Life in Middle Girth

Tuesday, 4.53 am

 

Back to Rachel.

She's still hanging in there, still critical, still in her induced coma. We (girls at work) were almost positive yesterday that this was a good thing but now I am not so sure.

 

There's so much speculation and gossip around town about Rachel...Gary (dad) sounded down yesterday, more so than of late. He came home last night though, don't know if he brought the other kids back for a break, and we thought that was a good sign too, but last night at squash Brent said that the blokes that work with Alan who is Helen's (mum's) brother seemed to think that he may have been coming home to have a family talk with the Grandparents and cousins etc about switching the machine off. That rocked me. Up till now I guess we've clung to the induced coma as a better thing than being on life support because if she died it was because she died but if they had to make the decision about switching it off it doesn't bear thinking about... but I guess she could still be on life support, we just assumed... It's so damned unfair. Saw Sheryl B at squash last night and we just didn't even mention Rachel, and I will admit it was cowardly of me as it would have been so awful for Sheryl, and I don't know how I could have coped with upsetting her - its coming up 2 years since she had to make that decision about Kirsty (her daughter, Pip's best friend, who was the same age as Rach is and was brain dead after an asthma attack at hockey).

I feel like I'm wittering on but I couldn't sleep and my hand goes numb when I've got a lot to unload in my journal. Might just stick a copy of this in even though its cheating.

 

So there we are. I guess we'll know tomorrow what's what, from the most reliable source, our boss - he will have come to do the end of the month cheques and accounts and wages and special jobs that only he knows about etc etc. And it will probably be theraputic for him to be on his own turf doing normal things that he has some control over, even if it is only for a few hours. He keeps worrying about us working our little butts off and being left holding the fort but we don't even think about it, its the most natural thing in the world - and after all its the only way we can do anything to help at this stage. I will try to get in earlier than my usual tomorrow to be in on the info session - I usually don't get there till just before 9 whereas the others arrive about 8.15 for 8.30 opening. Its incredibly isolating to get things second hand, more so sometime than others, and depending on who the passer on of information is. How selfish of me. Sorry.

 

I am in a bit of a quandry with after school care for Duncs now that Michael is busier. I have got one lady for Mondays and Wednesdays, Lily and Drake's mum, and in one sense it's working well - Drake goes to Keas too so on Mondays she takes the kids home then to Keas at 5.30 and I collect Duncan from there at 6.30. On Wednesdays she drops him off at the shop when she takes Lily to Brownies around 5pm. I have some reservations though, seeing her children's behaviour and already Duncan has been mildly in trouble through doing what kids do, fitting in with other kids and behaving as they do ie getting a growling for climbing through the window and Drake putting a stool out so he could get back in. (With a bit of gentle digging I discovered he was only retrieving a ball Drake had thrown out and couldn't go out the normal way (door) because Colleen had told them not to go outside while she was on the phone to her Mom in Canada.) However, that still leaves Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Fridays too while things are upside down at work. Christine-down-the road is wonderful and will have him at a moment's notice but I don't want to ask her to do it full time because it's nice to have her as a backstop and I don't want to "wear her out". Tomorrow, whoops, today I have asked Jan-next-door if I could drop him off there (she enjoys being Granny Jan but I don't want to overdo that either, especially as she is recovering from foot surgery). I might ask Karen-down-the-road-the-other-way if she would have him Thursday and Friday then Greg could collect him on the way past. She has a daughter at the same school and collects her so it might not be a problem. Wish I could think of a more permanent solution. Last year Debra had Duncs T/W/Th and just took him home with her son, but didn't want to do it this year. Fair enough, I know its a bind sometimes, having done it for various ones myself but it was SO convenient! Maybe I'll have to advertise in the school newsletter. That way interested mums could contact me and I wouldn't feel as though I was pressuring anyone as I would if I asked them in person. Shut up Jaybee, you're rambling.

 

Michael.

Now young Michael finished the 7th form last year and expressed an interest in joining the Navy - but not immediately, he wanted a year out in the world first, which we had no objections to. However, he hadn't done anything about finding employment - which we were beginning to object to! I helped him do a CV, and he did take it in to one firm but no really motivated jobhunting. But....over the last week or two he was offered making hay or shifting bales of straw or something - really long hours, hard work and he's enjoyed it immensely. He's an outdoors kid, tall and strong and has enjoyed the company of the others in the gang. Hasn't been paid yet but will enjoy that too no doubt. But wait, there's more....

