Unexpected

Some days just do not go the way your are expecting them to go. You spend hours/days/weeks psyching yourself up for a particular Big Event, and then all of a sudden you find yourself with an unexpected turn of events and everything crashes and wobbles for a while. Yesterday was just such a day under the Attic24 roof, and I can't say it was entirely unwelcome.

I know that this week in Blogland there have been many of you with your Little Ones starting out at school for the first time. I've been thinking of you (Ali, Julia) and in return I've had some lovely, warm, supportive comments and emails sent my way this week for my own Big Event.

 

Only it didn't happen. No, I've had an unexpected, temporary reprieve from classroom tears and snot and heartbreak. Pheww.
Instead of shiny, new school shoes we had bare toes.
Instead of stiff, grey pleats, we had soft, pink pyjamas.
Instead of the classroom and playground, we had the blankety sofa and Cbeebies.
Instead of goodbyes we had lengthy cuddles.
Instead of cheese sandwiches we had Nurofen and Calpol.

Yes, we had illness. Little Lady awoke early on Wednesday morning looking peeky and a bit hot and flushed. And by mid morning it was apparent she was really not well at all, with extreme tiredness (she slept on and off all day), loss of appetite (she couldn't even eat weetabix), aching limbs (crawling up the stairs on hands and knees) and a raging temperature (102 degrees). It did not get any better by the time Thursday morning arrived and I had to inform her new teacher that she wouldn't in fact be coming after all.

I find it very draining administering medicine. I mean, I know it's not difficult to pour out 5ml of liquid and spoon feed it to a child who loves the taste of it and laps it up eagerly, but somehow the constant use of the thermometer combined with obsessive clock watching to get the timing of two lots of medicines right completely drains me of energy. I can feel it flowing out of me even as I sit on the sofa under the Ripple with my feet up.

But yesterday, as well as tiredness and drainage of energy, there was also love and warmth and kindness. See the photo there above, see the orange card? Well Little Lady was feeling well enough by late afternoon yesterday to get up from the sofa and do some drawing at the table. I was not really paying much attention as she gathered orange card, crayons, pens and stickers and set to work. She made me a card,  presented it to me with a flourish. I was overwhelmed. She had managed to have a go at writing my name (L-oo-s-i-y), with a sweet little flower drawing, and oh I nearly wept with gratitude and pride.

The postie also delivered me a parcel yesterday, it was from Sally. She had oh-so-thoughtfully sent me a a little something, timed to arrive on the day that Little Lady (should have) started school. See that lovely flowery card up there on my mantel, and to the far right the packet of Burnt Sugar Crumbly Fudge? And see in the second photo up above, my gorgeous little blue and pink spotty slipper socks? Aren't I so bloomin lucky? Sal, I appreciated that parcel more than words can say. Thank you so very much.

On Under-the-Weather days, there are some things that are guaranteed to lift my spirits, to nourish my soul and make me a feel a little less deflated. A good magazine to read, something delicious to eat, and fresh flowers. Hang on, I think I may have said this before? Well no matter, it still remains true for me. So yesterday I bought the latest issue of CH, and ventured out into the cold drizzle to pick some flowers from the garden. The nasturtium seeds that I sowed back in June have finally produced flowers, hooray!! I did think they had frozen/drowned, but nope, they were just taking their sweet time.

The variety is called "Jewel Mixed" and they are quite lovely. I find nastutiums captivating :: so humble, yet so stunning. I popped them in a little glass pickle jar with a few verbena and cornflowers, and they are beside my bed looking radiant :: it was a delight to wake up to them this morning.

I also picked some flowers for the bathroom :: a few remaining sweet peas and pink geraniums. I love walking in to a room where you wouldn't ordinarily expect to find fresh flowers and seeing a few fresh colourful blooms, it cheers me no end.

A few days ago I treated myself to some new Bath Soak and a new face flannel. Gosh, I am cheap to please :: life's little luxuries folks, I can find pleasure in the smallest things, its another one of my talents. So last night when Little People were safely in bed and asleep, I ran myself a deep, hot bubble bath, lit a few candles and lay reading my magazine. It was bliss (although keeping the magazine out of the water was something of a challenge).

And then I was in my pj's, and snuggled up with a hot water bottle for the remainder of the evening (much better magazine-reading conditions).

Not the day I had envisaged, but unexpectedly good all the same. If I can admit to my daughter being sick as being Good? Lord, I have no shame do I, but at least I am honest.

