We're heading for the nuclear shelters...

...at least that's what I thought when I happened to pop out to the shops this morning. I needed to do a quick run to the bank and the supermarket. First of all I couldn't find a parking space for about 10 minutes (unheard of where I shop) then I had to battle through crowds and dodge crazy parking idiots who seem to forget all the road rules as well as common courtesy when negotiating their way around a car park.

The bank was pretty quiet (no-one has any money left probably) but the supermarket was insane...what are people buying? It's still a week and a day until Christmas! It will all be stale and off by then! Also, why do people need to buy so much, the shops are only closed for one day (and even then some little 7-11 grocers are still open in case of emergency. I cannot understand why everyone is stockpiling! Do they know something I don't know? It's madness!

Anyway, I did my banking, did a little shopping, came home and ate some Terry's Chocolate Orange...I needed the calming effect of chocolate.

That's been my day...what did you do?

Multi-tasking

Well would you look at that, sit down at my desk on Monday and the next time I look up it's Thursday. Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration, I haven't been sitting at my desk constantly. It just feels like it. I am, however, happy to report that I'm making progress. At this rate I will be able to drive off to the beach house in a week or so with a clear conscience and not have to take any work with me. Huzzah!

There was a slight disturbance in The Force yesterday though. While I sat here frantically busily writing a very important article about business plans (exciting no?) I received an email from my sister. In this email she conversationally commented that she had gone Christmas shopping and tried to buy a particular gift for someone only to find that it was out of stock. Everywhere. EEEEEK!! I suddenly realised that a couple of things the girls have asked Father Christmas to bring are quite popular at the moment. The other day Aislin asked me if I thought Father Christmas would really bring the present she had asked for. I said 'of course he will, you've been such a lovely, kind and generous girl how could he not?'. Oops. I'll tell you how he could not...if Target are out of stock that's how! OH NO!!! I leapt from the desk and headed immediately to the shops. Then a kerfuffle of mammoth proportions ensued including visiting a number of shops and me almost rugby tackling anyone in my path to get the last two sets of something called Beados (don't ask, I don't know) from the shelf. The 'main' presents have also been secured, I won't go into details, but trust me...it was touch and go there for a while.

I also discovered that several days of non-stop (more or less) working at the desk creates something in the laundry called a 'bloody-great-mountain-of-clean-washing-that-needs-to-be-folded-and-put-away'. I only know this because Hannah went to look for clean socks on Monday night and finally emerged from the pile on Wednesday morning after which she gave a full report of the anomaly. I dealt with it last night. Very late last night.

Anyway, now I'm back at my desk. Still working. Blogging a tiny bit. And not reading blogs at all. Sorry my best blogging friends, I'll be there soon to catch up missed posts and leave inane comments...business as usual coming soon to a blog near you.

Thank you for not giving up on me.

Preparing and What I did yesterday

The girls go back to school on Tuesday, commencing the first of the 'summer terms' - different uniform, sandals, sun hats every day. This morning I thought 'I hope those uniforms fit'. So we got them out and tried everything on. They were fine. Hannah needed new school sandals so we went and bought those today. Boring brown school sandals. $85. All the nice shoes we could have bought for $85, but no...they were the ones we needed. And did I mention.......$85!!?

We also went to the pet shop and saw the puppies. I'd love a puppy. Just saying.

Then we went to the supermarket which was a hoot (no, I'm kidding, it was supermarket shopping - same as always).

Now we're home. We had lunch and now I have work to do (yes, the kind you get paid for). I'd really like to put my feet up for half an hour but I'd better not.

Speaking of such things remember how tired I was yesterday? Well, I don't know what happened but despite being so tired I started a couple of jobs I've been intending to do for a while.......and couldn't stop. I was like the energiser bunny on speed...I was still going at 11pm!! Tom was worried that when I did eventually go to bed I wouldn't be able to sleep I was so strung out and manic.

I.......