This is how smaller towns have advantages over cities - I was doing my groceries on Saturday morning (remember I started on Friday...) and was approached by a chap we know who also happens to be the boys' Venturer leader and has known my boys for years. He works for the Council, and said one of the engineers had asked him to think of anyone suitable for a vacancy as the applicants they'd had were er, not suitable (being politically correct here, can you tell?) and he'd thought of Michael. Long story short, Mike had an interview today and left his CV and is waiting to hear in the next couple of days. Brent knows the engineer and thinks highly of him, and vice versa which will help, but Mike had to conduct himself well through the interview then he was taken out to a workshop where he had to identify some things (pipe joiner, hydrant nut, tools) - so fingers crossed. The job would initially be pretty basic for a start, labouring, lawns, assisting  water people, but as he got to know the ropes but would lead to progressively more techy stuff with further training, probably in the water treatment/waste water area. I really hope he gets it.

 

Right, after this great spiel and one cup of tea and a catfight it's now nearly 6 am so I think I will get on with my copy typing and get it out of the way so that if I get busy with anything else that crops up tonight I won't have that to deal with too.

 

CUL8r....

Jaybee

 

Sunday, 10.24 pm

Thinks: Rachel, Andrew and Penny, Michael.

I didn't mean to sit and write but can't drag myself off to bed yet.  Its as impossible to sit and read just one blog as it is to go into the supermarket and come out with just a loaf of bread!

 

Have you noticed how time does funny things sometimes? Of course you have, we all do. Since last Friday morning, the day before yesterday that is, it feels as though weeks have passed.

Fridays are my days off, so after dropping Small at school I went to do my fortnightly grocery shop and for once, didn't have my cellphone on me. Halfway down the second aisle,  hubby appeared looking grim; he'd come to tell me that my boss's daughter had just been involved in a car accident and that it was pretty nasty - she'd been T-boned by a school bus. A co-worker of his had been second on the scene and had phoned in to let the office know, and Brent thought I should know - small towns do have their advantages. I left him with my eftpos card and the shopping trolley and took off for home to change my shirt then zoomed into work....

The police had just been in to notify Mr & Mrs Boss of the accident and whisk them away, and the girls were somewhat in shock. It was good to be all together, we just carried on as best we could with the shakes and tears not far away, but keeping things as normal as possible as far as the customers were concerned - of course, the rest of the world was blissfully unaware of going on, it was like being in two worlds at the same time. Weird.

 

It was nasty, very very nasty. How that child wasn't killed at the scene is nothing short of miraculous. The police got her mum and dad there just before the resuce helicopter arrived, so mum was able to fly with her to hospital while the police sped dad off by car - he said they practically drove along the centre line all the way and may have set a new land speed record from Marton to Palmerston North. At the same time the cops arranged to pick sister up from UCOL in Wanganui and brother from college here and take them over too.

And the damage? What's not damaged would probably be a shorter list. She has bleeding in the brain, a crushed pelvis, internal bleeding, split liver, spleen (since removed), damaged or bruised most of her other organs including kidneys and lungs, will need reconstructive surgery on one ear - she's such a slight little thing, there's really nothing of her. Seventeen, nice kid, attractive, just begun a her dream career with a polytech hairdressing course - everything going her way. Now this. At least today the reports indicate that she will survive, but until now that hasn't been certain. She's still critical, but stable (how those words trip off the tongue but the cliche will never be so anonymously bland again).

 

She has been in an induced coma the whole time, and they flew her down to Wellington yesterday. If its this traumatic for us how are her family managing? You do because you do, it will be later they will collapse. And all we can do is keep the ship sailing along for them, which is just a given, needs no discussion about extra days or rosters ...

Ah, Rach, I wish I was religious so I could pray for you and yours. Do you think that constant thought and sending love counts?

 

Love. Went to a wedding yesterday - one of the husband's (note placement of the apostrophe indicating I am monogamous) cousins. I can honestly say it was one of the nicest weddings I've been to - the bride looked lovely, as did the bridesmaids (so often one or other will look a bit "off" or the dresses won't quite be right or the flowers  don't quite work or......); the minister was an older female Anglican priest - I always thought Anglicans were vicars but she definitely referred to herself as a priest, and she has a husband - and was very entertaining in a genteel English way; page boy endearingly shy except when fishing his DUMMY out of his tiny tuxedo pocket (!),groomsmen normal; the only  jarring note was the pealing of the bells which was a recording. Very loud, but a recording none the less!

