Sunday 30 January 2011

No, I can't

take a photograph straight this morning. It's because of the amount of ironing I have done and have yet to do. I can't do any more. No matter how warm it's keeping me - I'm bored witless by it. And no, I can't put it away un-ironed. My workdesk and room may be cataclysmically untidy, but I like to wear ironed clothes, and I especially like my lovelies to step out in pressed and cared for clothes. Reflected image, see. Yep, such is my skill that I can even bring the subject of ironing back to being all about me. No doubt Donna will let me know what that means. I don't mind, because it'll be all about me (and Mr Freud I expect!).
I can't get going. Stuff is spread across my workroom, the lounge room and the dining table. It's paperwork. It relates to Mr Dunnit and his new work. And his old work. And all the paperwork that goes with assessing your life when monumental change occurs. My way of dealing with it is to label it accurately, file it neatly and keep it controlled. Not so Mr Dunnit, and he ain't ready to let me loose on it. So I can't do that either.
I can't go and do some much needed grocery shopping. We're sharing a car and Mr D is out. I could schlep down to the village to pick up essentials, but as we've been away, essentials alone will fill a car boot, so I'm gonna wait. I may even have help if I wait!
I can't get into Miss Dunnit's room....sleepover bedding and all sorts blocking my route. You'd think I wanted to - but my intention was merely to scout for mugs and glasses...the kitchen cupboards are looking suspiciously empty again!
I can't get over that 3 days after getting home, I'm still surprised by the cold! Today is a beautiful sunny and shiny day, I was almost fooled into a t shirt when I dressed. The ice field that is the bathroom floor put me into UK weather mode as fast as you like.
I can't stop thinking about how amazing it was in Tenerife to see Poinsettias planted in the ground, doing really well....the smell of bright yellow Jasmine as we huffed and puffed our way up the steps to the villa (and thereafter used the 4 lifts!) and the delicious hibiscus in full bright flower. Gorgeous sights for a child of the northern hemisphere.
I can't therefore, face the frost bitten and untidy looking garden in front of me without feeling the weight of the work rather than the joy of the planning and the production.
I can't get over how a slight cold has become gargantuan and caused me to lose 2 days of my life sitting in a chair being snotty and hot, and worst of all, practically voice-less. It's OK, me and the will-to-live are fighting back properly now.

And I cannot, can't, will not, get over how lovely it is to be home.

29 comments:

Helen said...

I only buy clothes that don't need ironing, apart from a couple of pairs of trousers I wear to work - which need ironing, so thanks for the jog!!
Glad you had a great time - any pics to share? (thinking of the one of you huffing up the hill....! )Hope you find some cups and have a nice cup of tea before you tackle your "to do" list!!

Neil said...

Beautiful card, love the blue and brown combo ! I know what you mean about the pointsettias, when we were living in sunny South Africa we had pointsettia "trees" in our garden ! Loved them very much and were sorry to sell the house with all it's tropical plants! But, hey, we have daffodils, snowdrops and bluebells!

Pam said...

Oh you poor thing. If it makes you feel any better, in a rare show of domesticity (and the fact my OH was busy doing something else) I have just emerged from a cloud of bleach after scrubbing 4 bathrooms to within an inch of their life. Hugs Pam x

Hope and Chances said...

Lovely card. I have so much empathy with you regarding the ironing. I occasionally take ironing in as a paid job (yes mad!) Today I have two sacks to do - the only way I get through it is to watch films - I collect DVDs specifically for ironing! :-)

Scrapcat 1 said...

I watch my programmed I have recorded hile ironing, when I'm ironing the tv is mine no matter what! I know what you mean about the cold and how nice it is to be home after being away.
Hope you get over your cold and manage to get all your jobs done.

Rosie said...

I share your opinion of ironing as an activity - excruciatingly dull. Know what you mean about loving being home, but also missing the jasmine and the sunshine .... I think there's a period of dislocation following a holiday when you can't be expected to function normally. So don't.

misteejay said...

Hope you are soon fighting fit.

The card is lovely and the 'jaunty angle' is cute.

Toni xx

Cardarian said...

I just put away my ironing (did it all morning and half of the afternoon) and was just thinking how ironing is the most dull activity you can imagine! I hope you can soon get back in the route of "normal" life but it is very hard once you have been away and in the warm!
Try to have a lovely day!
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian

Ohhh Snap said...

I had to buy an iron for crafty things. I just can't bear to wear things that need ironing. I don't have a blowdryer either. Except for crafting supplies I'm very low maintenance :D. Love the card! Is the brown plant in the background from a stamp? GLad you had a great vacation and glad you are home safe.

