My Everchanging Plot of Life

but the accounts are finally done... now I can turn my mind to the next most pressing matter.

Will all I possess fit in the boxes?

Never breezily say an admin job involving spreadsheets will be finished in two or three hours.... nine hours further into the task, a lot of temper and angst, and deep mutterings, and I think I've another six hours or so to go.

Which is a bit perturbing, but do-able.

Still, a cinema break and meal out this evening was a good idea. It took my mind off the fact it was my own idiocy that caused the trauma in the first place.

Another two or three hours, and my most hated task of the year will be done! But, I need a clear head, and no distractions, so tomorrow morning will be the allotted time. Data's all entered, it reconciled, I just need to make it all balance!! And check all the refunds are correct. That's the bit I really hate.
Eek.

But, it does mean my desk is almost clear, and with no impending paperwork.

The floor... oh dear, oh dear. There's the packing for the first summer activity, the second activity which lands half way through the first, and the lists for next week's packing, the stuff that's staying put, and the stuff that I refuse to be parted from at any point. And the list of things to be printed before my printer and computer are parted for a fortnight or so!

I had vague hopes for most of the day that I might have a more fixed abode sooner rather than later, but that's not going to work, my guts tell me.

But, I think I'm beginning to think one or two things through a bit more clearly. Especially now I'm keeping clear of all those who think it's their duty to be telling me how I should sort my life out. I seem to attract this kind of unsolicited advice more than most people. Until about a week ago, I've mostly been listening with a quarter of an ear, nodding in the correct places, (I hope!!) and doing plenty of "Hmmms" But, somewhere about ten days ago, I lost all patience with it.

Luckily, I have plenty to occupy me!!

The first dilemma is that I was to be at work tomorrow, but now am not going to be.

I don't want to be here. I agreed to going in to work so as to avoid the usual Tuesday activity here.

So, do I go into work regardless, taking with me the work I'd do here? My motivation for finishing this piece of work is rock bottom, and often the solution is to take the work somewhere where I'm not going to be distracted.

Do I brave the usual Tuesday activity, with the very high potential for me losing my temper at some point in the process? I have managed to hold onto my temper pretty well over the last couple of months or so, but I am aware it's bubbling away under the surface.

Or, do I run away for the day?

Bother. Bother. Bother.

My second dilemma is simpler. Do I tackle Under the Bed or The Cupboard I Rarely Go In first?

My third dilemma is also simpler... and I think I've already solved it!

I didn't over-sleep, I did all I had to, delivered all letters, didn't hang around for coffee, and got out as fast as I could.

Maybe, sometime later, when things have settled I'll think about all this more logically, and rationally, but for now, my thought on going out of the door "That's me out of there!" is the best I can do. And, I so, so wish I could say something more positive other than there are people I will miss... But I can't, so I won't for now.

The number of churches I've attended regularly over the last twenty or more years must be well into double figures by now. Then there were the two of the different denomination I went to as as child. There's the one I went to experimentally as a student... but my Quaker phase didn't last long, music is too important a part of how I worship . Some I've gone to because I've had to, others have been a choice, some I've hated to leave, others have been a relief to leave, and there are others I still consider "my" church. Two I can walk back into and it's as if I'd never been away.

At the moment, it's most tempting to avoid church altogether for the next while, until I settle somewhere more permanently. But, I know from experience, I can usually manage a week, or three at the most, before I'm back again. However, I'm certainly planning to taking residence in a quiet back pew for a good while even when I do start going somewhere else regularly again.

I got up at 8.20 a.m. washed and dressed in a hurry, convinced I'd almost overslept.

I quickly packed my bag for church, as suddenly I remembered I was playing for the service. Muttered darkly to myself for forgetting I had two letters to take with me as well, and I'd not printed them off, so set the computer going to print them as soon as I could. Multi-tasking at a great rate I was in the ten minutes I thought I had to pack about an hour's worth of normal stuff into...

Then... realised it was only Saturday.

I hate it when that happens.

Randomly, and in no particular order...

• Headache cured now it's thundered and lightninged prolifically!
• I will believe in "Seven Working Days" as promised by the bank when I see the evidence.
• My room looks a lot tidier now numerous things that I had never considered to be mine, but only lent for a season, have been re-distributed.
• Whilst I may have muttered deep and dire things about my church choir over the last two years, they made me cry when I got home after the last practice for sheer thoughtfulness and practicality!
• Why ask me to proof-read something if you are going to ignore everything I said?
• Wonder why anonymity is perfectly acceptable in blogging, yet not on Facebook? Am very uncomfortable with a "friend" hiding behind an institutional name, and not being at all sure who it is running the profile. I am investigating.
• I'm sure a gap year is a splendid plan.
• Only ten more sleeps.

One of the interesting little episodes at the end of last week was a spatial awareness one. Now, my spatial awareness is pretty good, as a rule. When I'm tired my words go, and I can say the strangest things. (OK, that can happen when I'm not tired...) Often I can't think clearly, but I do have to be completely beyond myself to be having problems with a straight forwards practical task.