Being an inlaw/outlaw has its advantages in that one can get away with a few things - after we all came out of the church and were at the milling around stage, my hubbys extended family decided to go across the road to the pub. I was actually horrified because I thought that was rude, but I could hardly stay on the footpath by myself so along I tagged. Well, we'd just got the first round in when somebody came in and asked that they all went back again for a family photo (yes, I will admit I felt smug). But wait! They wouldn't go!! Now I was mortified so I got bossy and actually manhandled an uncle and aunt who were brother and sister of the groom's deceased father, out of the door and on their way! All families are different, and I was feeling the difference very strongly. Add to this the MIL constantly going on about where was Pip - Pip hadn't actually been invited and naturally enough was hesitant to crash the scene but MIL thought she ought to have come along to see the cousins, then come along to the after dance at the reception (you can't do that) and mother of the groom had actually invited her verbally the day before - what a backhander, especially as Pip has had more to do with them than a lot of the other cousins, even playing in their indoor netball team for the last 2 years. Then MIL started going on about the price of the drinks and we'd better go to the reception where they'd be free. Cringe.

 

Oh, it's too late to go on, I'll carry on tomorrow.

Cheers,
Jaybee

Mood: Blah
Listening to: Silence

Sunday, 11.27pm

 

Hatches, matches and despatches - the bit inside the back page of the daily newspaper. This week we've had one of each (ok, technically the marriage isn't till next week but that's close enough).

 

Friend hatched daughter number two on Monday, after nearly 6 years of trying and various misadventures along the way. Feeling guilty that I haven't been round to see her yet or started cross stitching the bib I plan to do, to accompany the cute weeny pink outfit - "Hello, I'm Amy". 

 

Friday was the day for the despatch, a family friend from my husband's youthful district. He was only 52 - that's not so very far away - and died suddenly and unexpectedly while on holiday. You might say, "What a way to go", dropped dead with a heart attack coming into shore from fishing. Tumbled dead out of his boat into the surf, just like that - great for him but how devastating for his family and friends.

The open air funeral started off at their house, an interesting service being a bi-cultural affair with the deceased being Pakeha and the widow Maori. Although most of the speakers were Pakeha, the overall flavour was definitely Maori. Surprisingly the singing was crap, mostly because whoever had the guitar didn't go up to the microphone, and the crowd was so enormous that the outer fringes couldn't quite hear the inner circle and the timing was all over the place. "How Great Thou Art" as a two-hundred part round doesn't quite work.

Being a cocky (farmer) it was fitting that he made his final journey on the back of the farm ute, followed by his car and beloved boat, then the rest of us. At the cemetery, his new tractor was lined up waiting to perform the fill-in. It was here that the Maori took over with widow collapsing and almost crawling into the grave after her husband, and Kuia wailing - keening - quite tunefully and eerily throughout the committal. We had a scattering of karakia, then the guitar came out again as respects were paid by mourners. Three strong images epitomise that funeral for me: the wailing; the obvious bi-culturalism especially in the daughter's behaviour (one minute on the point of collapse, the next bossing and organising); and the poignantly lonely sight of his sister, not quite fitting in with all the procedings but bereft in her grief all the same, being the last member of the family left - their parents were killed in a car accident 16 years ago and there are no other brothers or sisters. I know what being the last one standing is like. It's horrible.

Following the graveside part we adjourned to the Golf Club for refreshments, but there were just so many people there that we retreated fairly soon after. It was a long day - we left home just before 10 am and returned just before 3.

 

And the Match? Brent's cousin is getting married next Saturday. It will be lovely to catch up with family at a wedding rather than a funeral.

 

We were out at a 40th birthday last night, and various souls overdid the grape and hops - but not this chicky! Perhaps I've finally learned (learnt?) my lesson after the episode at Dave's. I was teetotal except for half a glass of wine for three weeks after that - Shock Horror!! Last night I did consume three quarters of a bottle of Chardonnay over about six or seven hours, spaced out with Bundaberg Lemon, Lime and Bitters. Nice stuff that. Add a yummy supper to that and I was perfectly capable of driving home so didn't need the nightwear packed in case we stayed out at Dave's - his place was just down the road from the party so we left our car there and walked.

