Just another day

6:00am The radio comes on, even when I think I am ready for it, it still makes me jump.
 lay there just thinking, the radio announcer says things that I can’t really hear.

6:15 Well no good just being laid out, time to get up, have a stretch, a scratch and a shower.
 The shower sprinkling down, wetting my hair (well what’s left of it) and going down the rest of me in rivulets. Soaping up and rinsing off takes the last vestiges of sleep away.
 A brisk towelling – almost as good as a scratch except it reaches places that my hands can’t.
 A shave, lathering up, sweet smelling and so soft, cold steel scrapes across the chin, the lather is ‘whisked’ away and swilled down the sink, a quick rinse opens your eyes as a tingle spreads across the face.
 Gnashers next, wondering which flavour we are trying this month as the brush pummels the gums and teeth, hoping that the spot isn’t found which for some reason is still a little tender.

6:40 Getting dressed, no one special to meet today so that means in my more ‘comfortable’ clothes. Decision made, quickly dressed, down stairs, dog on lead and OUT! 

6:50 Fresh air, no talking or singing just the dog whining as she pulls away.
 The sky is a uniform grey but the birds are bringing out colour in their song.
 Such energy a dog can summon up scampering amongst woodland makes you sit down in exhaustion!

7:30 Back home, dog fed, breakfast poured out of a cereal container milk sloshed on and we both sit there eating away, oblivious to the nattering going on around of the day to come.
 The washing to be loaded, the washing up to be done, lunches prepared – what do you want on your sandwiches, do you want to wear this tonight, are we going to the supermarket tonight, are we doing this, that or tother? All I want is 5 minutes peace and quiet as I eat my breakfast

7:45 Breakfast over, nattering still going on in the background, “yes sweatheart” as I kiss her on the cheek and go to work!

8:00 Now at work, trying to think of the ‘little jobs’ that had been delegated to me whilst going to and from work. Memories gone blank, get stuck into work thinking that I shall ring home later and check.

10:00 Brew time, phew that went quick, people all around still nattering, ‘a cacophony of sound’ – a brilliant word that seems to explain exactly how it sounds. A lot of noise but nothing being said. Time to go back into my own little world.

12:30pm Lunch time, devouring sandwich and back out into the fresh air, I understand what a prisoner must feel as he escapes from his enclosure for that few short minutes, and how disappointing it is when the weather is bad and we remain incarcerated within four walls.
 Oops forget to ring home to be reminded of those ‘little jobs.’ I must remember before I go home tonight.

1:00 Halfway there, same faces, same noises, same artificial environment, glumness envelops as the realisation that another 4 hours are still to go.
 The mind wanders to what other things I would like to do, bit of pottering in the garden, tinkering with the car, building a model to impress the kids, walk the dog on the wide open moors. Yet here I am, got to buckle down to it and focus on the here and now.

2:30 Brew time, the day stretches on, and the weather seems to be closing in, hoping for at least a bit of good weather for when I get home.

4:45 The text ring my mobile goes off, a reminder of my ‘little jobs’ to do, phew, I had forgot but won’t admit it so I return the message with a little sarcasm.

5:00 Phew, another day and another dollar, now lets get home, the traffic is manic everyone wanting to go in the same direction at the same time. Scowls, grimacing, cursing and swearing are all evident of the occupiers of those little tin boxes.
 Someone stalls, horns blast and engines rev. tempers are frayed all we all want to do is to go home.

5:10  Clear(ish) road, radio on, window slightly open, air rushing in followed by the din of the other cars. Singing along to the radio I go into automatic pilot following the same road back home. The drive opens up like welcoming arms as I drive in, handbrake on, engine off, I sit there for a few seconds, smile and get out. There to welcome is my wife, but the facial expression is one I have learnt that means a question, “Where’s the groceries?” Looking to heaven for inspiration I groan, get back into the car and do the ‘little job’. “Men ask them to do one simple job, send them a reminder” are the words I hear fade away as I get back onto the road
 and to the shops.

5:45 Don’t ask, coming out of work was childs play in comparison to getting to the high street, finding somewhere to park, finding the parking disc (just around that car down there I can se his cap, he’s just waiting for me to forget to put my disc in). Why is it that when I am in a shop waiting to be served that a ‘general’ conversation is going on in at the checkout, and then when it has all been put through and the amount tilled up, a search through al the pockets of the ‘bag’ ensued. Change is fingered through a couple of times, note compartment checked, realisation that it has to be on the ‘card’. 5 minutes later and its my turn, not an ‘hello’ - ‘good afternoon’ – ‘can I help you with your packing’ – anyway its shoved through, advised of the cost (with a scowl), pay up and leave.

6:15 Back home (again), groceries now in the house, good evening said to my fair wife, and I skulk into the living room, open the evening paper, a voice comes from the kitchen “before you sit down can you help me with the tea”. Back up and into the kitchen, I am told of all the days events who’s doing what with whom. A little bit of scandal here and a little bit gossip there. Events we are going to (not a suggestion more a royal proclamation), okay I say. “Oh good” We shall go down town this weekend there is a little dress that will be perfect for that event, I shudder, in my mind an extension to particular wardrobe is envisaged.

6:40 Missed the news, don’t particularly like the regional ‘magazine’ programme, but we watch it whilst having tea, but she is happy.

7:00 Back in the kitchen, washing up, well she has been busy all day, needs some time to put her feet up.

7:20 Hands now dried, washing up all put away, a little sigh, but a least I can now sit down. “are you putting the kettle on?” “we have time for a cup of tea before going to - - - - - “
 I’m saying nowt, just switch the kettle on, get the dog and lead and go to the pub!
 I know I’m in for it when I get home but what the eck!

8:30 I get home, she is full of smiles, I go on the defence, “come on you’re just back in time”. Ah well at least its not the third degree.
 We go, I sit and listen – well act as though I am – I think of a person I once knew who had hearing aids, his favourite ‘little tail’ was that they were brilliant, I could just switch them off and not hear a thing!
 Another cup of tea, can’t remember anything they have said, could do with the loo.

9:45 Hurrah she said its time we were going!

10:00 At last, when its time to go, then lets go, not start up yet another conversation! Kisses on the cheek, shake of hands – oh her husband was there as well!

10:15 Back home, she has a second wind, I just want to sit down listen to the news, read my paper and go to bed.

10:30 Dog comes and puts it’s head on my knee, as good as an excuse as any! Off we go for half an hour.

11:10 Back home, bedroom lights on, so I bed the dog, switch everything off, lock up and wander up the stairs. A smile comes from my wife as she lays there reading.
 I strip off, get my PJ’s on, ablutions done, and climb in – had a good day dear she says!
 Yes dear, as I fall into sleep!