How many of you forgot the clocks moved forward an hour?
For once, I didn’t. But this morning, getting up for work, I felt it!! I missed that extra hour in bed. My tiredness is compounded by the fact I have driven over 400 miles this weekend so we could visit Dave’s family in Shrewsbury and go to a friend’s wedding in Cardiff (no.2 of 11….I think). Yet I cannot complain too much because last nights drive home was bathed in glorious sunshine most of the way and as we crossed the Pennines, the sun set, leaving a dusky twilight that was magical. Spring is finally here. On the news, there has been much said about the evidence that the weather is altered by climate change, that wildlife thinks Spring has arrived early. What I did notice on the route home were trees and hedgerows still in the spindly, bare, brown branched stage of regeneration. They are still waiting to bud. I wonder if this is a sign that the seasons are messed up.
Speaking of mess, now it is Spring, the time has come for Spring Cleaning. Our home is a disordered haven and I can’t pretend to love it’s shambolic state. I need help! I am naturally messy; I am a hoarder and find it hard to throw things away, I’m also a ditherer, incapable of making quick decisions. Things pile up – washing, dishes, rubbish, books. A problem with our house is the lack of storage space so items are left lying about because we have nowhere to ‘file’ them! My side of the bed is identifiable by the stacks of unread novels awaiting me. Keeping home clean and tidy is a discipline, even a spiritual discipline because in clutter there lies distraction. Moving house always puts me in a state because it’s a time of throwing away, tidying up and cleaning. The contract on our flat ends in August, so in much advance preparation and on the second day of Spring, I am going to make some resolutions for cleaning:
1. Any clothes that I haven’t worn for 6 months will go to the charity shop.
2. The pile of books by the door, meant for Oxfam, will have to go there asap.
3. Washing up after dinner to be done straight away.
4. Tidy up art materials as soon as I have used them.
5. To hoover, dust and clean once a week.
If you have any tips for cleaning, storage or being disciplined – please let me have them!