 

Brent and Dave, silly buggers, got up at six o'clock (sleep, what's that?) and went fishing, but between the dry horrors, pounding heads and dearth of fish I think it was a pretty gruelling day, relieved only by Dave christening his new rod by catching a sixteen pound snapper - his biggest ever. Mind you, it was just about the only fish...they got a couple of blue cod and a great big barracuta and that's about it. Their worst day ever, but we still had fish for tea. Jo spent a miserable day wishing for death I think; considering her diminutive size her capacity for wine is enormous, but she sure overdid it last night. Di and I averted a domestic on the way home (same old story) but it was sodding hard work. She didn't even make it upstairs to bed, crashed in the one we would have used downstairs had we stayed - and Dave was so instantly asleep that he didn't notice her missing till he was getting up for fishing!

 

Just as I was about to blog tonight, Michael brought his job application to me and asked for help finishing it off. It was the last thing I felt like doing but I feel a bit guilty at not having done it sooner so we got it sorted then and there. Then we tackled his CV - it's really hard when they've just left school and haven't done anything much, and aren't scholarly in spite of having passed UE and NCEA Level 3. Its amazing how creative you can be and still be truthful.

 

Treasure!! Found a packet of chocolate peanuts tonight - I've scoffed the lot. What a piggy. That undid the good that walking down the beach did yesterday afternoon! Well, weightwise anyway. The positive mental aspect of walking down the beach remains. I reckon if shrinks could plant their patients on a bit of sand and make them walk a couple of k's they could do away with half of their drugs; it's very theraputic.

 

Cousin Barbara popped in just after lunch, on her way to visit Aunty Doff. That's another of my guilt trips, not having visited her (AD) since her birthday in August. Inexcusable. Perhaps that could be my mission this week - I could walk there, that would help achieve my 20k a week goal that I achieved in week one by the skin of my teeth, and failed by 10k last week.

 

Bed Fred.

Hey, excitement is rising (for excitement read vanity) - I've nearly had 5000 visitors!! I can scarcely believe it!! Wahoooo!!

 

Cheers,

Jaybee

Mood: Tired
Listening to: Sport babble on TV

Friday, 10 pm

Gidday,

My day off - and as usual, it's been a busy one.

The colour I have changed is the hair - this time the obstinate red has given way to blonde streaks, tho' in truth it looks more like blonde hair with a couple of red highlights. That supermarket red was good value for money, eleven dollars I think it cost, and foiled two hairdressers' attempts at changing it. Changed hairdressers and today's one succeeded where the others failed - even if it did take two hours, and one of those under the heater at that. The family has mixed opinions; Brent thinks its quite good, Michael says it looks grey so why bother, Greg is non committal beyond "Ok I guess" and Duncs got grumpy that I didn't tell him that the mother he had before school would not be the mother who collected him after school. And me? Not too sure, its really quite a white blonde and I keep getting a fright when I catch a glimpse of my reflection in anything. I'm not given to gazing at myself in the mirror so it's always a bit of a surprise when I do!

 

Made pickle this morning - a great big preserving pan full. The house absolutely reeked but fortunately it wasn't windy so I had all doors and windows open.

 

Mike had another driving lesson this morning. His teacher seems to think he's doing ok and should pass his restricted licence. He's booked in for March 23.

 

Small had a "back to school" disco to go to today at the Lutheran Church hall, but when we got there he chickened out. Shame as he'd spent quite a while gelling his hair and getting it just so. I think he was really only going along for the promise of popcorn and cordial, and bugger the dancing, and when he couldn't spot any of his schoolmates his confidence evaporated.

Number two son came home quite animated this afternoon, an unusual occurance. He's happy with his subjects and teachers - wow!! Don't exactly know where English, Classical Studies, Biology, Geography and Physics are going to lead, but if he's enjoying it he'll do well. English is at seventh form level (Y13), the rest sixth form. Not bad seeing as he's only 15.

 

Spent a while mucking about with the cover of my journal tonight as Father Bear was engrossed in footie on TV and I find that boring. Was trying to get the stalks right on some flowers - because they're mounted on shiny card whatever I use tends to peel off. Tonight I ended up embossing them - would have been easier if I had a heat gun instead of a toaster! I hasten to add it's not the breakfast toaster but one bought for a mere twelve dollars from the Warehouse, just for embossing. (Before I got it, all my embossed cards had a faint toast fragrance about them!) Then I fiddled with some glow in the dark stuff, embellishing a glittery star on the cover of a jet black book, and it's got me feeling a bit crafty. We'll see what develops although paperwork should take preference.

 

I smell of petrol - had to hold the funnel for the husband as he poured from one tank to another and spilt heaps over me. He must still love me because he didn't strike a match....

 

Cat brought another bird in today, only half dead. That makes three this week. Grr. The place on my leg where he bit me is still a bit red round the scab on the lower wound, and the flesh around it feels thickened. It's not weepy or sore so I guess I'll live!

