Apparently my house is self cleaning. Clothes wash themselves. As do tea cups, plates and floors.
Olly has come down with chicken pox. He is covered, and has no zip. He is being very stoic, bless him
Marc has a cold. He has retired to bed for the bank holiday duration.
The weather is crap. Grey, dank and miserable.
Sam is in a frenzy of revision. Every now and again he bounds into the living room and shouts some fact or another at me. I'm left feeling rather uneducated.
Alfie has only come out of his room to eat and use the facilities.
Yesterday I made Thai chicken curry for dinner. It was lush.
There is a cherry and almond cake baking as I type. The smell is lovely.
Marc called me dour yesterday. I have been a bit. But only because they are all getting on my nerves.
My book choice for The Year In Books is above. I loved 'Room' and am nearly halfway through this already.
What's that sound you make when you are really fed up? I've just made it anyway.
Leanne xx
Urgh I feel your pain, my husband works away 4 days a week so I have the children on my own and my youngest has come down with chicken pox too *sigh* Well at least the sun is shining so I can get some washing dry...!
ReplyDeleteWashing drying on the line always makes life more bearable I think ;))
DeleteLeanne xx
Oh my gosh, poor Ollie. :( I remember chicken pox when I had it, just awful. I actually had it twice, which is unusual, but that's my weird body for you! I haven't read that book but I read what I think was her first one, Slammerkin, and that was pretty rough. I didn't read Room, I thought it would be even harder going, but I did hear it was very good. You'll have to let us know what you think of this new one. Your cake sounds wonderful and I assure you, I'm also quite dour. I'm getting a frown line down one side of my nose but not the other. I must frown harder on that side.
ReplyDeleteI thought Room was a beautifully written book, even if the subject matter was rather traumatic. This is proving to be quite different so far. I have a frown line between my eyebrows. It is why I have a fringe ;))
DeleteLeanne xx
Snap! My son (22 months) has come down with chicken pox today. He's being ever so good but it hasn't started itching yet. It's only a matter of time before my daughter (nearly 3) gets it too. I shall be 'dour' when that happens! X
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. It's doing the rounds this chicken pox malarkey! Sending your little ones a get well soon.
DeleteLeanne xx
oh dear, chicken pox, revision, bad weather and colds. I hope the delicious sounding cake make up for it a little. it's foul and wet here too, I have a very grumpy revising teenager and I think chocolate brownie needs to be in her future very soon.
ReplyDeleteSam is just a tad manic! Best of luck to your revising teen. I wouldn't want to go back there for anything.
DeleteLeanne xx
Never mind dour. With all of that going on I'm surprised you haven't run away from home. Poor Olly. I hope he isn't too miserable with his pox. I might give that Emma Donoghue book a try. I read Room, and had mixed feelings about it. The Kamloops library had scheduled her in for an author reading, so I bought a copy of the book (I usually stick to reading on my Kindle) so I could have it signed by her at the reading. Due to bad winter weather flights were cancelled at one of the connecting points of her journey, which also meant her author reading was cancelled. I still feel a bit cheated over that whole thing. I had really been looking forward to hearing her speak.
ReplyDeleteHey Kristie,
DeleteIt's very different to 'Room' I had tickets to see Helen Dunmore speak last year, but Marc had to go overseas and I couldn't go. I was gutted. She is one of my favourites.
Leanne xx
Ooooh chicken pox is no good, I got it for the first time when my son was 3 weeks old and he then caught it at 5 weeks old :( miserable is not the word.....I will pray for a self cleaning house, it appears I am the only one who can do anything domestic once over the threshold!!! Chin up love, we all feel your pain xxx
ReplyDeleteHey Niki,
DeleteGod that must have been awful. My chin is up today.
Leanne xx
At least there's cake coming! What a day! We're on pox avoidance with littleR as its not great for her to get with the medication she's on. (Two hospital visits for that alone). At least the bigger one has had it already. I haven't read 'room' although it's queued on my kindle. It was raining cats and dogs this morning but we're in the garden right now poking stuff with sticks and getting covered in mud. I'm desperately trying not to make the same noise as you :-) xx
ReplyDeleteHey N,
DeleteI do hope your little one is doing well. 'Room' is quite emotive, but is beautifully written.
Leanne xx
I think you're entitled to be 'dour' when surrounded by illness and grim weather! On the plus side, your hallway is gorgeous - I adore the stained glass in your door and no-one can fail to be cheered when there's cherry and almond cake in the offing! 'Harumph!' usually works for me! xx
ReplyDeleteYes it's what sold the house to me to be honest. That and the big windows.
DeleteLeanne xx
I am making noises of the ' fed up ' variety too. Never mind why. But I send you a gentle hug and know you would send me one too. I caught the Chicken pops from my own children aged 34 and thought I was dying!
ReplyDeleteI am going to go and Google something and pop back!
Can't put a picture here but I once saw a very simple,brilliant cake made for a little one with chicken pox. A round Victoria sandwich with a sad liquorice mouth and eyes made out of butter icing. Then red smarties all over the face!
