I am very excited to share this with you. Today, after a week with poorly monkeys, wet weather and general cooped up behind closed doorseyness (that isn’t a word), I got a full day in my garden. It was a real treat, as I often look at my garden, weeds and brambles taking over it, wishing I could get out there and tidy it. Well today I did.
When I say I had poorly monkeys this week I don’t just mean a minor sniffle. MM has had croup. Most kids get a mild dose. MM, usually as strong as an Ox, got a severe case. Barking cough, restricted breathing, call to 111, paramedic, A&E, steroid shot, 1 hour later home again all better. Well sort of.
After a day off, he went back to nursery. By the afternoon he had a raging fever which I struggled to bring down. Called the doctor for some advice (to avoid the 111 paramedic situation again). He pointed out that I was administering calpol in a dose meant for babies and suggested I try ibuprofen too. Discovered that my iduprofen was three years out of date. What can I say? The monkeys are rarely ill! #epicmummyfail.
Long story short, MM has had a rough week. BM, not wanting to miss out, has also had a virus, coupled with eye snot. It has been delightful. Unable to leave the house until the 3.15 school run, miserable weather, worry and constant forehead checking. (My thermometer is broken too). Covered in snot and constant hand sanitising. I could have gone crazy. Zero running too. (Insert sad face here).
On the plus side, no lunch time school run. Sofa snuggles with MM, while BM napped, watching CBeebies. A 100% reassurance that our local NHS is doing an amazing job. Paramedic, nurse, doctor, all amazing and wonderful with MM. They enjoyed him showing them his “know your body” lift the flap book, let him look around the paramedic’s car and use the doctor’s stethoscope to listen to his own heart. All the while reassuring me that I wasn’t wasting their time. Long live the NHS.
The weeds, the bees and a few little bricks.
Back to my day outside to breath fresh air and feel relieved that MM is finally recovering. Still looking, pasty and tired but no temperature today (yay). I set out with the intention of clearing a few weeds and maybe adding a couple of bricks to my border project (It’s Just a Matter of Time). But, Mr LMR took BM out and TM played nicely. MM rested a bit more and I got more time.
A further long story short, I cleared all of the weeds, cut back some bushes, removed several million brambles, swept up and tidied the toys. Granted there was the small issue of discovering a swarm of bees had moved into our bird box. Discovered when I pulled some dead brambles from behind it and a small swarm flew out and Persuede myself and TM around the garden. He was very brave and kept saying “stay very still mummy” as a crouched on the lawn with my arms over my head.
I almost gave in but a quick check on the bee conservation website confirmed the swarm was probably made up of males who don’t sting (news to me) and if I stayed away I should be fine. I, therefore, plodded on and made great progress. My garden hasn’t looked so good. Far from perfect but a, now tidy, work in progress.
Finally, I can confirm that 27 of my 37 bricks are in the ground. A little wibbly wobbly in places, but looking much better than it did. The main section of my border complete. Feeling so proud of myself. A task that has frustrated me for so long. I achieved it one brick at a time. 10 little bricks to go in along the top. But my achievement makes this last task seem simple. I’m going to bed tonight, refreshed from the fresh air and proud. Luckily, bee sting free too and (fingers crossed) fit and well monkeys in the morning.
