Banalities

Over the past two days I've given the kitchen floor a right royal scrub. I know, you wouldn't think such a banality would be worth mentioning, but it was a high spot for me. It showed I have plenty of oomph, and has helped to restore my self-respect as a housewife. Yesterday I took the boy to the vets to have them do a more professional job of cleaning his clawed nose than I could. I know they have to be tough, those vets, but rubbing an open wound on a little boy who didn't even flinch was almost too much for me. It's looking better now, but I think he'll still be wearing the hated collar when the house fills up with his fans over the weekend. I can't take it off even for a second as he immediately tries to rub his face on my arm or leg, but I've been managing to hold his face in my hands and stroke his neck and head. As he trotted ahead of me down the lane this afternoon, big plastic head bouncing from side to side with his stride, I felt a wave of love for his courage and sweetness.

My oil tank is showing nearly empty just two months after I half filled it. I didn't go for the full load this time as the price of oil was very high and I thought it might go down. Huh! Not only has it not reduced but it's impossible to order any at the moment as the oil companies struggle to fulfill existing orders. I'm trying to ration it, and it's amazing how warm you can be indoors with a fleece and a scarf wrapped many times around your neck. When I do put the Rayburn on it's for the kitchen only while the rest of the house remains cold. But come evening the woodburner gets lit and its comforting blaze makes everything OK. But these light evenings - what a transformation. I'll be going into the sitting room later and later, much preferring to sit in the kitchen with the huge west-facing window and wallow in the evening brightness. What a tonic!