Too Much Free Time

I know everyone is in the same boat and probably fed up hearing about covid and lockdowns and (for us in the UK) brexit. Common denominator throughout is incompetence, said my husband on Saturday evening, just sheer bloody incompetence repeated again and again, almost unbelievable were it not for the fact of course that we're all living through it and witnessing it.

"So," he said, "it seems we are going to have a lot more time on our hands during the Christmas period than we thought. No good looking for ways of breaking the rules (I wouldn't be the one to do that anyway), got to grin and bear it, not fight against it, and find good uses for the extra time and energy we'll have at our disposal."

 

This is not the way P normally reacts to things he doesn't like. I asked him what he was going to do then, I mean with almost all social activities suspended at a time of year when they are normally at their peak. He said be constructive, do something new, create something, change something, achieve something different. WTF did he have in mind, I asked him, and he said that was for me to decide, well each of us really, and to pool ideas where it was appropriate to do so. So I said, 'Okay you go first' but he said he hadn't got any definite ideas yet but they would come, he'd make sure of it. And they better come from me too, he added when he saw the sceptical look on my face.

 

"You know I'm not good at whatever it is you're talking about," I said trying to humour him. "I suppose there's still time to get some more books, review some box sets we meant to watch but didn't, that sort of stuff," watching his face for reaction.

 

"No no, that won't do at all," he said, "I'm not sitting in front of the tv or slouched in a chair reading and if I'm not that means we're not. Check out your trainers make sure they're still comfortable, make sure you've got waterproof as well as warm clothing, think about building a play area for our granddaughter...." He stopped when he saw my eyebrows raise. "Yes why not, I've thought about doing that a few times but never got round to it," he said.

 

I urged him to go on, being as he seemed to have a mind full of ideas already but he said no, they were only half ideas he was thinking out loud, he wanted and expected me to do the same. Expected, eh. I though about that.

 

"What about if I don't come up with anything much? I mean I don't like the sound of warm waterproof clothing for a start," I said.

 

"Well you'd just better," he said, "and if you don't you'll still end up doing a lot of whatever I decide anyway so you might as well contribute. And you'll most likely be doing some of it with a sore backside if you don't do your share of positive thinking."

 

Well there's a conundrum. I'm starting to feel negative already.

Stay safe and have a good week.

 

Ronnie

xx