Back to reality

Almost. School tomorrow for the boys, but Mike went back this morning and has a 5-lesson day awaiting him. I spent the night in complicated, repetitive dream sequences that all involved having to get out of bed, then had to do it all again at 6am. It's 7am now and there's a strong wind blowing outside, making me worry about the bees. Of dreams and bees, I had one a while a while ago (a dream, not a bee) that we went to see them and the bushes around the hives - which are in a small copse with hedges - had been cut down. Soon after we went to see them and it was true, which was quite spooky. I had told my mum about the dream before we went though which was pleasing, 'cause it's always hard to prove your psychic powers retrospectively*. Anyway, where was I... ah, here's a good website for keeping hive records. I don't know yet how I'll get on with it, but kind of the developer to make it free for people like me who have only a few hives and no smart phone: www.beetight.com. The British Beekeepers' Association Spring Conference is on in April and I plan to go to it.

Last night in my dreams I also realised what to get Mike for his 40th birthday next week. Perhaps I should give up guest house management and fantasies of a job in the environment sector, and set up a phone line instead. Ask me your question then ring back tomorrow for the answer from my dreams. Only £3.50 a minute for the privilege*.

We rang in the New Year with no great style, but it was nice nonetheless. I went to a party earlier in the evening and planned to swap with Mike so he could go later, but it finished at 11pm, so we were at home for the bells. Possibly I was even already half-asleep for the bells. I am full of good resolve for 2012, so much so that I have started to wonder if I am pretty shit at most things. If one's resolutions include sweeping generalisations of all of the following then there's quite a lot of room for improvement: be a kinder, more patient mother; use my time more effectively; be more economical; eat better and more regularly; keep on top of the housework; don't spend so much time on facebook playing scrabble; be more sociable; learn more about the bees and do it all properly; get the allotment back in shape and improved, and the same for the garden; less wine, more water. I have a sneaking suspicion that the latter is probably key to all the former. See what I mean? - that list is a pretty damning indictment of my current state of affairs.

Boys are up. Had better look lively.

* no, of course I don't really think I'm a psychic.