FFS Friday - Sick sick money sick rain floods

If I could sum up our recent weeks for a FFS edition it would be this:

• Sick.
• Sick.
• Money.
• Texta.
• Washing.
• Sick.
• Sick.
• Washing.
• Sewing.
• Sleep.
• No Sleep.
• Washing.
• Raining.
• Tumble dryer.
• Raining.
• Roof leaking.
• Raining.
• Washing.
• No roof leaking.
• Raining.
• Sewing.
• Retaining wall waterfall.
• Raining.
• Mr S digging trenches.
• No more retaining wall waterfall.
• Sick. 
• Washing.
• Sick.
• Nappies.
• Washing.
• Sewing.
• Sewing.
• Good news.
• Bad news.
• Worse news.
• Sick.
• Sick.

'Mum? Doing?'
'MUUUUM. WHEREAREOOOO?'
'MUUUUUUUUUUUM. MUUUMMY MUM MUM MUM MUUUUUM.'
'Yes, Millie?'
'I've got a car.'
'That's great! It's a cool car.'
'Yes!'
Leave room.
'MUUUUUM. MUMMY MUMMY MUM MUM.'
'Yes, Millie?'
<silence from Millie. She just stares.>
FFS.

I was made redundant from my job at the end of the financial year. Quite strange, really, but it saved me from making a decision I'd been putting off for almost a year. I kept extending my unpaid leave because I wasn't ready to think about it. It's strange to not have a job for the first time in five years. At the same time it doesn't really feel real, because I haven't been to work for 10 months now. But it's still weird. FFS.

The amount of times my children have been sick this year I barely would have been able to go to work anyway. FFS.

Nothing says reliable employee like needing lots of sick leave for your kids. FFS.

So I guess it's a good thing I'm a SAHM now. But some days I really miss the drive to work (alone), the drive home (alone), the spare half hour to go shopping (alone). I miss the challenges of my job, but I don't miss the inevitable office drama. I think I just miss being alone. FFS.

The good news is that the girls are glorious. As I type this, Pip's standing up at the television table watching the screensaver on Apple TV and swivelling the volume knob (note to self, check volume). Millie is turning into a stellar little lady who loves to share and cares so very much about her family. We're all 'bestens'. I love them all so much.

Not a particularly triumphant return to FFS, I know, but I've got Peekaboo to play and washing to hang up. My life is glam.

It's a First World Blackout

Firstly, goodness me. It's been a month since I last blogged.

Ah, real life. You are sweet.

But my story. Oh yes. On Tuesday morning, after 24 hours of the heaviest rain we'd had all year, there was a blackout at 7.30am. I was in blissfully alone in the shower with no one saying 'MUM? WHAT DOING?' or 'MUMUMUMUM WAAAAH' or 'MEOW' and when the lights went out I panicked momentarily, thinking that the hot water would stop. Alas, we have a giant sized hot water tank, so I was sweet on that point. So I kept showering in the pale light of morning, and then the barrage of the potential things that my day might entail entered my uncaffeinated head like a freight train.

In this order:

1. I cannot blowdry my hair. No fringe for me. Help.
2. I will need to use my breastpump manually. Help.
3. COFFEE.
4. My phone is not charged.
5. HOW WILL I ENTERTAIN MY CHILDREN ALL DAY WITHOUT THE USE OF POWER OR TELEVISION?

I know. Drastic, right?

I can rally my own inner troops. I brushed my fringe down and hoped for the best. I set up my pump manually and Millie wanted to help. I'm quite glad, it took an age to pump the bottle and substantially less time for flu-ridden Pippa to drink it. I could go for a drive to charge my phone. Small pot of water on the fire and then there was coffee.

The last point, however? Well, my shoddy parenting skills showed. Millie asked for Sesame Street (aka Pippa's first naptime and Mummy's coffee time) and we had quite a lengthy discussion about how the television wasn't working. After Millie had me try every remote twice, she agreed that perhaps the TV just needed batteries. Indeed.

We played lego and dollies and read a few books. We looked at the cows outside and that's when I realised that I was very very tired. How?

Well, I had an epiphany with the cows. The cows don't know if there's a blackout, because they mosey about during the day and snooze at night. They just are.

Then the power came back on, Pippa had a nap, I had another coffee and our day went on. I vowed to get some more sleep, because really? Zen cows? 

(I also put all of my iDevices on their chargers quick sticks and boiled the kettle to put in a thermos lest there be another blackout. Mummy needs iDevices and coffee on hand at all times.)