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Glad you had a good holiday, though it is a shame you have since developed the dreaded lurgy. It is probably an allergy to ironing. I have only just found my iron again, hidden at the back of the spare room behind all my craft stuff and a few tons of rubbish. I know what you mean about not wanting to etc.... Hope you soon feel better.

Kirsty.A said...

I hate ironing and I hardly do it, especially in winter (woollies etc don't need ironing in my view) But I have just filed away all the paperwork which had accumulated on my desk and gone through my craft mags, torn out the bits I want to kee and recycled the rest - domesticity must be in air!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Well, I can't make a lovely card, so you are far ahead of me. Friday and Saturday we broke records with 70 F (~20 C) temperatures. Today the high is supposed to be 40 F (a little over 4 C). Tomorrow is supposed to be ZERO F (negative 18 C) and lots of snow. So, I will send warm thoughts, but will be huddling in my warm jammies hoping I don't lose heat, water, or electricity. And believe me, I know bone chilling cold, especially after a few days in warmth and sunshine.

But just think how much ironing you can get done, even if it is a boring, mundane chore. WAIT! What am I saying? I haven't ironed since the 90s. OK, I do iron, but it is only art related, and never clothing. I have found the secret to MY clothes is removing them from the dryer when they are nearly dry, then hand creasing them after I put them on a hanger. Of course, I don't have a Mr. Bleubeard and Elizabeth, and I think men's shirts are SO much harder to iron. I don't suppose Mr. D would start wearing sweat shirts to work.

And bring it all back to you, dear friend. That's why I visit. BTW, you were right about the tin lids/bird bodies.

Kathy said...

well.... I've learned something new today - don't iron if you want to take straight photographs afterwards. hehehe
Straight or wonky, it's still fab, Julia.

Been ages since I got over here for a catch up, so I'm off to see what else you've been up to

Hels Sheridan said...

Gorgeous card ... send your ironing over to me hunny, I love ironing... seriously, I do.. it is the anal retentive in me... oh and the control freak too ROFL... emmm.. think I may have issues LMAO
Actually. My room of stash is still tidy.. and I am the real Hels and all that... although those little green men were looking at me strange the other night in the big saucer shaped thingy...

*yes, I have lost the plot!!*

Carola Bartz said...

Oh Julia, you really sound pretty down. I hope for you that your "old" perky self will make a fast re-appearance.
And btw - I hate ironing. I'm not doing it anymore. At least in this regard, the American mindset has taken over, and it's a good thing.

Chrissie said...

I have a sea of ironing at home.. the bottom of the basket probably containing clothes last worn on holiday last spring!
One of these days, I'll feel the urge... or the necessity to do it!
Get well soon!
Chrissie

Jinny Holt said...

Julia......ironing is a swear word lol....... Your home sounds similar to mine,with the hecticness of kids and life, I can so relate,bar the ironing part..yuk
I hope Mr. D sorts out his paperwork soon, must be sooo frustrating
Keep smiling :~)

Beautiful card by the way, I would not have even noticed it's not straight,too early in the day yet !!!!

TFS

Jinny

Morti said...

I think I can only say....


(((((HUG)))))

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

What a wonderful insight into the life of Mrs Dunnit, super post Julia. I confess I only iron when I need to - I don't mean I wear clothes that aren't ironed I tend to iron something when I need it, only very occasionally do I iron several things in one go :-/ Still there's only me to worry about I did used to iron the kids clothes before putting them away when they were younger.
I love the card, love the colours :-)
Anne xx

donnalouiserodgers said...

Hmm let's see - Do you Iron the Bills? Do you iron pants socks or tea towels?

I iron once a month for a stupid amount of time because by then we have run out of unironed clothes to wear, Mr Freud didn't have much to say about chores cos his patients were above that sort of thing
I find ironing The Mostboring tedious and unrewarding, least creative activity. And you can't day dream cos then you burn someone or soemthing...

but I still actually do it, listening to radio four in the bedroom and I loudly complain as I resent every moment it takes me away from my craft room...

But it has yet to result in wonky pictures,

Are you sure you are wearing a pair of shoes and not one high heel and one flattee?

And _ You are in the draw - absolutely you are.

Dx

Spyder said...

it's a lovely card, but now I feel guilty...I use my ironing board to craft on,when the dining table's filled up and I can't get in my craft room... I must tidy!

Unknown said...

im a lucky gal, 1 - I love to iron lol 2 - I own a laundry business and have the use of huge roller irons, that are effortless to iron with.

Hope you have a wrinkle free evening xx

Neet said...

I know the feeling - even though Sylmar America is not my real home I could not wait to get back "home". It was so good after three days in a hotel to go to my American home.
Not that we iron here - the dryers are so BIG clothes do not need ironing.
Love your birdie card.

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