Busy, Busy , Busy

The words " prolific blogger" have been used on occasion to describe me by some. I think the term has been applied , purely by my habit of writing something here everyday.
It's an old habit now, and one that is literally part of everyday routine.
It's a case of , morning jobs, breakfast coffee and blog.
To some blogging suggests " too much time on ones hands" ( this has been said more than once I can tell you) but I would beg to differ. Writing a diary, (and blogs are essentially diaries are they not?) has become an essential part of my day. It's downtime, it's coffee time and it takes generally fifteen minutes max to complete (btw I am timing myself today and will put the time spent writing this tosh at the end)
I think I am busy for most of the day.... But last night I was reminded that others are considerably busier than I ........to them, fifteen minutes with a coffee and an empty blog screen would be a blissful adventure!)
Last night I helped Chris isolate priorities and deadlines in his workload.
He called out the jobs. I sat there like Miss Moneypenny and took the notes.
It didn't take that long.....( I was worried because The Great British Bake Off started at 8pm) but like I said it was a reminder of just how hard he works and what pressures he is under.
There was a conference to organise here, and  phD supervision so to complete there. Studies and papers needed writing and meetings needed chasing up...and I haven't even thought about how he was to fit in a foreign trip and presentation as well as work in London and Other parts of Wales and England...
No wonder Winnie's incontinence the other night  almost sent him to a rubber room!

Having said all this , I think we make a good team. He kicks ass in his academic world and I make a mean apple pie. Chalk and Cheese. Ying and Yang. Abbott and Costello......Lady Mary & Carson, Shelley Winters and Twiggy..........
Ok ok you get my drift....
So have I been busy today?
Well........y e s.....I have......I've made Jam and a crumble from bartered raspberries,done the week's shop, cut the lawn, washed windows, walked the dogs twice, cleaned coops, collected eggs, prepared supper, given a sick hen her twice daily antibiotic therapy, chipped the stray dog turd from the kitchen floor ( William's a bastard for a sneaky dump)
I have taken my bike in for a service ( Chris's will be done next Tuesday) and I am just about to prune the buddlea in the front garden before I clean out the log burner and sort out the recycling bins.
I am strong...I am invincible ....I am househusband MAN!
And I am not complaining....that's the deal... I have had time to sit in a sunny front garden to type this with another sneaky coffee.....whist looking back at a 17th Century cottage with honeysuckle and roses around the door ( and the occasional dog pee on the carpets)

It has taken me exactly 22 minutes btw ( and another 3 to fanny arse away taking the photo)

How lucky am I
Meg watching me carefully with her failing eyes
With honeysuckle over the door

71 comments:

  1. Count your blessings and pick your battles.....good advice all the way around....:) Hugs! deb

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    1. Now that quote should have a blog of its own

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  2. I call that a full day! (and it's only 16.22hrs!)xx

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    1. I have the washing up to do and the Archers is on at 7

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  3. I wonder if folk accused Boswell or Pepys of having too much time on their hands....

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  4. Snap, it seems we are living almost the same lives.

    Lovely Hubby's day job is high pressure, lots of time spent in front of a computer at his desk, meetings to attend and run, presentations to national bodies and organising national and international meet ups for good measure. I sit at home and while away the hours, with dogs, cats, chooks, cleaning, housework, growing the food we eat, and squeezing my blogging into one of my many coffee breaks, when my Blog doesn't make sense it's because it's during the first one ;-)

    Teamwork is the name of the game and I'm very lucky that when he's home, as a complete change to his day job, it's wellies on and working on the land.

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  5. I am sure that Chris gets some 'free' time to himself too whether whilst commuting, having a latte or a business lunch. He comes home to a clean house and freshly prepared wholesome food. You are the constant in his frenetic life!

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    1. I am the wind beneath his wings
      ( and before you're sick please note I am sounding ironic)

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    2. Got to the parenthesised line too late. Now I have to clean the mess up :)

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    3. And as for Simone's comment about him coming home to a clean house, I am confused. I thought he came home to a bed saturated in bulldog piss and a slathering of dog slavers and nose snot everywhere. One of us must not have been following the plot with sufficient care.

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    4. That was after a night out!
      It was clean when we left!

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  6. Loving the little pic of Meg and the vine covered cottage.
    If only I could do that crazy routine of yours again, 'twould be heaven!
    P.S. I cannot type that much that fast!

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    1. I have fingers like little whippets

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    2. There are so many possibilities with that whippets comment young man...

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  7. "househusband man" - the superhero for the 21st century!

    your costume is a pair of dirty pants and soiled crocs.

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    1. And a gravy stained walking dead t shirt

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  8. I love Deb's comment. The best advice I ever got when I had my first child was "count your blessings and pick your battles."

    We are all busy in our own way.

    cheers, parsnip

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  9. That's quite the list. I'd better hop to it, myself!

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  10. Routines are so comfortable. Remember your coffee cup on the way back in.

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    1. I forgot it!
      Thanks for reminding me...it's my special cup

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  11. You are both fortunate to have the other - but then, you already know that.

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  12. Anonymous5:03 pm

    Sounds like a wonderful life and if I had to choose between Chris's busy and yours I would take yours any day.

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  13. I like Simone's comment. You should always be proud that you provide such a nice home and atmosphere for you and Chris. It takes time and commitment and the chutzpah (or bravery) to pull it all together. I am a daily blogger, too, and I think I deserve all the time I need to write and yet it takes only 20 minutes.

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  14. You and Chris are a great team. I am retired after 31 years at a university and I would pick your work days over his.

