Liz Going On

Nights went fine. I didn’t go to theatre all week, which is an absolute miracle. So I’ve been able to get some stuff done, and avoid some other stuff.

Monday I tidied and sorted and went to the hairdresser.

Tuesday I saw Kate and drank tea. And measured my landing and stairs in every conceivable direction.

Wednesday I bought a carpet (with the help of Andrew’s mum. This was scary. No, Andrew’s mum isn’t scary (thankfully) but shopping for large household purchaces with boyfriend’s mother is inherintley scary concept) and then I sang. Singing is amazing. I love it so much.  We’re singing stuff in Finnish (or is it Sweedish? I’m not really sure) which isn’t the easiest language, and the difficulty is compounded as they hide the words, but the music is beautiful.

Thursday I finally saw Andrew. Desipte sleeping and living in his house I’ve not seen him. But I only saw him for half an hour and we had to compare diaries and boring stuff like that.

And today is Friday. I’ve slept and sorted out more things.  I’ve had a house update, which isn’t quite as advanced as I hoped, but is good. The paint in the spare room won’t be dry until tomorrow evening. And I was hoping to move stuff back this afternoon, as Alice is on nights this weekend so I’ve got to be quiet during the day (and she’ll need to sleep in my bed tomorrow as hers is still in pieces). I believe the kitchen is finished too, I may have a little trip back home later to peruse the painting, and bring more stuff here to my temporary home. 

Mum phoned me on Saturday morning.  I spoke to her on Friday night and said I’d be going out and would be busy. But she wanted to phone me, to let me know she was remembering the day.  It took me back a little as I’d completely forgotten what day it was and this upset me a little. I kind of remember writing a blog post a year or two ago (it was last year, I’ve just found it and re-read it) about my Dad’s death and how it affected me, and it kinda seemed wrong that I had forgotten, but then again it is 16 years.

The diet is going really well. I’ve lost over 4.5 stones and bought a pair of size 16 jeans on Saturday. This is excellent news on two counts. Firstly I’ve not worn a size 16 since I was about 15 years old. Secondly they were only three pounds. Three pounds!!!  They’re not the world’s nicest jeans, but are a bargain. I’ve made a rule that I’m not allowed to buy any clothes that aren’t in the sale until I get to a size that I’m happy with.  I’ve been lucky so far and I’ve been given some clothes from friends so have manged to stick to the rule.  But I was worried that I’d have to break it to prevent public nakedness, but I was lucky!

This weekend I saw and did lots of cool things: science, Charlotte winning an award, lots of strange fashion in town, a man jump over another tall man, comedy, Leeds, Andrew’s parents, Oaken Clough and a real life Oaken, Daisy Nook, autumn leaves, The Breakfast Club. I love weekends.

I’m working nights this week. I hate nights and am a bit frustrated with a few things at work that makes me impatient and grumpy! And the decorator is working magic in my house so I’ll be sleeping at Andrews (while the magic happens! Hurrah!) but I have spent an extraordinary amount of time moving furniture. I am very good at moving big heavy things all by myself now. 

I lie in bed at night and think of blog posts to write. In my head they are witty and really interesting. But when I come to sit down at the computer to write the post it all falls apart, and I end up writing rushed boring posts with no point.

Oh, well. I like blogging and I think there are some people out there reading it, if they’re still awake.

I got some bargain DVDs from tesco yesterday. The Breakfast club, The complete Faulty Towers and Little Britian all for twenty quid. Hurrah! I’m currently watching Little Britian and I’m giggling lots. I’m not sure who my favourite character is, probably Daffyd, the only gay in the village.

Hmmm. I’ve run out of things to say. Guess its time to go. 

I had an amazing weekend.

We went to Shrewsbury to see Mum.  I’d not been home for ages and I was invited to play and sing in a concert at my school to celebrate its 600 anniversary so Andrew and I headed to Shropshire for the weekend.  Friday night we caught up with Mum and had an early night, as there was a lot to do on Saturday.  Mum wanted the Leilandi trees cutting and Andrew and I were voted for the job (with the help of an electric hedge cutter).  I was going to be the support artist, while Andrew did the cutting, but I ended up being chief ladder climber and hedge cutter. It was tiring but fun and looked really good when it was done.  But my arms were starting to ache.

After lunch I headed to Oswestry for the rehearsal.  I sang (in the school choir, sightreading!) and then I played my viola in the orchestra, also sight reading. I’d not played my viola for about 4 years and my arms were already achey from the heavy electirc hedge cutters, so the end of the concer they were really really sore. But it was fun to play and sing, even though the concert was very very long and I was very very very tired at the end of it.

I also had chance to see some school friends, I’d not seen them for ages either. And on sunday I visited Fee, Sue and Henry.

I love Shropshire. Its so pretty. We also went for a walk in Attingham park and popped into town. I also love autumn. 

I seem to be doing a lot at the moment. But I am happy, so this is good.

The decorating process has started and appears to be going very well. I have tiles in my kitchen and it looks ace! Can’t wait for the whole house to be finished. On sunday I pulled up carpet and it was a lot of fun, althought I’m now getting splinters in my feet which aren’t so clever.

Last weekend we had a trip to Ulverston to see Paula and Patrick. It was ace. Nice place, great friends, lovely boyfriend, fresh air. I find it a little amusing that I went to the lake district and didn’t see a lake, but I did see a lot of hills and the sea and Thomas the Tank engine.

Time to go to choir. 

I’m still working night. It seems to be going on forever.  Thankfully tonight is the last.

I’m packing.  I have a big pile of stuff to take to Andrew’s so the decorator can get round my to decorate.  One car load has already been taken and I’ve got another car load at least already lined up. The decorator is here for three weeks, so I guess I’ll be without stuff for over a month, maybe longer if my house goes on the market.  This is leading me to think, do I really need this stuff at all?  I’m not sure where this overwhelming urge to declutter I’ve had for the past few months has come from.  Perhaps its because I’ve been here for a few years and I’m used to moving more often and hense have acquired more stuff as I’ve not needed to throw it out.  Who knows.

I’ve got a string quartet in my wardrobe. There’s sufficent space as I keep throwing out clothes that don’t fit, which is a very good thing. Although my choice of clothes is now rather limited, so I hope I don’t have any surprise events to attend. I lie a little, there is only half a string quartet in my wardrobe, consiting of Alice’s ‘cello and my viola. But I’m fairly sure I could locate the rest (ie two violins) if I wanted to. But I’m not that crazy.

I am rather crazy but that’s cos I’m working nights and have been up since 3am. I had a smidging of sleep before that but certainly not enough.  I need to buy tiles this week. I am finding this disproportionally scary.

Time for beauty sleep.  zzzzzzzzzz 

Did you know that Yorkie Bars are made in York? (and they’re not for girls?). I didn’t until I saw the Yorkie factory when I was there at the weekend.  It was Miranda’s hen do and much fun was had.  We rented a cottage (everything was organised by her lovely sister) and partied and played and dressed up like the 70s.

Friday night we had a choir concert somewhere in Salford. It was a memorial service for Eric Chadwick, who I’d never heard of before but was a local orgainst and choral master of high respect who died last year. From the address he sounded a jolly nice and interesting chap. The choir performed some Bach (a fugue that the choir had performed last year when I was on leave) and the Hallelujah chorus, both pieces are an excellent sing. I love choir and want to sing all the time!

Today I’ve seen my mortgage man and a plan for the future is forming. I’ve reached a loss of 4 stone in the diet game (hurrah!) and am preparing for my decorator to come ‘do’ the house next week. Everything is being put in boxes, well not quite everything, but lots of things!