Comments

[Jen]

Except when they're REALLY sick, I've always liked when the kids have been home from school with a cold. When they were little it was because, if they had a teeny temperature, they were so blessedly QUIET. And sleeping! Now that they're older (9 and 12), they are extremely cuddly when they feel yucky and make me feel they just might need me a little bit, still.

Shameless but honest!

[Joanne]

Hope the little ldy is feeling better. How nice to have that one extra day to cuddle up. Hope the school drop of goes well when it happens.

[periwinkle]

love the little sock slippers - hope little lady is well again soon.
lisa x

[Teresa]

So sorry to hear little lady was sick but it sounds like you definitely made the best of it.

[French Knots]

Hope she's feeling better, sounds like she had a lovely nurse to look after her.

[Rosie Graham]

To Little Lady, hope you are feeling much better, and I love the card you made for your mummy.
Rosie x

[driftwood]

oh I hope your little one feels better soon, and that when she does start school it all goes really well xx

[simone]

Glad the little lady improved by the afternoon. I like the stripy face flannel and the bath soak. I like the idea of flowers all around the house too - even in the bathroom!

[cathleen]

Your pictures are so comfy and cozy. What little girl wouldn't adore a mommy that is so good to her. Plus mommy is really good to herself too and if mommy is happy...everyone is happy!

[Lesley]

shame she wasnt well but secretly i would have been pleased at a day of cuddles and laziness :-) hope it goes well for next week!! i really need a new flannel now and i hadnt even realised :-D
Lesley x

[http://lavenderhouse.typepad.com]

Are you sure she was ill!!!!!!! I know she was - what a lovely gift. They want even more hugs when they are ill. Pasha started her new school on Thursday and it went very well. Jasper and Skyla really missed her and really miss being at school. They start on Monday - I have to turn a deaf ear to all their 'wish we were at school' comments. Dont they know how much that hurts - cheeky buggers!!!!

Do you know what colours you have recently bought for all your crochet and where do you buy your wool from. I know you got some from Peter Jones but I am sure your crocheting outways your blogging of purchasing wool.

Have a good weekend! Love Emma xxxx

[Anna]

If I was poorly I would love to be at your house!! But you would have to make me toast and marmite though...it cures EVERYTHING! Hope little lady is feeling perkier soon.x

[Alice]

Aww bless her. Hope she's feeling better now. My two aren't the cuddly cuddly sort of kids (well, L is more cuddly than A) and when they are ill (which isn't that often, thank goodness), I get long & lovely cuddles, esp from the son! lol. And I cherish every single second of it. Lurvely!

[Natalie]

You look so cosy there under your crocheted blankets, still I bet it was strange, psyching your self up for the big day, only to have it postponed. I hope she is feeling much better now - Natalie x P.S - I haven't forgotten about our meet, its just been really busy round here lately, are weekends still best for you or could you manage a week day?

[Leisa]

I hope your little one is feeling much better now. What a lovely post today - a wonderful caring Mummy - a Blessing to your family.

[julia]

Hope she's feeling better, at least you managed to sneak an extra two quiet days alone together!
Our bath is too long to enjoy a good magazine read. Unless you're 6'7" you end up sliding under the water whilst trying to keep the mag from getting wet, not a pleasant or relaxing experience. Think I'll try the slippers, pj's and hot water bottle version instead!
Julia xx

[Lisa]

Oh dear, sorry to hear little lady has been poorly. Certainly hope she perks up over the weekend and is well enough for school on Monday. Good luck wishes sent to both of you for when it does happen.
And what a beautiful card!
Lisa x

[Sarah]

Hope she's better soon and the school start goes smoothly for you!
I love flowers in jam jars so simple and pretty!
Sarahx

[patonslake]

Could you share the colors you used in your ripple blanket?
Thanks

[Alva]

Oh I love this post - having one of these days my self: we have had a hurricane here (east coast of NC, USA) and even though we're all clear now, I have a flat tire so I'm stuck missing a football game and a date, so sad :( I'm trying to make the most of it though, cleaning and decorating, maybe even sewing later. Thanks for the encouragement that these days are something of a sidetrack but could also altually be pleasantry in disguise. Hope the little one is feeling loads better!!!

[Gem]

Sorry to hear the little lady has been poorly - hope she's soon better :) x

[Cláudia]

Hello!
My name is Claudia and I live in Brazil. Amei your blog and added to my favorites.
Congratulations! Always visit your page on the net.
Kisses