Discombobulated

That’s what the Christmas holiday does to people. Well it does to me and I’ve had my head down working most of the time. It was brought home to me when S - my super help – super efficient and super punctual didn’t turn up at 9am on New Years Day. I had said I wouldn’t expect her unless she phoned and decided to come. She phoned a couple of days before and we agreed she would come. So by 9.15am and no S - I was sufficiently worried to phone and leave a message to make sure she was alright. Minutes later she phoned back – confusing because we were in the middle of a phone call to Australia which had been cut off twice and S shares the same Christian name as my DIL. All was sorted eventually and S was with me within 15 minutes. Like so many of us she had forgotten what day it was (a daily occurrence here.)

I felt a little smug that even someone as young and vibrant as S could get discombobulated – but the smugness didn’t last long. On the days she works here I rise at 6.45am to prepare and tidy whatever room she is working on. For example if she is doing the kitchen it doesn’t make sense for her to have to do all the dirty dishes and clear all the detritus off the kitchen table (it’s also an excellent excuse to get MTL to do a little tidying of his papers etc etc) This week it was the bedrooms so in spite of the weather the French windows were opened and I had breakfast and showered. I had already changed the guest beds so left our bed open and as I was well off for time before she arrived switched on the computer.

After S eventually arrived we had a little chat and then went off to our tasks – she to our bedroom and me to my office. I was checking my emails when a little voice said

‘Pat excuse me for disturbing you but would you like me to make your bed?’

This was moment of pure discomfiture for me. How could I have forgotten to make it? I noticed the twinkle in her eye and we burst out laughing. I suppose you had to be there but I wonder have you had any similar experiences during the break? Do you know what day it is?