10th May 2010 (Monday)

Apologies for non-post yesterday... well, we'd just spoken to the W&W so I reckoned no-one was going to think we were dead-in-a-ditch. Lazy, but true. After the Boring Saturday, we had a Very Nice Sunday. This despite the first portion of it being spent doing the necessaries of grocery shopping etc - it was nearly noon by the time we sallied forth, picnic at the ready, but much enjoyed nevertheless. Went down to Redhead beach, and LOVELY it was too. The surf was a bit different here, more rolling and suitable to surfing, and boy they were out in droves - not that it made any impact on the miles and miles of shiny-clean-smooth-golden sand, you barely bump into a soul even on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Did take a load of pics - I'll pop them in here as soon as I get on the right computer again. Littles and Mr went swimming, and considering the late date it's not bad. No wetsuits either. They didn't even seem too distressed on exit - though have to say I refrained nonetheless. We ate, we swam, we dug, we wandered, we watched oodles and poodles of dogs frisk and frolic in universal happiness up and down the shore in endless canine energy, we were mightily entertained until the sun was quite low and then headed back for a leisurely evening. All as pleasant as you like.


And then today... gosh, myself I feel quite wrung out (and it has little to do with the mountains of washing I've had to do due to an Accident of deluge proportions .... nothing escaped the torrent of child-urine, and I mean nothing...). Have started looking at writing again after goodness knows how long (I dread to think)... Today's chores were: another entry into a competition (must try and build up some kind of a writing resume, I've almost nothing to put on mine), and honing down my initial 8-page summary of 'Kounmon' to just over 2 pages.... I fear I have to whittle further now, as well as spice it up. Might be working on that for some time. Between those two, and washing and chores, there wasn't much time left over for anything else, must confess.

Littles had a nice-sounding day. Today she was 'Leader' for the day (along with another child). Means: you sit at the front of the queue in the morning, you go and pick up the lunch orders - possibly some other duties but was vague on those. Anyway, seemed to go OK, was much enjoyed, and as usual a far cry from what might have been expected of her just a short while ago. It was 'Pie Day' today (no, seriously.... as in, pies... four and twenty blackbirds type pies...) - some sort of promotion for the canteen, I think. Now, I had ordered and paid for her to have stuff from the canteen this day beforehand, but had entirely forgotten about it and sent her off with the usual lunchbox. Had expected she'd pick up the order somewhere along the line and bring back the lunch, but no, don't know where the order went to and she ate the lunch instead. Oh well, such is life. We might get organised some day. As long as she's happy with it all - I guess she must have had the opportunity at least.

And the Mr - well he came home with a satisfied air and declared he'd just spent his first $17K on the lab for bits of equipment and the booking fees etc for his June conference. Well, cheers to that - hope it's the first of many hundreds of thousands to come. And cheers we did... still doing.

Talking of which... I finally gave up on Ben Okri's 'Starbook' - simply could NOT read more than two paragraphs without falling into a deep sleep as if clubbed suddenly and violently over the head. Honestly, if you've got trouble sleeping, get hold of that book. Insomnia shall bother you no more. It's not just dull, it's anaesthetising. Picked up a Terry Pratchet book as a good alternative and my what a breath of fresh air. Good lord, why, it's.... interesting! Heavens preserve us. I don't know where to put myself. Anyway, I fully intend to venture to its clutches shortly with a large sigh of relief. Hope you've all had a wonderful day, lots of love to you all, V xxx