This is the year

I love living in the country. I know I bang on about it, but I love getting into my car at a quarter to eight and being at my desk by five to. I love going to the butcher or some other errand on the way home and still getting home by four. There are trade-offs, of course. Having no family in the area means that we rarely see relatives on their birthdays , so must send our presents.

It's not that I'm not, or can't be, organised. I am a librarian, I'm good at organising. I see birthdays approach and I wonder what to buy. Should I shop in town and go to the post office, or shop online and have it sent straight there? I dither and don't know what to get, I find something online but they don't gift wrap so it will have no card, so I plan to shop in town but all of a sudden it's too late, so I give up. Another birthday approaches and I face the same problems plus the fact that I missed relative X's birthday so feel guilty about acknowledging relative Y's. Before you know it, I'm in a hideous cycle and the year's s write-off.

Not this year. This is the year of being a good daughter/sister/in-law/aunty. One nephew has a birthday tomorrow and I sent his present on Monday, Mum's birthday is next week and I ordered her pressie weeks ago, one more nephew has a birthday next week and his present is wrapped and ready to send tomorrow. Assuming I haven't forgotten anyone, that's two months down and only ten to go! I even bought a random, non-birthday present. Who could pass up these pug earrings, I ask you?

Routine

We're almost back to ordinary life again after the long holidays , and initial signs indicate we'll survive it. Toby is enjoying high school, he says the days  are very long, and Bethany has adjusted to catching the bus alone. Kids' Church started last Sunday (I am teaching years 5 and 6) and Kids' Club and youth group started last night. I had my first card night of the year on Thursday.

I am cleaning the house in stages on weekday afternoons/evenings and doing the shopping online so as to save Saturdays from being all work. It's a full schedule, but I am hoping to keep it from being crazy this year. Joss and Tobes make their own school lunches and I am running and walking Milo late at night so my mornings are free for jobs. It all sounds a bit tedious, but this morning, after sleeping in, I am sitting in the cool, drinking tea and listening to the gentle whir of the washing machine. I have a market visit and much card making with Bethany to look forward to while the others are at the Golden Wheel cycling competition.

After a brief lull, the heat wave continues with 41 today, it's a shame summer doesn't end with the summer holidays.

My main problem with regular blogging, is that I never take any photos! I am forced to use a selfie I found, from the selfie taker extraordinaire, and the book I am sending to our nephew, Harvey, who is at the right age for toilet humour, thankfully. I can't pass up the opportunity for a book with his name in it!