Day 84: Sunday 2nd June

Another day missed - this must not become a habit.

It was missed due to a busy and happy day out to a steam-oriented country park near here. With bikes, a picnic, good company and some rather lovely encouraging words, we rode our bikes alongside the steam railway, waved at trains, had our picnic and then rode back.

Our arrival back was greeted with ice-creams and a rather good play area, allowing grown-ups to gather their thoughts, drink tea from a flask, and discuss everything from the weather to reasons why we would rather take holidays in this country than abroad. The realisation that two people are very similar, when being honest, is quite pleasing.

Back home to some naff BBQ-building, a bag of chips with a thick white sliced and ketchup, tea, and some bed-time shenanigans (again) before gaining control of the TV remote and the sofa. 

Note to self: when faced with a tea that is known to set off a painful reaction in the tummy area, pass it by, and have a crispbread!!!!! Half an hour horizontal with butty-induced abdominal pain isn't attractive to anyone!

Sunday dawned  with beautiful sun and a friendly text message. After an in-depth discussion with C1 and C2 about almost everything, from untidy bedrooms, through treating people with disrespect and rudeness, passing speedily through the realms of 'mummy loves you both very much, but your behaviour is really getting to me' and finally an agreement that laptop time needed to be earned, and the deal of the day was struck.

Breakfast, then all upstairs to muck out bedrooms, vacuum floors, tidy up and congratulate ourselves on our fabulous team work. Bedrooms restored to  normality, Scissor Sisters as a backing track, and all ended up tranquil. For now.

1 hour of laptop time gained me 1 hour of marking time, and after ironing, further use of the washing machine (day of rest? NOT!) and some creative use of 1 teeny frozen pie, half a bag of roast potatoes and some frozen peas, all was still peaceful.  

I have, in my nearly empty freezer, a new addition - a full size Gressingham duck courtesy of Mummy. This will be cooked at some point when I know that it will be enjoyed fully, with all the trimmings. It can sit in the freezer kicking it's webbed little feet, until I am ready. 

Feeling somewhat all over the place today. Am now looking at life from the perspective of being a divorcee, working on moving forward in many aspects of my life, trying to disconnect from negative input from external forces, leaving behind unhappy memories and replacing them with much happier experiences. 

I am up to the challenge of this. Tomorrow, after C1 and C2 have returned to school for the last half term of this academic year, I will be marking furiously, probably moving onto the 3rd red pen of this marking season, assessing the status of the bank balance, and waiting for Parcelforce!