Saturday, June 7, 2008

"Wide eyed and Legless..

I've gone and done it again.." I knew I shouldn't have had that iced coffee this afternoon, but I was tempted and I couldn't resist. Consequently it's now 3.30am and I'm wide awake! At least I can Blog instead of just lying there wishing I hadn't had the coffee.

Actually, there are other contributory factors. Last evening I was invited by my lovely downstairs neighbour to her barbecue, and as I was having Hon. Grandaughter for the night I took her too. Luckily there were quite a few other children there (Hon. Grandaughter is 9 going on 10 - or should that be 19?) and they all mucked in together, playing games and squirting everyone with water pistols. We visited my pond and my tadpoles several times (amazingly they are still tadpoles, but absolutely huge - I do begin to wonder if they are toadpoles?). Some of us also sat and watched Doctor Who at 7 pm (actually just me and most of the children) and the rest of the time I ate too much and drank too much while chatting non-stop with my neighbours lovely friends. It was great company and food, and gorgeous bubbly, so once again I didn't resist the temptation. It's only now I wish I had. Hon G. and I staggered upstairs at 9.30 pm and ate custard tarts before I tucked her into bed, swiftly followed by tucking myself in too. Now I'm paying the price. My stomach is gurgling away and I can hear the birds starting up outside.

Yesterday Daughter was having another Birthday Party for Grandson, this time at her home near Dorking. She had invited 15 children (most of his nursery school class) plus their parents, so she was making sandwiches and jellies to feed the five thousand when I phoned in the morning. Grandson was very excited because the Boy Friend was going to do face painting for all the little tykes - I bet that kept him busy. I was at their house on Friday, having taken Daughter back home with the buggy etc, and stayed there with Grandson while she went shopping. I made the mistake of looking for some paper for Grandson to do painting on. Oh Boy - I opened every drawer and cupboard in a fruitless search for the paper, and really wished I hadn't. I'm not exaggerating when I say that they were all stuffed to the gills with letters (opened and unopened), pens, make-up, old mobile phones, cables, bits of toys and god-knows-what rubbish. None of them would close properly unless you gave them a good shove. Luckily I didn't have my glasses on so I couldn't see anything in detail - just the general mess. The kitchen was the same when I went looking for something or other - and as for the sofa! Grandson dropped one of his toys and I lifted up a cushion to retrieve it - it was unbelievable under there. At least three months of muck, bits of food (some of them quite large) marbles, dust and more muck. I got the damp cloth and the dustpan and brush and cleaned the whole sofa, simply because I couldn't ignore it. But I did think, "why does she live like this"? I have often said that Daughter is as happy as a Pig in Shit, and it seems to be spot on! I have never seen so much muck, dirt, dust and general disorder. And as for the washing!! I won't go on. I probably shouldn't say anything to her, but knowing me I expect I will. Get ready to duck...

16 comments:

Stinking Billy said...

I was just meandering through your post, all nice and pleasant and relaxing when Whoosh! I got my eye on Dorking. I was there once in the 1970s for 6 weeks and again in the 1980s for two weeks, both courses at a national college there. Lovely part of the country.

Working Mum said...

How I sympathise with your daughter; I daren't look under cushions! Is she, by any chance, a working mum too?

Donna said...

LOLOL....Oh This was SO good!! Brother! Can I identify with the piginshit snit!!LOL...I've cleaned this back room for over 12 hrs now and I've Still got more to do!!LOL...now I'm going in for more coffee..gotta keep my stamina going!!lolol...happy day sweetie!!hughugs

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hello there Billy, well Daughter has only been here for the last five months - and it is nice there, but I'd rather be beside the sea. M :-)

Hi Working Mum - well actually she isn't, not yet. But then again, what Mother isn't working? I have to say that being a mother is the hardest work I've ever done. I do like a tidy ship though. M :-)

Hi Donna, say no more - are we just fussy or what? M :-)

Maggie May said...

That is quite funny! I do sympathize with daughter. I have the same problem with drawers & things! There's always something more appealing to do like blogging! Every now & then I have a blitz and then every one grumbles & says they don't like me like that!

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi there Maggie, I guess it's a failure on my part - I just don't get it. And I don't suppose Daughter is even aware of it... M xx

Expat mum said...

Well, I have to say my house isn't dirty (thanks to the cleaner mostly) but given that the kids have just finished school for the year and brought every piece of work home in a big plastic bag, it looks like we've been burgled. There is stuff everywhere and I am so overwhelmed I am walking around it. You would be appalled! I think I will just drag all the bags out the back and hope they don't need anything for next year!

aims said...

I use to have a hard time keeping up with housework and got to the point where I just couldn't.

Then the mental breakdown. And now - if there is one speck of dirt it drives me batty!

I must clean - therefore I am.

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi Expatmum - d'you know what, I feel really bad having read your comments - for which I thank you. I think I was being smug - not nice. Of course I wouldn't be appalled - I've just forgotten what it was like, and needed to be reminded. Luckily, I hadn't said anything to Daughter, and now I won't! See how easy it is to be "in the Wrong"?? M :-)

Hi aims - well see above, and now I can see exactly where you're coming from too. I must admit my cleaning is sporadic, but then there's only me to clean up after, so it's pretty easy. But I do like the reward from the effort. M xx

Expat mum said...

Oh sorry - that wasnt my intention. If anything you drew my attention to the pigsty over here!

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi again Expatmum - we're going to keep batting this back and forth!! No apology needed - I bet it's a lovely pigsty... M :-)

Mean Mom said...

I do like a fairly clean and tidy house, if possible. It makes me feel better. Unfortunately, no-one else feels the same way. With 4/5 adults coming and going, plus 3cats, nothing stays clean for long! I don't think any of them would mind 'living like pigs in muck'!

Thanks for coming to my party, on Saturday. It was a great occasion!

family affairs said...

I sympathise - I"m sure my parents feel the same way about my house when they come over - sadly, they've never felt the urge to clean it though...looking on the bright side, it hasn't taken her long to settle in to life in Dorking and to make her house feel like home! .Lx

Anonymous said...

If I didn't know I'd say you were my mum in disguise!! My house is quite similar except the kitchen now that it's been renovated and when my mum comes up to stay she spend half her time cleaning. But she says a similar thing about me being happy. What's mess when you're heart is content?

CJ xx

tea and cake said...

Hi there, I'm de-lurking here! I just had to write in response to your post, it did make me laugh, well done, you! I have always struggled with the housework, there's always so much else interesting to do; and my brother says it makes me look interesting. But, when I go to My daughter's house, I clean up for her! Mind, she's a much better housewife that I've ever been, but now she's a working mum ...
I came here via dusty spider, btw, who keeps a lovely, clean and welcoming home. love, Karen xx

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi Mean Mom, I do sympathise. I remember when I had all that going on - I used to let them muck up the Garage and feed them in the garden!! I was a mean Mum.. M :-)

Hi Lulu, just let me at that
cleaning. Funny, but I enjoy it in someone else's house. And you're right, she is well settled and happy. M xx

Hi Crystal, lovely of you to visit and I do agree that happiness is the very best thing. M xx

Hi there Tea and Cake, welcome and thank you for your visit and comment. I'm glad it made you laugh - it makes me laugh really!! I really like cleaning for her, but it's not a criticism - not sure she gets that though.
I'm pleased we have Dusty in common, she's always worth visiting. M xx