Time Out

When I am at home, there is just one two and a half hour window a day when
I am totally " animal free" and
I feel like a suddenly " freed" parent who has just dropped the toddlers off at nursery

It is a time I am not followed by the patter of little feet
It is a time I can have a bath without little eyes peeping over the bath tub rim
And it is a time I can bleach the kitchen floor without someone demanding a shit or a wee

From around 8 am and 10.30am
the animals  take themselves off to bed,
It's a daily treat they look forward to
Albert is in the middle of all this

I am typing this at 10.26 at the kitchen table
I have just completed a load of Chris' paperwork
and right on time, the animals are starting to stir upstairs
Creatures of habit





38 comments:

  1. There really is such a thing as animal-free time? Really!?! The dogs have been holding out on me......see if they get salmon this week, the traitors!

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  2. OMB, too funny! you need a nanny!

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  3. The only time I get is when they are at the groomers twice a year.

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  4. Ha ha how funny, my mums are the same, they all go off to bed in the day but snore like fat builders. I wouldn't mind but the loudest is the Chihuahua!

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  5. We all need a break from each other. How nice that the animals have all coordinated their rest time together.

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  6. I get a few hours in the afternoon. Nap time for 13 cats makes for a peaceful few hours to get stuff done.
    Jane x

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  7. Domestic and farm animals are so demanding on your time, John. Especially Dairy farmers milking twice a day. I have never understood people who don't keep pets or farm animals.

    Did you see the vegetable garden at Hampden Court Flower Show last night on the good old Beeb?

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  8. A father's work is never done.

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  9. Anonymous11:23 am

    At least you get 2 and a half hours. Since the hubs retired I get zero free time.

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    Replies
    1. Hearin' ya, sister!
      My husband is enjoying his early retirement.... and my kids haven't even left home yet, sob
      there are days when I am 'on duty' all the time.
      susan x

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  10. Anonymous11:24 am

    I can't form an opinion about your quiet time, so just here to see what others wrote and what they think.

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  11. How funny. For me it's between 5.30am (when I get up), and 7.30am when I take them for their first 'emptying' walk of the day. Bliss.

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  12. Why can't Chris do his own paper round? Lazy bugger!

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  13. My cats sleep all day and then disappear all night and bring me presents in the morning like wildebeests and deer and wolves all dragged in through the cat flap.

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  14. How gorgeous they are! What a hoot.

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  15. That is perhaps the cutest thing ever! I finally figured out how you found me. I just checked Eric's blog last night. lol

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  16. Creatures of habit...

    So are we!

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  17. The only 'animal free' time I get is if I sit at the computer, with just a snoring Pug at my feet and the others in their beds I am fine until I move .... oooh the temptation to have a whole day just sat here is immense!!

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  18. Anonymous5:00 pm

    Winnie looks huge!

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  19. Well, I think that's mighty good of them to coordinate their naps!

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  20. That picture is sheer bliss and I love that they nap together like that. Seriously, kids and pets are so similar with certain behaviors it is scary. hahaha

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  21. They are pretty adorable.

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  22. Is that bed really lumpy or is it being distorted by the weight of a certain large lady?

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  23. Thank god you have 'the children' on a schedule, John!! Makes for a happier daddy!

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  24. Do they have their own bed? Lucky dogs my just have the settees.

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  25. I love that moment when the house is mine all mine ... rare though it is x

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  26. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  27. Aw look at them all. And theres the lovely George!

    You allow them on the bed!

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  28. It is a wonder we did not get a little video of them all snoring!

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  29. It's sweet, they all toddle off one after the other to ..... YOUR bed! Haha I don't know why I'm feigning shock horror they would be welcome on my bed as well. I love that Albert puts himself in the middle.... cats have staff maybe?

    Jo in Auckland, NZ

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  30. The calm before the storm....My quiet "me" time is from 4-5 am til about 7am....then kids grandkids and great granddaughter take turns taking up my day...this is retirement????

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  31. my kitties nap in the midmorning, too. In this latest spate of warmer weather we've been having, phoebe sometimes even sleeps through lunchtime. I get her dish ready and take it upstairs to let her know soup's on. I knew the temps were a bit cooler this afternoon, when she was meowing at me to feed her three minutes before her suppertime. They can tell time, all right!

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  32. Our two dogs and our parrot all settle in for a midmorning nap around 10am....once we've left for work! It's irritating to think of them lazing around while we're out earning everyone's living! :)

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  33. At least the chickens can't get on my bed.......they'd have to have chicken 'Pampers' on if they did!. Apparently you can purchase chicken diapers! Perfect when they want to come in and watch Countryfile or Gardeners' World with their owner..........
    2 eggs this morning!

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  34. John: I only have two cats and one parrot, but I feel exactly the same as you do. It seems like every moment I'm in the house one of the animals needs some attention. I usually walk home for lunch during the work week, but sometimes I just feel like siting as my desk at work so that I don't have to deal with the animals' mid-day demands.

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