Sue's notes to self

I am not by nature an early bird. As I get older I am not much of a night owl either, falling asleep in front of the television more often than not. My (alleged) working days are Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, so I get up reasonably early (for me) those days. On my (alleged) days off I prefer to stay in bed as long as possible – making my daily Facebook posts, solving the daily puzzles (‘….’dles), having my breakfast and saying the daily office. I may even have a go at some of the time-wasting games on my iPad (other devices are available) or read a little from my current book. Only then do I head for the shower and face the rest of the day. (See ‘The Gentle Art of Procrastination’).

You are now probably thinking that all that seems a bit of a waste of time, I’m not a teenager any more to be lounging about so much. True, but it is much easier to get up when you feel there is something worthwhile to get up for, and general housework does not come into that category. Not to mention the slowing down that comes with increasing years. I will only be getting up early on my next birthday because it is a working day, and not because I will be eligible to get my first (delayed for my generation of women) state pension. I might add that age also comes with an increasing number of ‘visits’ in the night.

I gave up paid work years ago, and looked forward to being a ‘lady that lunches’ – note, not breakfasts. It was not to be, and I find myself as busy now as I was years ago, but in a different and more varied way, and also more rewarding. That is what gets me up in the morning, the chance to do something worthwhile and be with people.

Except… that is not entirely true. Apart from the alarm clock, what frequently wakes me up and even gets me up is …. the cat. It may be only temporarily, as I am rarely the first one down to feed him, but it is hard too sleep with a fluffy tail in your face and a furry lump weighing heavily on whichever part of you is uppermost. He doesn’t care, he has a message to impart. He does want his breakfast, and cats do not know the difference between a work day and a day off. I can almost hear you saying that we should shut him out of the bedroom, but that would just mean being woken by the noise of the carpet being shredded the other side of the door. Cat owners will understand!

So, what gets me up in the morning? In this order; probably the cat, the need for the toilet, my daily round of morning procrastinations, the promise of a day doing something worthwhile. What doesn’t get me up in the morning; housework….. 😉 … I wonder if it does anyone?

14th July 2023