Monday 30 October 2023
Today is a list day. I am almost definitely going to drive down to London tomorrow for a few days and my list of jobs for today is split into four: to do; to pack; to bring back here from London; to do before leaving here. I find enormous satisfaction in lists like that, particularly ones that are intended to be completed in a day. By having a list next to me, I also feel a sense of heightened importance and purpose. I can see this is misguided, but, hey, if it gets me through what’s becoming a surprisingly long list of chores and random things to pack I’m not going to mock myself too much.
Yesterday, it rained. And rained. And rained. It is currently raining on and off but looks like it’s constantly raining. Our road flooded for a few hours in the middle of the day yesterday, rendering it impassable, not that that affected my plans or Mitch getting here or home for his last day working here for the year. Mitch finished off various jobs, including a few to make us a bit more winter-ready. Chris and I are mildly dependent on Mitch for sorting us out with various problems and we’re going into the next two or more months of winter with slight trepidation. It has been a really positive thing for most of our first year in this house, in what’s been a challenging and deep-end move for us, to have someone we both like, who is exceptionally competent, who has a completely uncomplaining approach to work and who consistently overachieves. I also think he’s made me (I’m not going to speak for Chris) significantly more likely to try to get things done rather than leaving them in a misguided attempt to forget about them, as I usually do … used to do.
I had wanted to go for an autumnal walk with my proper camera today, but it’s far too wet and I know everywhere will be muddy. Regardless of the vile weather, I will go for a walk later, if only to prepare myself for a day in the car and a few days of city life.