 

Rebecca at work is the happy recipient of the lounge suite that arrived last week. She is over the moon and can't believe that I don't want anything for it, and Brent is over the moon that I've got rid of it, and I'm happy that somebody is happy to have it. Great results all round.

 

Yaaaaaaaawn, it's got late early again.

Night,

Jaybee

Mood: A tad grumpy
Listening to: Grrr Nickelodeon

Saturday, 9.10 am

 

I don't usually blog in the morning but remembered some stuff as I woke up - but don't hold your breath, its not steamy erotic dreams or anything exciting!  Could be extremely negative, long and rambly - feel free to skip this chapter.

 

1. Alcohol.

A while back, the husband insinuated that my intake was unreasonably high and I was heading towards "a drinking problem" if not there already. I was having a couple wines most nights starting as I prepared tea after work, and having  more on some social occasions. Admittedly, a couple sometimes turned into a few or even a few too many, but I took umbrage at that; however a little voice inside me was wondering the same thing, and after suffering miserably after a "session" (long story, but the guts of it is that it was out at Dave's after the boys had been fishing, we all got blotto, then Julie and Carla - bless them - came out drove us and our vehicles home, we bonked under the influence {cringe but I do remember thinking hurry up I want to go to sleep and I don't feel well} and apparently I rang D & J in the middle of it just to say for once its us and not you guys {double cringe, and I don't remember doing that} then I sank into the dark depths and Brent drove back to collect the insulin he'd left behind) I decided that enough was enough and I would have some time off the grape.

Well.

That was January 20th, this is February 11. If I was an alcoholic, would I have lasted that long? Had half a glass out at the beach last week but didn't finish it as it tasted unpleasant. Went to a work drinkies at the pub and happily drank tomato juice. I will admit that there were a couple of times that I felt as if I wanted a wine - habit is a strong motivator because it was while doing the veg, and I substituted tomato juice or lemon squash (with ice!) and water and was quite satisfied with both. However, last night I did have a couple - had done the groceries on Thursday and got a bottle in case Jo came round - and apart from the glow after first mouthful, I can honestly say I don't like the effects it had. Tasted fine, but think on this: I ate all my fish'n'chips, then polished off the remains of the rest of the family's chinese takeaways, then ate 6 biscuits, a plum and a banana; my cheeks went instantly red and stayed that way till bedtime; I couldn't concentrate on typing or crafting; couldn't be bothered clearing away the pickle jars or washing the dishes - is this all coincidence? Slept ok, don't have a headache this morning or anything but maybe  I just don't need it. I heard that wine is fattening because of empty calories but don't seem to have lost any weight - that would have been a positive spin off. Maybe its because I drink dry white not sweet stuff.

 

2. Husband.

I'm mildly tetchy with him. Last night there was a bit of family disruption over the big boys being lazy and inactive and not doing anything towards finding jobs etc etc - which I agree with, don't get me wrong there, but what riled me was that no amount of nagging and arguing is going to make any difference, it will make both of them go in the opposite direction. He couldn't (wouldn't?) see that by going on and on and on all he was doing was switching them off and upsetting me. He just wouldn't (couldn't?) SHUT UP. Grr.

He moans about them not doing anything but then this morning buggered off fishing with Alan. Unbeknownst to me he'd had a callout around 6 am which is when they were to have gone, then when he came back from that just before 8 he woke me and Duncs (who was snuggled in with me) to tell us he was going. I mean! Did he have to wake me up??? So I got up and wandered downstairs and said "Did you ask the boys if THEY wanted to go fishing?"

Oh believe it or not he's JUST rung and said the sea is as flat as a board and if I wanted to take the boys down he'd put a line off the shore for us. Make me feel like a whingey wife why don't ya!

 

3. Fat

Lack of exercise too. I hate the way that, good or bad, I don't see any results in my weight for about 3 months. That means the good work I did last year at the gym and walking only started having an effect just before Christmas, and  the Christmas excesses will be arriving on the scales shortly.

I've already had my moan about the absence of wine not equalling a weight loss, and I'm gloomy that I haven't kept up my just-set goal of walkng at least 20 km a week - so far this week I've only done 11.

On the bright side, I'll walk miles on the beach today, and hauling the long-line in is a good workout. Better get going and make some sandwiches - healthy low calorie ones of course!!

Cheers,

Jaybee

Mood: Tired
Listening to: The wind

Sunday, 11.16 pm

 

Should be in my bed (should have been there hours ago - quote from Aunty Em, bless her).