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  15. I do wish I could visit for the blackberry crumble. You do make a perfect team.

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  16. Yes you are lucky,

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  17. Yes, you are indeed lucky John, I am glad you recognise it. I fall into the same category too. I am always busy, out with friends, doing jobs around the house, cooking meals, reading the latest books etc. I wouldn't change a single thing. I like to blog nearly every day and even on days I don't blog I always, always read yours - so please continue. I have said it before, but I will say it again - you have an amazing talent for diary writing - I would love to see your blog over the last few years turned into a book - it deserves it.

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  18. I am envious of your domesticity....and also have a strong desire to think of pairs now.....rhubarb and crumble, egg and chips, fred and ginger, stan and oliver, shoe and sock..........ooh this will be on my mind for ages now....sad eh?

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    1. Bubble & Sqeak; Salt & Vinegar; Monkey & Organ Grinder; The Rough and The Smooth...

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    2. Hummm not sure about the organ grinder bit

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  19. Anonymous5:50 pm

    Unlike Winnie I do have no urge to piss on anyone's parade. Most certainly not yours. Chris's? Yes.

    How did father of son used to say: "I couldn't do it without you." Indeed. Unfortunately, on parting ways (amicably), my efforts did not earn me part of his vast pension. Not that I am of pensionable age. Plenty of time to make up for that not so much lost as having been slightly short sighted ...

    Do I detect wedding nerves, John?

    U

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    1. No nerves Ursula not after so many years....
      As for the pension I get chris' if he karks it

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  20. " I was worried because The Great British Bake Off started at 8pm"

    Ah yes... we all have our worries to cope with in this troubled world :)

    Personally I'd find the possibility that Winnie was busy loadeing up her bladder again to be a bigger worry.

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    1. I just wanted to show, I too could be shallow as the rest of you mortals

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  21. You are a team, John, because each of you contributes what the other cannot. And I am sure that doing what you do and being who you are helps to keep Chris grounded and stops him from drowning in the academia. Vx

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  22. Sounds like our marriage. I gave up part time work to become full time housewife/mother and most days I just don't seem to stop! My husband works very long hours in a stressful job and just doesn't have time to help with the housework etc most days. He comes home knackered but the house is clean(ish), meal on the table, laundry done, bills paid, dogs walked, shopping done, things repaired etc. It works well for us and we make a good team. I admire you for your blogging skills. I've thought about doing my own blog but I don't think I'd have enough to write about every day.

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  23. Yes, you are lucky ... but also a hard worker and an understanding person, great qualities in a partner!

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  24. People who say you can do nothing, can suck lemons. If they read your blog, they would know you are busier than moat people.
    Than 5 such people, I'd say.
    Have a good (uneventful) weekend.

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  25. You get through such an incredible list of domestic tasks every day, I'm surprised you aren't stick thin by now from all the energy consumed. Of course the regular scoffing of scotch eggs might be significant.

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    1. It's funny nick... But I am never ever bored
      Perhaps I am a bit thick?
      Thick people don't get bored do they?

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    2. Hi John, Whenever I read about you and Chris I think 'head and heart'; two parts making a whole. :-)

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  26. I love your life please never stop your blog x

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  27. And we love reading about it everyday. Super blogger!

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  28. Wow I am exhausted just reading all you have accomplished!
    I had better get to & make today's todo list quickly to catch up!!

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  29. Wow , you certainly pack a lot into your day. You make me feel guilty that I do so little, just potter a bit in the garden, wash clothes, vacuum occasionally, prepare boring meals and socialise ( the most important one to me !) As long as what you do makes you happy that's the point!
    PS. How do get through that door ???

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  30. I love your blog, read it first thing every morning . Lately I notice the word fanny used so often in your blog. [isn t that a very rude word in UK english?]. see link....


    http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_good_word/2014/09/fingerprint_words_verbal_tics_that_define_us_and_how_they_spread_to_others.html

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  31. Always enjoy visiting you.

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  32. I'm embarrassed how long it takes me to come up with a post. I could learn a lot from you, including how to make a good pie or quiche!

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    1. You write quality Kim...I write bollocks

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  33. You go girl!! No offense meant here, this is one of my favorite posts this week. I can almost hear Rocky music playing in the background and I love it!!

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    1. " adri...an.......ADRIANNNNNNNNNNN!"

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  34. Sounds very satisfying to me.

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  35. Yes,you are strong, you are invincible. No matter the stress Chris is under, he knows he can come home to a loving mate who makes life bearable and fun. You are his real world. He is a lucky man - and so are you.

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  36. It is often said that if you want something doing; always ask someone who is busy; they'll always find the time. Those of us who do daily blogs are probably the busiest people around. I am up at 5.30am every day to answer all my Emails, post my blog, and sort out all my computerised world stuff. On days when I shop, I am usually on my way back from the supermarket when others are just getting up.

    I may go to bed reasonably early, but I'm usually shattered and have to be up again at 5.30am.

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    1. Well said that man
      Now go and dig up a turnip in Haddocks

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  37. i think my bloggng is my real world, sadly it does have to take second place to my erratic days of boring pedestrian work .

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  38. You are sooo funny, you may have taken 22 mins to write the blog but you must have taken hours to read through and reply to all the comments. Now come clean how long do you have to 'wile away the hours' ?

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  39. Our lives are very similar except that my last two dogs are recently deceased and I don't wash windows.

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  40. I am always amazed at how few words you write, and how many comments you get. It must be the way you tell 'em. I can slog away for hours composing a post, then get a dozen comments. I use all the right words, but maybe they're in the wrong order ;o)

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