48. Life is back to normal

Life is slowly going back to normal. Actually not that slowly, it is going back to normal at the speed of light. And I'm not ready!

I have not even started on the spring cleaning. I haven't finished the decluttering.  My bread-making is not quite up to standard. The garden furniture needs an other coat of oil. And they want me to go back to work. That's crazy. How am I going to cope?

I've got all this flour in the cupboard and so much baking powder I could run a pâtisserie for an entire month!

And just when am I going to be able to knock through to that second cellar?

The kids are back taking their home for a hotel/bank/car hire place/food charity/ just when I was beginning to get a grip on them. Number 4 has not finished reading Les Contemplations (I know, it has got a lot of pages) and my son is only on page 3 of The Great Gatsby  (that has not got a lot of pages).

I can hear them (the neighbours) say: 'Well, you've got a holiday coming up soon.'

Holiday time, may I remind everyone, is for scheduled holidays not for decluttering. And that is an other thing I haven't done: planning  holidays. Please remember it takes a lot more time now as so many places are closed and as for the ones that are open there is a good chance you cannot get to them. A maze to work your way through. I just don't have the time.

The weather is bad, it's pouring down all the time and only for that reason we should be under complete lockdown. 

My husband doesn't see that. He comes home and sits down with a beer rejoicing about it being Friday night and blurts out:

'I think we should adopt a kid.'

'WHAT?' I nearly choke myself to death on my drink.

'Maybe not adopt, but foster a kid.'

I am at a complete loss for words (which is not very often I'll confess). I cannot sit down because I am already sitting down. I am gasping for air and I am not wearing a mask and it is not hot.

'You're joking?' (I might have a heart attack depending on the answer he gives me.)

'No, I'm serious. Look at our kids, they're spoiled, they've got everything and they don't even know they've got it good. See how much they moan and demand.'

Yes, definitely a valid point but I am keeping this quiet. So he thinks it is a sign of approval and he goes on. And it gets worse. 

'A teenager, you know, a kid who has had a difficult life and that would appreciate things. I think that would be good.'

I managed to utter a few words but just to say something really stupid.

'No room in the car.'

'Not a problem! Remember this mail I sent you. I got a reply. It looks good. Just waiting for lockdown to be completely finished. That would be really good, you know, two cars, the Fieldings on a convoy all the way to ... all the way to India ...'

He is so pleased with himself he gets up to get an other beer.

'Do you want a G&T? You look a bit down or tired maybe. Must be the shock of going back to work after such a long break.'