Saturday 29 November 2014

Long time coming



It's been a tough week. I've been without a car as Jay's conked out on Monday and he's using mine whilst his languishes in a garage somewhere. 

By Thursday lunchtime I could feel my sanity beginning to slip. I usually take Joe to playgroup twice a week and he has three hours in nursery on a Wednesday morning. He's a placid, good-natured little boy most of the time with a huge appetite and is as reliable as clockwork for sleeping through the night and taking afternoon naps.

But Thursday morning playgroup seems to turn him into a demon child. Disruptive, contrary, whiny. Those two hours are awful: tiring and embarrassing. Yes, I know he's only two. And I know we're extremely lucky he's usually so good. But this week I'd had enough. Having to push him uphill all the way home, fuming at his behaviour and the drizzle and the lack of buses, I dwelt on how tired I feel at the moment - balancing grieving for my mum and caring for Joe can be tough sometimes.

Of course, once he'd had a nap and I'd hit my 'reset' button all was well again. But yesterday I bought a bottle of prosecco to celebrate it being Friday. After One Of Those Weeks a celebration was in order.



Actually, Joe's grandparents came by yesterday and took care of him for a few hours while I made my escape. I had to stay local due to the car situation so went into Ramsbottom, our local town. It's only a mile or so down the road. But what with the whole Black Friday thing I had absolutely no desire to head anywhere that sells electrical goods. Who needs trampling for the sake of a cheap TV?


It was another murky day, but still festive with the lights up. I wandered around and ate a cone of (dripping-fried) chips. To keep out the cold. I also went into the library and looked at sections I've never had to opportunity to browse before, like crafts and fashion. I even sat at a table for a while and flicked through a book or two whilst a woman nearby tapped away at a laptop and muttered to herself.

Then I found some little charity shop treats: a folk-style patterned shawl and a painted glass bowl and matching jug. The glass is in lovely condition and possibly from the 1950s. It probably spent its life displayed in a cabinet. I do love a bit of painted glass, especially when there's gold on it. 


Today we went back again to buy our fruit and vegetables at the market. I stocked up on satsumas and they had those long pointy red peppers at five for a pound so I picked some up. They can be done in the oven later in the week.

Christmas trees are appearing everywhere: above each shop (and even the garage), for sale at the market - a bit soon for me but they still looked nice - and inside the signal box at the station.

It may be too early for trees and decorating (and card writing) but we did order a capon and a ham at the butcher. There's something a bit Dickensian about doing that.


Tomorrow we're off to a craft and vintage fair (this one). Maybe we'll pick up a few more gifts. I agree with Bee, who commented on my last post: a slow December is my pace of choice. Making lists, gathering things here and there... far less stressful than a last-minute panic. Although that'll probably happen too.

Enjoy the weekend.




31 comments:

  1. Some weeks seem to last forever!! We have been to the craft market at brockholes, it was really busy. Luckily they have a big park which keeps the kids busy whilst I have a look on my own!! Hope you enjoy it. Sarah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you - we're looking forward to it. Must make sure the camera battery's fully charged!

      Delete
  2. I always love looking at your beautiful photos ...and hope you enjoy your well earned weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I hope you're enjoying yours too.

      Delete
  3. Hi Sarah, Love your atmospheric photos. These light at the station are gorgeous....so retro ( or old?) they look like boiled sweets to me.
    We have had car trouble around here too....expensive business!
    Hope all back to normal soon.
    Jacquie x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jacquie - I suspect the lights are pretty old. The East Lancs Railway runs on donations and fares... and yes, they do look like boiled sweets!

      Delete
  4. I feel for you Sarah, looking after a toddler and grieving for you mum is a lot all at once. I remember those days when my children turned into evil creatures at playgroup. They still do sometimes, at home though. It is nice to get away for an hour or two, isn't it? I am going to an artists fair tomorrow and I am really exited. It is just me and a friend. I hope next week is less challenging for you. Enjoy the craft and vintage fair tomorrow. Cx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy your artist's fair too.
      And yes, an escape every so often is important to retain your sanity... being outdoors always works best for me.
      S x

      Delete
  5. I'll try to make sure you come in for a hit of spoiling after a long week. T xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I'm looking forward to coming (but not those parking fees!) x

