On Monday and Tuesday I found myself, for the first time in 7 years, alone sans kiddlets.
What a bizarre feeling.
Like I’d forgotten to brush my teeth or get dressed.
Like something was missing.
Hamish had already given me a thought from his brain** (I have put it at the end of the post), then he got dressed and went off to school – hop skippety hop skippety.
Kaela asked for me to put her hair in a side pony tail (a la 80’s non?) and change her earrings. Hmmmm. And to let me know that she didn’t need a “grown-up” to see her into the gates. Hmmmm. Daddy better get her ALL GIRLS boarding school application ready me thinks.
And then.
They were gone. Ding Ding. School bell went and I thought “HOLY CRAP”. I’m free!
With a slight spring in the step I took myself off to coffee, and finally to Wollongong Spinners and Weavers. I have been on the waiting list for 3 years (they have limited space so have capped the numbers) and even though my spot came up last year I just paid the fee and said I would see them when Hamish started school.
It was so amazing to finally get there and Wollongong being Wollongong, I knew at least 75% of the ladies there. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, but was quite mind boggled (and perhaps jogged back to “the generation that doesn’t use computers”) at all the lovely skill and knowledge that these ladies have, yet they had not see Silky Wool (are we not allowed to call it Optim?), Glitz, Lisa Souza etc etc. I have a feeling they will be amazed at all the different stuff I bring along each week. I, on the other hand, can’t wait to learn from them. It’s going to work beautifully.
Mind you – I went home and cleaned the house like a crazy person. It’s going to take me a fair while to not feel guilty about 2 days free a week whilst Steve works like a crazy person catching his tail (his new workload is kicking in AND he’s off the cigarettes and on the Nicotine patches). (A little cranky too). (And tired). When he first pitched the idea of a promotion I gave him my support and checked if there was money in the raise for me to get a cleaning lady. Is that wrong? Upper-class snobbery? Lazy? I have 2 days off a week and I want a cleaning lady? That is wrong isn’t it?
Hamish’s Gold**
*Zee Zee is my Mum (Rozzie)- the kids’ Grandma
Santa has a bigger brain than Zee Zee* and all Grandmas
Just wanted to add that I have spoken to Kerry – she is my ultimate spinning guru and I want to whole heartedly apologize if she felt that I was belittling her group of lovely ladies and their computer knowledge.
The two ladies I spoke with hadn’t seen the fiber I mentioned and said they hadn’t been on the computer….that was the cause of my comments, not to say that they were ancient and out of touch. On the contrary. I admire these women – the years of experience is quite mind blowing, and they all welcomed me so nicely and talked to me about Hamish’s first day. It was so lovely.
I am still more than gobsmacked and saddened that I upset Kerry….awful. THAT’S what I hate about computers sometimes. That intonation of thoughts versus voice is hard to establish and text can be taken the wrong way…..
well doni i finally start to read blogs and i dont know if im being patronised orif i should be pissed off. as one of those ancient spinners and weavers who dont use computers -guess id rather spin.Ithink you have given your audience the wrong impression of us .Glitz has been around fof about 6 years to my knowledge and im pretty sure i bought you some back from one of my travels .As to silky wool didnt i bring some back for you last year.Many 0f the ladies in the spinners and weavers are quite techno savi a few of them use the web to keep in contact with relos over seas and afew have done coarses on using the web. Please dont judge them and think they are all like me from my experience whenbuying fibre it is better to touch and feel rather than just look soi like most of my fellow spinners and weavers prefer to do this in person Bendigo sheep show is a good venue for this also other spinners groups exhibitions.Well thats enough pratteling ive already waisted good spinning time back to the real world singed the dinosaur ps im so old idont spell so well
Oh my comment disappeared again. Here goes:
You should bottle Hamish-he’s a philosopher in the making.
I think a little cleaning help makes the people of the house happier and less stressed. It’s not about time OFF, it’s about time FOR. Time for doing the things you’ve always wanted to. It’s time!!
Oh how I longed to go to an All Girls Boarding school like Mallory Towers or The Chalet School…No luck though.
My nans were named after the animals they had: Chickie nan (hens), Lassie nan (Collie) and Tiger nan- a black lab who was not half as inappropriately names as the previous one!!!
It seems it was spinners and weavers day today!!! And stepping out of comfort zones, well done with the Habu, it’s so much easier with something you love isn’t it?
And go for the cleaning lady! My mum’s a cleaning lady, she loves the cash, and the appreciation, I mean who wouldn’t appreciate a cleaning lady!!! Just wish she’d come to my house……
Yey for you getting to the spinning and weaving after 3 years wait
Time is precious – use it the best way you can and you shouldn’t feel guilty for buying some more of it
)
What, a cleaning service wrong?, what are you thinking, girl?, go for it. Otherwise every minute of those two days will go on drudge work. Remember, if you have young’uns at home, your weekends DO NOT actually count as ‘time off’.
I am still not sure WHY I did not do this when the kids were at home, no need now, both retired, helpful and reliable husband – known hereafter as The Floor Manager.
I think you can’t call it optim because that’s a trademark and the CSIRO sold the intellectual property rights to the process to a Chinese/American conglomerate a few years ago.
I love my cleaning lady and would resist with all my might and main any attempt to terminate her services (after 1 cleaning ladyless year I certainly appreciate her!) and I am a SAHM – but looking after 2 of them I still never got to bathrooms and stuff, except at the weekends when Kim was home to keep them away from the chemicals – and he was often working 7 days. Cleaners are wonderful – they give you quality time with the kids and provide you with TIME!! to knit, to play, to cook! And my Gran was Nain – the welsh for Grandma!
Love “different” names for grandmas. Mine was called Dabby. No idea why.
I am envious of (a) your two days at home sans kids and husband and (b) your cleaning lady! Yes it’s (upper) (middle) class, but so what. If you can afford it and it improves all of your lives, plus provides an income for someone else then why not. (I know that argument could probably be used for evil purposes, but I’m choosing to ignore that possibility!)