Saying Yes

The sun has been shining friends, it is true when they say that although it seems that everything else has been cancelled, Spring has not. I think, in part, because of this we have been feeling much more positive the past few days. And so I thought it might be a good time to share all the things I have enjoyed and feel grateful for. Of course, this comes with a great dollop of context and appreciation for the extremities and horror taking place outside of our bubble. But, I do feel as though perhaps I was a bit too much of a Moaning Myrtle last week and so this week, today in this moment, I will focus only on the good and my view from our little corner of the world:

- Pressure Washers Are Amazing.

Yesterday, I went to fill up the paddling pool but I could see it looked as though it was cultivating its own eco-system. So, I decided to give it a good once over with the pressure washer, having never used one before but thinking 'Why the heck not?' I bought it for my husband on Black Friday last year and have just never had the 'today is gonna be the day I crack on with the pressure washer' urge. However, once I actually started using it, I could not stop myself dear reader. I became pressure washer power hungry. It's like using a helicopter-powered hose, the water removes all manner of scales and slime in addictive, undulating movements. A bit like a massive, therapeutic, garden face steam if you will. Anyway, I went to town on the patio, the garden seating area, even at one point finding myself just pressure washing the bricks on the wall in some sort of crazed trance. I was imagining myself to look like Jessica Simpson in that car washing music video, but unfortunately caught sight of myself and realised that my look is a bit more Trunchbull, you know, after she's been up all night getting taunted by Matilda Wormwoods magical powers. Anyway, I look up and my husband is looking at me with an indescribable facial expression somewhere between amusement and horror: "Wow. Calm down you, you look like you are enjoying it a bit too much, just be careful please." My finger hovers over the trigger, the pressure washer urge calling once again. "Hmmm." I pause before asking "Is this what it feels like to have a penis?" my husband looks at me aghast. "You are so weird." But I've already stopped listening and am aiming fire at the drain covers with pure joy in my heart.

- Nature Is Awesome

My favourite time of year usually, is this. The Magnolia Tree in our garden has started to flower and it is a gentle reminder to me that even during dark times there is beauty to be seen all around. The leaves on the trees are starting to grow and turn green. Flowers and blossom are developing all around us. I sit on the bench on our patio cross-legged every morning after my Daily Mile, with a hot cup of coffee, the sun on my face, the sound of birds all around. The reduced traffic on our lane means that I have no need for a mindfulness soundtrack to zone out, I have the sound of birdsong and people going about their day. It is perfection, until about 11:30am when every person on our street cracks out the lawn mowers and the power tools. But even that is strangely comforting, the hive of activity and productivity, all around. Which brings me on to...

- Doing Stuff

I am lucky to have been able to take some Annual Leave this week, so we have had precious time together at home during glorious weather. Do not get me wrong my friend, last week felt like a sluggish crawl to the finish line, powered by wine and carbs, trying to keep everyone going. But this week is different. This week we have baked cakes and bread, we have sunbathed, we have built new garden furniture, we have cleaned, we have played football in the garden, gone on walks, read books and magazines, had water fights, watched films and documentaries, played imagination games, taken long baths and we have pressure washed 80% of the outside space and our souls. I cannot remember the last time we had this amount of uninterrupted time together, at home, as a family. I am acutely aware that the situation we find ourselves in is not one to be celebrated, however, we have always tried to make the best of any situation we have been presented with and I feel like we have done that so far this week (there's still time for someone to damage their retina with the pressure washer). We have loved the time together, the girls told me today that I must visit the Queens lake with them. It was obviously just the paddling pool and they had sprinkled flower petals in it (arguably there was probably other things that had been sprinkled in it too, such as urine, but I managed to avoid actually touching the water) yet they looked at it as though it was priceless. They are so happy just doing stuff together. We're bumbling about. While it is not the Easter break we had planned I am certain that it will not be one we will ever forget.

- Saying Yes

Before all this happened, time was a commodity we had to be very sparing with, because of our work. Yet now, we are doing everything slowly. Cuddles in bed when we wake up? Sure. Have fifteen minutes with a coffee on the patio before breakfast? Why not. Time for both of us to exercise and then shower, whilst maintaining The Chuckle Brothers happiness? Of course! Faff around trying to put ice cubes and straws in the kids drinks to try and keep them occupied for an extra two minutes thirty seven seconds? Hit me up baby! It's like, because we are not having to rush around at the moment, we can do all the things. I am saying 'Yes' more and I am shouting "Please can you just put your shoes on, we've got to go!" a lot less. I am relaxing in to a slower pace. We are all happier than we have been in a long time, despite the challenges and uncertainty. And because of those uncertainties, we have time in abundance; we can always make more money, but we cannot make more time.