, but I am still in the throes of washing/ironing the bedding that was used at Christmas. The main guest bedroom is ready for clean sheets but they haven’t made their way onto the bed yet; ditto the attic room. I did manage to change the sheets in the computer room but am only half-way through changing the bedding on our bed – the clean duvet cover is on the armchair louring at us awaiting its transference to the duvet…. (although it has to be said, the bedding has been changed since Christmas in our room, just in case you might think we’re being a bit grubby……).

However, on the plus side, we did trawl the internet today and look for new saucepans – mine having finally bitten the dust, with handles falling off and water leaking through…….but, I mean, is this as exciting as it’s going to get? New saucepans? Probably. I don’t currently have the energy or the interest in anything much else.

We also had a walk out to Katharine’s wood this afternoon. “Come on,” John said, “Let’s go before the sun disappears altogether.” A lovely walk, even if it was slow going with John needing to stop and admire the view every 20 metres. Although taking your time gives you the opportunity to appreciate nature a bit more, doesn’t it?

But it does seem that we’re back down to earth after the excitement of our little trip out yesterday. Ah, well, fingers crossed that the weather is still good tomorrow and I am tempted out into the garden – that might clear my head and invite a more cheerful mood for longer than five minutes.

84,429 people tested positive with COVID today. 85 deaths and 2,357 people were admitted to hospital.

And, while there is still a furore over the ‘parties’ said to have been held at No. 10, we are asked to ‘move on’. Our attention is drawn to the BBC licence fee and the suggestion that the BBC might be sold off. Susie Dent’s Word of the Day is: ‘sparple’ (14th century): to deflect unwanted attention from one thing by making a big deal of another.

Hope your week ahead is promised. Take care everyone. God bless.