      Delete
  6. Sorry about your tricky week, I hope next week is a better one. Lovely charity shop finds though, and I especially like the idea of chips and a browse of some books and shops. Christmas decorations have sprung up everywhere here too. I'm aiming for a calm approach as well, but of course there will be the odd moment of panic. Your little man will be old enough to really enjoy all the sparkly fun this year. But still small enough to enjoy playing with the cardboard boxes as much as the presents. A perfect age. Enjoy your Sunday. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You too, CJ. I'm looking forward to catching up on my favourite blogs this afternoon while Joe naps so will be paying you a visit :)
      S x

      Delete
  7. I'm glad that you enjoyed your time to yourself. It sounds blissful. I hope that the car situation is sorted again soon. xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. some Fridays definitely need celebrating xxx hope next week is easier x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, it will be. Some weeks are just hard work from start to finish but luckily they're pretty seldom... Have a great weekend :)

      Delete
  9. So lovely that you got some time to yourself. We call it 'getting your head showered'. We all need time alone to recharge. Love the sound of your finds. I fancy a little root around for some preloved treasure. Maybe next week. Also your capon. Our butcher was recommending a capon to me for Christmas this year. I have no experience of them. Are they good? We usually go for turkey and my grandad always liked to have goose too but I wouldn't mind trying sonething new. Bee xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bee. We were going to have turkey (for the first time in years) but there'll only be the three of us on Christmas day. Apparently a decent-sized turkey is very expensive and a small one doesn't have much on it. A goose would be expensive too. All this advice came from our local butcher, by the way...
      A capon is a good choice. We've had them before and they're kind of like a giant chicken (a cockerel, actually) with lots of meat which is very succulent. I'd recommend one - they're delicious.
      S x

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the capon advice Sarah! We ordered one this weekend. I'm quite excited. Bee xx

      Delete
  10. Sorry to hear about the playgroup thing... youve just reminded me how little kids can be and with first grandchild on way thank you for reminding me! I have romantised my kids over the last 30 yrs or so lol!
    also when did they bring black friday into the UK??? its very ugly, trampling and the shoving just for cheaper goods, they showed the UK shoppers over here on the news. I'm glad we never had it in when I still lived in the UK! I am guessing its only a matter of time till they start to do the same here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People seem to regress somehow at the prospect of getting yet more 'stuff' at a cheaper price, don't they? It says a lot about values (or lack of)...

      Delete
  11. What a wonderful, festive post. I always aim for a quiet, slow December but it seems to elude me each year. I think I'll just have to embrace it, have fun and go with it, then conk out after Christmas with some cheese and a jigsaw. :-) Your trip to Ramsbottom sounds like just the thing. My friend and I call those breaks "mother's respite". :-) xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, definitely! And apparently (according to something scientific I read) jigsaws are the perfect pre-bedtime activity as they help you sleep... Must invest in one! x

      Delete
  12. Love your charity shop buys. Hope this week is a good one for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well I'm still carless but the sun's out - there are many worse off than me!

      Delete
  13. Oh Sarah - I think we all have days / weeks like that, but well done for finding and hitting the reset button. Black Friday looked horrendous...I's so glad I live well away from any kind of place where madness can be created. Though I did venture to the Christmas markets in Manchester on Sunday...it almost did me in! So many people all jostling around, shoulder to shoulder...let's say, some tempers did flare. Thank goodness I can't understand the accent!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, it's awful isn't it? I stay away as I hate crowds and jostling. Why buy a cup of mulled wine if you're going to end up having it elbowed out of your grasp and more than likely end up with it all down your front? I haven't been to those markets in years and have no intention of doing so!
      We tend to shop at little towns at this time of year and keep it enjoyable :)

      Delete
  14. It's awful when you don't have your car and you're used to it. At least the weekend turned out alright in the end.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely images here Sarah. I do enjoy living in the wilds but I often think there'd be more fodder for my camera in the town. I wonder do you find that? For myself I find that there are only so many ways you can photograph vegetation before it gets samey.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That got me thinking, actually... I do love photographing plants and trees and all the rest of it but yes, it's good to have a change of scene. I often find that you can play around more with photographs taken in town: black and white always lends itself to architecture.
      Liverpool's one of my favourite places to go with the camera. I take hundreds of photos each time we visit...

      Delete
  16. You're so right, balancing caring for your child/children and grieving is definitely tough. Even now, for me, there are moments when you need some respite. A glass of fizz is definitely the way to go. Hope you've got your transport back! I would dread the journey to work without one!! xx

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...