Yes it is a Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK so all workers will have a day off on Monday and I remember so well how much I used to look forward to this break when I was working. I also used to have a list of chores that had to be done at that time, usually decorating of some sort as travelling anywhere during a public holiday is a nightmare so I always used to stay at home and have a domestic weekend.
So today I was up and off on my list of Things I Must do Today. Did my shopping, did some housework (yes I know.....), had a mass sort out of books and now have several bagfuls waiting delivery to the NSPCC Book Sale which collects throughout the year, another bagful to take to Oxford with me in a week or two when I am meeting up with fellow bloggers, tidied all my book shelves, washed them down etc. I then turned my attention to my bay window and painted its ceiling as the heater makes it very grubby at the end of a long winter. I then touched up some paintwork that needed doing and washed some that was looking a bit sad. I was in full work mode when I suddenly stopped and asked myself what was I doing? Why was I rushing around? I don't work any more, I can schedule all of these things at any time I like and here I was ricocheting of the walls like a demented peahen. Old habits die hard I suppose and for over thirty years I have had to fit this sort of activity into weekends and holidays and, just as I still wake up at 6 am every morning, it is hard to break the habits of a lifetime.
Once I realised what I was doing I cleared up, made a cup of tea, sat down and had a leisurely couple of hours reading the newspaper, doing a crossword and generally relaxing. Mark you, if I had not had this sense of urgency I daresay none of these chores would have got done, that is the problem. I don't have a deadline or a time line any more and the danger is that I will let things slide. My bedroom has not been painted for several years and I keep putting it off as the ceiling needs doing as well, but it has to be faced and in order to get this done I will have to schedule it and put it in my diary and just get on with it. At least I don't have to do it in one day and can take my time and as the last time I did the paintwork in the bedroom, I decided to move the furniture around and nearly gave myself a hernia in so doing, I must remind myself to go slowly. I am dithering as always as to the colour of paint I will choose, I did flirt with the idea of a rose colour last year, but have now gone off this and am now leaning towards an all white room, which is what I already have, with colours picked out in accessories etc. I do tit around before actually getting on with something.
So an eventful day - not. Only excitement came this afternoon when I was making soup (oh yes I did that as well) and the most awful caterwauling noise came from outside my window and looking at the car park there were two cats eyeballing each other, fur standing on end and making the most ghastly noise. Lobbed a bit of celery in their direction and was astounded when it bounced off the nose of one of them and they both let out an eldritch shriek and skedaddled. It was a shot I could not have done if I had tried.
Which brings me neatly to tonight's big sporting event, the European Cup Final with Barcelona and Manchester United battling it out. My money was on Barcelona, mainly because I loathe Manchester United, Wayne Rooney and Sir Alec Ferguson and wanted them to lose. And yes I know that is not logical or sporting but a team that houses such a Neanderthal as the aforementioned Wayne, and the Family Man, Ryan Giggs who has just tried to sue everybody on Twitter for naming him as the footballer who had an affair and who slapped an injunction on her and the Press to keep his identity hidden, is hardly a body of men who inspire confidence and respect. Mark you, I have supported Chelsea for years and they are hardly an upstanding lot either. If anybody wanted to demolish my argument for not supporting Man U tonight all they would have to do is say 'John Terry' and that would be the end of it.
I decided to watch Wallander instead - the Swedish version which is sooo much better than our Ken's portrayal and, as always, quite quite brilliant. Just nipped over every now and then to see the match and it was clear to me, as always, that it is quite futile for England to think they can win Europe 2012 or the World Cup EVER when you watch the speed and fluency with which Barcelona nipped round the field. Put the England team up against any team in Europe and we are shown up as the clodhoppers we are.
Sad but true.
And on that note I will say goodnight and finish up this totally riveting and staggeringly interesting post.....
Have a good weekend everyone.
