These past few days, I have been mostly cleaning. I’ve washed all the non-carpeted floors, dusted everywhere, vacuumed… During my week off, I’ll break out the carpet cleaner, move all the living room furniture, and clean the carpet. Recently, it’s been spot-cleaned, though a good clean is now in order. I’ve had the attention span of a goldfish recently, and cleaning takes my mind off recent events.

I’d gone to work as usual, but colleagues asking why I wasn’t my usual chipper self, set me off. I told a few colleagues about my dog, and they were so nice, it made me cry if that makes sense. The manager sent me home an hour early and told me I was entitled to a day off, with full pay, for the death of a pet dog. Next day I stayed home, had a 2-hour lie in which I clearly needed, and just pottered around the house. My son had already disposed of all the dog’s ‘stuff’ so that I wouldn’t see it and be upset. He’s been a rock, very supportive, though I have heard him quietly crying in his room. He’s had a dog in his life more than not and I know he misses him terribly too, though at this time neither of us wants another. The cost is an issue; I have vet bills of over £300 to clear, and with us renting, it isn’t a good idea, then there’s my age…

I have quite a lot of overtime booked this week and next which will help though I did lose one hours pay by going home early, and 2 further hours in ‘lost’ overtime. A colleague said she’d give me the money for those lost hours because she actively encouraged me to go home, though I hope she doesn’t push that. It was a nice gesture, but I’m not a charity, and I always pay my own way. I half-expected my best friend to offer to buy me another dog, though thankfully he hasn’t yet. He sent a nice text, and I well remember how upset he was when his dog passed a few years ago. We do get attached to our pets…

During my week off – less than 2 weeks to go, not that I’m counting – I’m going to touch-up some of the paintwork here, chase up my freaking X-ray, and try and get out to buy some new clothes. I did have a little shopping therapy in that I bought 2 new pans. I have a cast-iron shallow casserole pan, a cheap make, and it’s looking the worse for wear and too heavy for me, so I’ve replaced it with a stainless-steel version. I also bought a small enamel stock pan for soups and so on. Inexpensive, lightweight, and very useful.

Well, that’s it. Just getting by, taking each day as it comes, and binge-watching Elementary when I need a break from cleaning.

Take care. Storms aplenty here in the UK. Keep safe.