I do believe I was completely beyond myself last Friday morning! About as tired as I was on this occasion when I was sat on the kitchen floor grumbling about the missing cafetiere right in front of my nose...

Anyway, now I'm less tired, I decided to tackle a small practical task I've been putting off for a bit. Putting sticky-back plastic on my lovely new little paper back Bible for use when I'm travelling or away. Apart from forgetting to take the price label off first time, and one tiny, tiny air bubble, it's now looking resplendent and shiny!

I've been looking for the last blog post on getting my hair cut...it took a while, but it was definitely four and a half months ago. No wonder the nice man at the hairdressers looked sorrowful, and pointed out there were at least two hair cuts worth of hair strewn about the shop floor once he'd finished. I looked suitably chastised and penitent for all of a minute, then giggled, and promised for the umpteenth time in my life, to try and remember to go again sooner.

I'm still trying to work out if they think I'm of pensionable age or it's a general discount on a Monday. It's one price if I go any other day of the week, and nearly half price if I go on a Monday, and I'm sure I've read on their price list "OAP discount on Mondays". But, I've never dared stop long enough to read it again to check. I tried querying it one time, but was told firmly that was the price.

That I have got considerably greyer this last year or so, I will not dispute. But, I've got a good few years yet before retirement age... though it's anyone's guess as to what that'll be. I think it's currently 67 or 68 or so.

I am relieved to discover I can still play "Jerusalem" with both hands and feet.

I gave Me and Myself a stern talking to this morning! They meekly agreed they've been over-reacting, and panicking, and there was No Need for such shenanigans. Events at the end of last week were all understandable, explanations and apologies have been proffered and accepted all round... Normal Service is Resumed.

Anyway, lovely as Option 10f with minor amendments would have been, it was a passing fancy, and not to be contemplated again.

The simple option is definitely not going to be the easiest one. I was uneasily aware of that was likely to be the case, and I'm glad to have it confirmed now rather than in a month or so's time. But, putting into place my preferred option is not going to be simple and is going to take time.

So, August is going to be a month of no real fixed abode! There will be a base, but touching base really won't happen very often. I will be making more concerted efforts to rectify that, as I don't want to be living like that for long. I can convince myself it's a several places holiday for a bit, but not for longer than August.

I am also convinced, after a few days with people working in a similar, specialised field, that it's yet another thing I am good at doing, that I do pretty instinctively, and despite my very part time working in this world for less than a year, I have a good grasp of what the job is about! I was maybe not at my absolute best for the three days, to the point of two people asking if I was always this quiet(to the accompaniment of giggles from those who had proof to the contrary) but, I was extraordinarily tired, and not really wanting to be meeting a whole bunch of new people right now.

So, a lazy weekend, and into a fortnight of serious sort out and finishing up up current pieces of work for handing over and resurrecting the packing boxes. Mmm... it is resurrecting, I refused to get rid of them when we moved in. Mostly at the time because they are good boxes for the purpose, (good boxes being hard to find!) the space to keep them was available, and here was never going to be for long, anyway. I'm glad I did, because it's one less piece of hassle over the next three weeks.

Blogging may well be very intermittent...

I've been enjoying the only quiet day I've had for what seems like ages at home, on my own and doing as little as possible, but the fourth big event of the weekend is approaching at a rapid pace. Same principles re: socialising will apply from yesterday, unless it seems reasonable to stay.

Then, home for a re-pack of rucksack, quick tidy up, and setting of alarm for horrible o'clock tomorrow morning.

Probably won't be wandering this way for a few days now...

I was only away for thirty six hours, but it seemed so much longer!

I had three events and related socialising to go to. I managed the events, and after the first bout of socialising where my current opinion of many male clergy was reinforced, I decreed to myself that I was being foolish, and that the next day would involve event attending, and no socialising afterwards. Luckily, the two stars of the events were very understanding of why this was the case, and both said firmly it was more important to them I was at the event itself!!

On the plus side, I got to have a leisurely late lunch, watching the boats and people go by, I got back here about two hours earlier than I might have done, and my sanity is reasonably intact!

It's been a yeucky day. Work-wise, weary me-wise, weather-wise, watering plants... I always knew this was going to be a difficult week, but not this bad. It's been one step forwards, two back, three sideways, and a logistical nightmare.

I may have to opt out of going off as early as I wanted on Friday to catch up on one or two things. Pah.

I'm also not looking forwards to the weekend at all. It's also a logistical nightmare, as well as involving a high level of socialising, and possibly dodging people who will be wanting to talk, with the best of intentions, but I'm worn out with talking and explaining myself...

Then, there's been the interesting conundrum of What To Wear. These are occasions where the decision's been made for me, and I've smugly not had to think about these matters. It was somewhat of a shock to my system when I realised I'd have to put more thought into this than I've been used to for some considerable time.

Anyway, I think I've sorted the problem reasonably satisfactorily and more importantly, in a sensible way so that have new work clothes for next term as well. I have avoided A Proper Dress.

Still, the freneticness slows down by next Friday, and moving into the next phase begins properly.