ReplyDeleteooh we might some cupcakes like that his week. Good idea Linda, thanks.
DeleteLeanne xx
Hi Leanne. I am having a lovely weekend, sending you some of my positive energy in return for some enlightenment about your self cleaning house. I want one of those. I hope Olly's chicken pox is not too itchy and that tomorrow is a sun filled happy day! Christina xx
ReplyDeleteOh I'm just being a stroppy mare really, Christina! But thank you for the good vibes.
DeleteLeanne xx
I am grumpy too as sick of being skivvy round here picking up all the laundry, doing washing up and all the dog poo too.. But husband is cooking as I type this and at least tomorrow is a day off, Poor Olly - Piriton syrup and calamine lotion is what I used to help. Didn't know Emma D had new one out. I loved Room too. Have a better day tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYes skivvy is a good word, Doris!
DeleteLeanne xx
When I am dour John accuses me of being in an arse like "what are you in such an arse about?". Like he did yesterday when we had a mini, hushed, middle class argument in Waitrose.
ReplyDeleteYour hallway! That door! Is it original to the house or did you put it in? Where does it lead? It's so beautiful. xx
It leads to Narnia.... :))))
DeleteOh dear, poor little man, that's no fun at all. I hope he's back to full strength soon. And a man with a cold is a miserable thing indeed, you have my sympathy. Cherry and almond cake is one of my absolute favourites. I'm wishing luck with all the revising to Sam, and a happy bank holiday with sunshine and fresh air to you. I hope the lightness of being is back with you very soon. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
DeleteYes a man with a cold tests the most patient of people. I am not at all patient!
Leanne xx
Harrrrumph?
ReplyDeleteI love the glass in your door in the top photo. I have lilac just like yours waiting to imminently burst forth, and the moths will love those white bleeding hearts. I think I shall have to get some. Big kiss to Olly and prayers for swift recovery. L had a word for chicken pox that was wonderfully obscure, only my aging brain can't remember what it was.
Go outside and run about like a mad creature yelling at the top of your voice- you will feel better, and I might just be able to hear you all the way down (up? sideways?) here in Hampshire, which will make me smile too :o) XXX
Did you hear me? I was very loud.
DeleteLeanne xx
Why do all these lurgies find us on holiday weekends? Small daughter is developing an old man's cough which I'm hoping won't keep her off school next week - the only thing worse than a child off sick is a child who can't go to school but isn't actually that sick at all. Glad you're enjoying Room, I couldn't get into it at all and abandoned it in the end - it was a book group choice and others really liked it. I guess we can't all be the same! xx
ReplyDeleteYes I think Olly and me will be having lots of distracting adventures this week!
DeleteLeanne xx
You hang in there friend! I really hope your little guy gets better this week...there is nothing worse than when they are down and feeling unwell. Poor guy. For having such a rough weekend you still captured so much beauty! Very amazing blooms Leanne! Here is to a better week ahead! Wishing sun your way! Nicole xo
ReplyDeleteCheers Nicole. We did have some sun. managed to get out and walk Honey, so felt better for it.
DeleteLeanne xx
Poor you and poor Olly chicken pox are no fun for a little lad but tis the season for it and better to get them now than as my friend did in her 30's. Nothing worse than men when they have man flu but I'm sure he will be a brave soldier. Hope you have a few nerves left to enjoy the rest of the bank holiday.
ReplyDeleteHey Mitzi,
DeleteHe's being a bloody pain in the arse. Olly on the other hand is being very brave and stoic.
Leanne xx
I know that sound!
ReplyDeleteI read your post title as Grim Reaping ... oops!
I think it's more a slow exhalation of breath from between gritted teeth, Annie!
DeleteLeanne xx
I haven't tried any of Emma Donoghue's books yet. I've just read the blurb on this one and it may be one for the list. Thanks'
ReplyDeleteHope he's soon over the chicken pox.
Eileen @ In My Playroom (also joining in with The Year in Books)
Hey Eileen,
DeleteI'm halfway through. It's quite different to 'Room' Just going to have a gander at your choice.
Leanne xx
I loved 'Room' too. I know it was a tough read but it was just so beautifully written. I will look out for 'Frog Music' at the library. It's a lovely title isn't it? I always think frogs are so tuneful when they're singing in the pond whilst mating, one of my sounds of early spring. Home-made cake and cuddling on the sofa is my tip for chicken pox, or anything really! Oh and there's a 'High' as in pressure and weather moving in next weekend, so that will cheer us all up.
ReplyDeleteLove your doors!
ReplyDeleteAnd cherry and almond cake. I use a Nigella recipe which never lets me down.
The noise you're looking for is usually something like 'Aaaargh' (or something sweary, depending on who's within earshot). I know how you feel. I thought Joe was getting better this morning until he was sick all over my pyjamas and then served up a few appalling nappies.
And yes, the weather's crap too.
Hope things get better for you and me very soon!
S x