It's turned Wintry

 A reasonably quiet week last week.

Work is tough at the moment, my team are extremely understaffed, but there is an expectation all work will continue as if we were fully staffed. This means that I'm currently doing 4 peoples jobs. I'm exhausted. Quite a bit of the work is outside of my skillset. That doesn't mean I can't do it, if I put my mind to it I can do most things, but being out of your skillset is hard work so I'm spending my time feeling utterly exhausted. Most of the work is really boring as well so I'm having to mentally dig in to retain focus.

As a result not a huge amount happened outside of work. 

On Saturday I took dog on walk down to butchers. Dog is quite neurotic and also there have been huge problems in UK with dogs being stolen. So I've never left dog outside a shop before. This is a huge pain in the backside because often I need something small and have to finish the walk and then go out in the car.

New legislation has come in that means theft of a pet is being treated as if that pet is part of a family. Until this legislation came in it was treated in the same way as somebody stealing your mobile phone. 

This boosted my confidence with leaving dog and when I walked past the shop I wanted to go into it was about 08:30 on Saturday and so not many people around. 

It's been a long time since I did the juggle with a lead so that you could loop it around something to leave dog outside a shop. I can't pretend I did it with much competence. As a result there was a brief moment where dog's collar was not held onto. Feeling free the dog started to make it's way down the pavement, just as a lorry went past.

When dog freaks out it tends to back away. The lorry was big and loud and if she backed away she was going to back straight into its path (she's stupid). I had to make a snap decision, my knees or the dog. I decided to save the dog. So I launched myself forward, landing on my knees and grabbing the dog. The pain was quite severe, but dog was saved. I sat on the pavement clutching dog and just aimed to pull myself together to make a move.

In that brief moment about 3 people came running out of shops to help me. Which is nice. But it also made me realise that they all thought I was some old biddy that had fallen over. When did that happen. How did I suddenly become that old lady. I don't feel like that old lady. I'm not sure I am that old lady!

Anyway, once I'd tethered dog safely I went into shop and she behaved like an absolute dream. I have to admit it was a bit like that moment when you have a baby and it can suddenly sit up on it's own. The fact I can pop into shops with her tied up has opened up a whole new avenue of ease. Yay.

Let me just clarify something. I'm not indicating that once a baby can sit up you can leave it tethered outside a shop!!! Just in case you work for social services and your eyebrows hit your hairline. What I mean is once your baby can sit up on it's own your life becomes easier. When eg. you are at the supermarket you can sit it down as you do your thing - rather than having to juggle a baby and your bags. That brief moment of sitting the baby down as you pick everything up suddenly makes life a whole lot easier.

On Sunday I met a friend at a coffee shop down by the sea. Not hugely exciting you might think - but it's very rare for me to do something like that. Ladies that lunch and all that. We had a really good natter and put the world to rights. Her son has been a friend to my son since they were 5. They used to make mud castles in the playground. Now they are older they couldn't be more different, but they have remained friends. They have different friends groups on the whole, but they still come back together on occasion.

I wonder if they will remain friends forever or whether they will slowly drift apart. I guess it depends where they end up for 6th form - and then where they go after that. I'd like to think that they'll stay in touch even if it's just every now and then.

Dog came with me and again behaved really well in the cafe. She barked a few times, but on the whole her behaviour was immaculate. Maybe she's growing up at long last. Life will be easier if she gets more confidence. I've seen other dogs that have become much calmer as they've got older. Let's keep fingers crossed.

I walked back home with dog over the hill. As I got to the top of the hill I could see a huge raincloud in the distance that was clearly tipping down rain. It was headed my way. I didn't have a coat so I put on a turn of speed so I could get home before the rain caught me. Coming down the far side of the hill I decided to walk through the woods. As I went down the steps in the woods (mud and wood steps) suddenly my feet slid from under me. Before you know it - once again I was on the floor - this time it was my backside and side that took full force of the fall.

Again I just sat there for a minute gathering myself. So that's 2 falls in 2 days - though essentially the first fall was more of a fling than an unexpected fall. Maybe I am THAT old lady suddenly.

Arriving home (beating the rain, #WINNER) I did my clothes switch over. All my summer clothes went into a suitcase in the attic - where they will stay until next May. We've had such a rubbish summer that hardly any of them have even been worn this year. I could probably have got away without doing the switch over at all. Aanyway, now the clothes have been put away I'm expecting an unseasonal heatwave. Let's keep our fingers crossed huh.

On Sunday evening I got a call from Mum telling me that she had COVID. So far she seems ok. Let's keep our fingers crossed that she makes her way through it ok. Watch this space.