- Changed the sheets/quilt covers etc

- Vacuumed and dusted the whole house

- Did 4 loads of washing, the whole washing line was full plus two small dryer loads

- Completely tidied, ordered and organised the top drawer of the filing cabinet (got 4 supermarket plastic bags of papers – I really need a shredder)

- Tidied and organised the bills folder, did a new fortnightly budget spreadsheet and another financial spreadsheet

- Folded most of the clean washing and put it away

- Took a cup of tea to bed at 11pm and read until midnight.

This is all as well as the usual daily bits and pieces, supervising children, making lunch, making dinner, bathing children etc. Once I went to bed I did actually fall asleep easily and slept well. I've got no idea what caused the wild energy burst, especially considering I was operating on less than 3 hours sleep, but whatever it was I'd like some more of it.

Amen, Sister...AMEN!

This post prompted me to send an email to all the friends with whom we usually exchange gifts at Christmas. In the email I linked to the post and then said.......

After reading this I got to thinking about the 3 bags of toys I recently donated to Vinnies and how so much of it was hardly played with. While it’s nice to know that it will now contribute to a charity it would be so much nicer to know that a child who really needed something could have had them as brand new toys.

I know that some of you may be considering giving gifts to Tom and I and/or the girls this Christmas and I really appreciate your kindness and generosity in doing so, however I respectfully request that you don’t. I would like to suggest an amnesty on gift exchange. This is not because I hate your gifts or because I am miserly and mean or because I don’t love and care for each and every one of you. It’s because it is not necessary. In my family, and I know for most of you, we all receive gifts at Christmas. Many, many gifts. The girls will get nice presents from Tom and I and then more from extended family. I’d really like to stop it there. They have so much already, more than they can ever play with, or wear or put in their hair or make or paint or cut up or join together. I know we’re not unique in this, every parent I know can testify to the ‘stuff mountain’ that their children have.

The things I remember about my own childhood Christmases have nothing to do with presents. I remember family gatherings, going to church in the snow (admittedly that’s probably not going to happen this year) carol singing, Christmas concerts, a big family lunch and watching ‘Wonderful Life’ on TV. Of course there were presents but they didn’t overshadow everything else. I want the same for Hannah and Aislin. If you are worried that they (or I) will think you don’t care I can assure you that won’t be the case. Next time you see them give them a hug or play a game with them or read them a story, I can absolutely guarantee they will love and remember you more for those things than for any present you could give them.

If you really feel the need to give gifts to us can I suggest that, instead, you please give a gift to a child through the Kmart Wishing Tree or St Vincent de Paul (who have a similar program of giving gifts to the needy - adults included) or donate to your favourite charity and think of us as you do it. Both Hannah and Aislin are donating gifts this year and Tom and I are also gifting through the Vinnies program. I’m really proud of the girls for doing that, in the link I sent you, point 2 says ‘it’s not about things’ and they are really understanding that now. I know we all would like to contribute less to the madness of Christmas consumerism and more to places it’s needed.

I really hope I haven’t offended anyone and that you don’t think me presumptuous in anticipating presents from you. If you are receiving this email it’s because you are considered a much-loved friend and someone with whom we’ve exchanged gifts in the past. I also know that any gifts you have given in the past have been given with love and generosity, as were the gifts we gave to you, and I do not dismiss that sentiment for a moment. I want you all to know that your love and generosity exist for me just as much, perhaps even more, without gifts. I’m looking forward to catching up with most of you before Christmas and I hope you won’t throw rocks at me.

Our love to you all and best wishes for the festive season
Merry Christmas
Caitlin XXXXXXXXXXX

All but one person agreed wholeheartedly. I tried to explain to her that it didn't mean I was planning a Dickensian Christmas with the four of us huddled around a chicken leg and a mouldy potato and the girls each getting a broken coathanger in their stockings. To no avail, she was hurt and defensive. However, she has reluctantly agreed to respect my wishes.

When did it get so nuts? When did Christmas become about things and stuff? That really crept up on me and I guess only we can change it. And that's what I intend to do.

UPDATE: The one person who didn't agree suddenly rang me, out of the blue, saying 'I get it, I finally get it!!' there had been an incident that had prompted her to see what I was getting at and the penny dropped.