G'day for Monday.
Linda, I'm jealous that you are getting to your painting. I'm wracking my brain for subject matter that I can do justice to - I've just about got two ideas I want to try out, both of them I will use photographs for. I guess I just need to get down and do it. Outside, so I can get my dose of sunlight at the same time. I picked up a kids' table and chair on the street cleanup heap last night, that hopefully will work well with my new table easel. There's also an old window frame out there, I could use that as a garden feature (in a different location to the really big old sash window that husband & I have been working on for a few years) or I could use it as a frame for a landscape painting - you know, so it looks like it's not a painting, but the view out the window...
I was busy today with mother in law. She had a doctor's appointment early, then we had about half an hour before she had her physiotherapy appointment right next door to the doctor. Another door away was the local cafe, so we sat there and had coffee, looking at the view, while we waited. The cafe then rapidly filled up with local swimming/bushwalking club, most of whom we both knew. It was good for mother in law to feel out and about, among friends.
She was apprehensive about the physio, but I knew it would work out, this physio is very effective but also very gentle.
After that, we went back home, I settled her in her armchair with a cup of tea and a hot pack, then headed back home to difficult child 3, just in time for him to say, "Mum, can you get me some lunch?" I'd tried to offer mother in law some lunch but she said she felt too nauseous, she would eat later (I noted she still had several nights' leftovers in her fridge, she's not eating except when I cook for her).
I put him off until I'd had a rest. Then I fixed him some pan-fried teriyaki fish, with salad.
I didn't sleep well last night so I catnapped this afternoon. Tonight we went back to mother in law's to cook dinner - another stir-fried pork and vegetables in plum sauce. She had eaten some of the leftovers for lunch, after all. Good. She now has a single serve of tonight's leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
difficult child 3 has an appointment at the uni tomorrow, then I'm grabbing the chance to take him to meet his electronics teacher at school (down near the Harbour's edge). difficult child 3 has a 5 pm drama class back in our home district, so there's no point in us going home before then - it would be a half hour drive back out to drama. So I've got a number of other errands to run tomorrow afternoon after we go to the school. Forms to drop in to his doctor. Other forms to hand in to welfare. Documents to show to welfare. Shopping to do. Then after drama class we'll get difficult child 3's burger, and head home. Not sure yet what to do about husband & mother in law for dinner, they'll probably cook themselves some lamb chops and have salad.
I rang today to try to organise more housekeeping services for mother in law, and to offer to cancel mine. I finally 'fessed up that although my cleaner is a friend, I just can't have him working for me any more. If it means cancelling the service, I just have to wear it. It would mean that if I ever need to go back to using them, I would need to reapply and I would be most unlikely to get my current level of service.
But since the guy is slowly (or not so slowly) destroying my appliances and house, I figure it's worth the chance. I'm one of the few clients he has left. I know the organisation will absorb him somewhere, he has other jobs for them. But as a housekeeper, he shouldn't be let out without a leash and a minder. As husband said, "the initials FW come to mind..."
I can't talk to the relevant caseworker about this until Wednesday, and my next service is scheduled for Thursday. So I may be stuck with him for yet another week. Our current plan is to cancel, and go private. Pay easy child 2/difficult child 2 to help me, she at least knows what I need and is able-bodied enough to help me. Also she needs the money. I could pay twice as much for half the time and still come out ahead.
Sad, really.
Enjoy your Monday, everyone.
Marg