411. Friday night chores

'Mum! Everything is wrong with your jumper so you're ok with it.'

She is probably hoping that I will rip it to shreds as I follow Baby's instructions (I just hope she is not turning into a younger version of Miss Organiser I could not cope with two of them). 

I got home from work walking under the pouring rain (like tropical but cold) and although I was careful not to slam the front door Baby heard me. 

'Come here, please, I'm nearly done. Come check.'

I first heard her call me when I was in the toilet, so I yelled.

'Can I please go to the toilet?'

'And let me get changed!'

Sighing and puffing I get back downstairs only to see Baby waiting for me at the kitchen door.

'Come on! Check on this.'

Today I got cross with a student so I can get back on that mood and be cross with Baby even though since it's been just the two of us - and not for long - this doesn't really happen.

'I need a cup of tea! And a sit-down!'

I have just taken to ordering second-hand vintage books to use as. teaching material. (I know! More on that later!) I have just received two and I want to flick through them with a cup of tea.

Baby picks on the tension. I'm allowed tea and a read. Relief.

I sit down and open my book and look out of the window. It is pouring with rain, big fat drops are bouncing off the tiles out there and Baby has the orange patio umbrella open! Underneath, piles of bin bags and bon boxes and bits of wood and bits of plastic and bits of metal.

I knew this was on the to-do list but I thought she might put if off because of the really heavy rain. Why do all my kids take after their dad and not their mum? The sensible parent (me) would have postponed the clearing of the barn till a sunny day. I.e. next summer.

I grab a chocolate bar for motivation and head out into the storm. We load all the rubbish and head to the déchetterie. It is not far, just across from the prison (fact). I miss the turning and have to drive all the way down to the round-about, back along the prison and then turn left. Thank goodness, it is open! I nearly end up down in the pits where trucks come and get the skips but Baby shouts at me.

'Right! Go right! Where are you going?'

I don't know where I am going. It is Friday night and the weather is appalling and I want to be home with my books and my tea!

We dump all the stuff. Now that is fun. Throwing the stuff away and watch it land noisily, then peering over the edge to see how your cupboard door compares to the others, or your mattress, or your bits of metal and your plastic pipes. Fascinating.

'Mum! Let's go!'

We head back home and Baby prepares to go out (again!) and I settle with my tea and my books wearing my big ugly hippy jumper.