Bernard took Daughters-One and Two to Cambridge for the weekend so that I could work uninterrupted. I have several deadlines all bulding up at once and frankly my grip on sanity was becoming increasingly tenuous.

Taking them away for Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday will only go a short way towards balancing the books regarding "time off" - but it certainly helps. I found myself thinking, though, that this is what our lives have come to. Where "giving someone a break" means giving them the luxury of a few hours uninterrupted ... to WORK.

Being of a certain age, I remember when we were all told that, thanks to the technological revolution, we would soon all be able to work just a few hours a day. (And would have robots doing all our housework as well). It was going to be the "new leisure age".

Ha ha, what a joke that turned out to be. Now most of us work more than ever, and can never be truly "off work". Always contactable by phone or email, with no escape. And if you work from home like us, you never even leave the office. So we will need to get some more balance in our lives, I think.

It was amazing how I felt the stress lifting once they were finally gone (after an emotional departure scene from certain parties that suggested they would be away for two decades not two days). So perhaps I am allergic to them. Though in actual fact, I think I am allergic to:

BAM! Wake up Mummy, I love your bouncy bed, look it's foggy outside, have you finished your breakfast, here's your clothes, ow! ow! ow! please stop brushing my hair! It hurts! ow! ow! ow! Time to get up, yes it's late, no you can make your own breakfast, have you taken your medicine?, take the dog for a walk, just a minute I have to put the washing on, no I haven't seen your black trousers, I only just got in the bath, give me a break, I'll be out soon, I can't go yet I have to send this email,  can you scan this for me, can I have some sellotape please, where are the scissors? we are just going to the supermarket, can you do the vacuuming while we are out? can you get me some of that pasta I like? I need more coffee, why can't I go to McDonalds? no you can't have Mentos, because they are bad for your teeth, what do you want for lunch? Did you do the vaccuuming? Why not? Well, you'll have to do it now, can I have a muffin? No not till after you have had your lunch, yes I am cooking it now. Could you do the vacuuming please!! Waah waah what's that noise? No no no stop it. It's just the vaccuum, you can go to your room if you don't like it, why didn't this room get vacuumed? I did. Then why is there dog hair everywhere still? Sorry! Why are you always so grumpy with me, what is your problem? What? what? what? it't not fair, you hate me don't you, don't you? well don"t you? don't you? don't you? yes you have to come with us, no we won't be gone for long, just a minute I have to pack some water and snacks, make sure you bring a drink for yourself, can we go home now, please, it's cold, I'm tired, it's too hot, I'm bored, she's annoying me, shup, go boil your own head (don't ask), can we go now, I'm bored, I'm cold, can I have some of your water why didn't you bring your own, I told you to bring your own, do you have PE tomorrow, where are your PE shorts, did you leave them at school, have you finished that essay, well you need to do it now, yes I know you need money for the collection tomorrow, what's for dinner? yuck, I'll make myself something else, no you won't, we can't afford you to be cooking separate meals all the time, but I really hate that, I'll eat everything else all week, just this once, please, please, please, can you get me some sellotape please, where are the scissors, uh oh I've pulled the curtains down, sorry, sorry, sorry, have you started that essay yet, no I don't have time to help you with it, oh okay, is that the potatoes burning?, where is your uniform, sorry I just have to make their lunches for tomorrow, Dinner's ready!, eat up, no just sit down please and eat up, OK here you go, here's your juice, no you haven't finished yet, sit down, how's the essay going, what do you mean "you'll start it now?", into the bath, yes, I'm coming, brush your teeth, night night, can you sign this please, did you ring the insurance company, did you email the accountant?, back to bed please, I don't know where the remote is, back to bed please, YOU HAVE TO START THAT ESSAY!, back to bed please, ok time to turn off the computer, well, you should have started it sooner, just five more minutes please, I'm in the middle of something, it's really important, please!!!!, it's been ten minutes, it's going off, I don't care, OK you can have a bath, please don't leave the towels all over the floor,  I'm going to bed now, sorry why are you always so tired, you haven't even given me a hug today, turn your light off NOW!

In their absence, these have gone into the store at Designer Digitals:

 

Comments

[Heather T.]

OMG Lynn... I can barely manage with one of each, I don't know how you do it with two and one... I was exhausted just reading that!!

[britgirl]

okay WHEN did you tape record the conversations at my house????? ;)

biggest hugs Lynn, I think youre amazing for all you do.
If you ever need to get away you can come here. we can go to Waitrose together ;)
m...x

[Heather G]

phew.. that was so well written you made me exhausted reading it!

so glad you got some uninterrupted time to work as your work is such a pleasure to my relax time.

hope you get some time to have a long, hot, relaxing bath without interruption for yourself as well.

[anke]

Oh heavens Lynn, I was breathless reading this! It sounded like my house for real, I never realized it! this is great, you should make that into a page (well, maybe a shorter version) Love this and your new stuff is awesome!!!