 

Had a very pleasant stay at the beach. Got there Friday 6ish, having collected fish and chips on the way. After tea we walked down to the beach then along it as far as the iconic piano  - which still works in spite of just being plonked atop a sandhill exposed to the elements. Wonderful view from there too. I'd love to know the who and what and how and why of it all!

 

Saturday saw us sunning, chatting, reading and generally blobbing till our third person arrived, then we tuttied off to Wanganui but alas only had about half an hour before the shops shut (except for the Wurry Furry of course) so only did mild damage to the bank accounts. Next stop was the pictures - went to see River Queen. I can see why foreigners rave over our films for the scenery alone. There was a bit much fighting and too many natives for my liking, and my sceptical self wondered how the heroine could be bonked against a mossy tree whilst wearing an ivory satin gown complete with bustle, and come away with nary a mark on it - and hasn't Tem Morrison put on the beef? (Fancy seeing both Temuera Morrison's and Keifer Sutherland's bums in the same movie!!)

Jabies Doner Kebabs taken back to the house for dinner - very filling and tasty, more natter, goss and catch-ups over a couple of bevvies, bed at 1 am.

Came the dawn, well, 8 o'clock really, and I'm happy to report that it wasn't me snoring. We had a leisurely brekkie before getting the 4 wheeler out and taking Sheryl down to the piano in style - couldn't expect her to walk with her arthritis; it's got really bad lately and I was quite shocked at the whats the word deformation? of her hands and feet. We made her paddle though - can't go to the beach and not paddle, it's like going to Taupo without feeding the ducks.

Home by 1pm, just in time to hop into the ute and help shift the daughter into her new flat in Palmerston North. She did a double take on seeing me but was only mildly rude to me. Huge old house, 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 loos. They have about 6 sofas in the lounge and there's still room to spare!!

Once home, stuck the kettle on and it had barely had time to boil before Tania, John and the kids arrived with Mum's old lounge suite and dining table with two chairs. I could have cried at the table, its quite scratched and looked like it had been stored in the woolshed. Wonder if Tony could re-polish it? It's a lovely drop side table with two drawers, brass claw feet, central column - quite elegant. There are only two chairs left and they too are filthy and need the seats re-covering. The lounge suite has seen better days but I don't want to chuck it yet. Mumble grumble from Father Bear who was hoping the car could go in the garage AT LAST!!! Fancy having a new car and not being able to put it away!

 

This next bit is a bit cheesy, you might want to fast forward. When Di and I were walking on the beach on Friday night, there were several simple things that I took great pleasure in. They were patterns on the sand as the water washed out; the thrill of walking on unblemished beach; sun on the water; a scallop shell; some stones; sunrays from the clouds (fingers of God). It was neat.

Started filing paperwork away but got bogged down fairly fast. I will make it though, I will.

 

I have a bit of a problem to solve - the lady who looked after Duncs after school last year cannot do it again this year so I'm stuck. At least Michael can help out at the moment, but I will have to find somebody else fairly quick smart. Christine will help out but I don't want to ask her to do it full time as she has Tracy and Andy's boys. She's a good emergency person though. Debra suggested Lily's mum but Duncs ain't keen. Sigh.  I will try to find somebody on Tuesday at assembly. Debra said she couldn't because she had been sick but I dunno, I've had vibes that she might have been put out; I know I should have got her flowers at Christmas and I feel bad about not doing that, but at least I paid her - ten bucks a day for 3-5.30 isn't unreasonable is it?? Oh dear, I dreaded this happening.

 

Mike still hasn't got off his backside and started his CV, or filled out the application form for PEC. He wouldn't have even collected a form if I hadn't taken him down - absolutely no motivation at all. He could walk into a job at Spiers but won't; Dave has said there's work for him on the farm but Mike won't ring; he isn't interested in going round town looking for work, I don't know what to do with him. If his father doesn't get on his case, he will help me out with some chores but its an uphill battle.

Greg is down at Waitarere with the Lewises so peace reigneth, well, it's better than usual. Pip, although having moved out, is back tonight as she works tomorrow. She has arranged to work every Monday and Wednesday night as it fits in with her lectures, and will stay here those nights and go to T Coll in the morning.

Did you know that it is possible to fall asleep whilst typing? I just did! I think I'd better go to bed.

Sweet dreams,

Jaybee

Mood: Relaxed...so far
Listening to: Dishwasher and kettle

Friday, 10.18 am.