Sleepy Sabbath

Today was nice. We had our small group meeting rather than attending our usual church. I was slightly late as usual, even though we were only meeting in the hall that is directly opposite my parents’ house. I woke up feeling rougher than yesterday, so I took my time drinking my tea and eating about 4 slices of toast and raspberry jam (the cold hasn’t affected my appetite, thankfully), then taking my vitamins and paracetamol before meandering over. We had a nice Bible study, and even my Dad contributed, which he quite often doesn’t because his hearing means he can’t always follow the discussion as well as he’d like. We sang a few songs together, then started the main service during which Big Sis, Mum and I sang a trio before our friend Mark gave the sermon.

My cheeky little kiddos were present, the two older girls (Big C and Little C) and the youngest little boy (The Destroyer), who kept jumping on my lap and getting me to lean backwards, so much so that we both nearly toppled off my chair. After the service, we went back over to the rents’ for lunch – Mum’s special soup and home-made bread, red rice, curried vegetable and tofu stew, roast chicken, salad and traditional Filipino greens (gabi), cooked with chilli, coconut milk and fish. It was delicious. For dessert, we tucked into my Mum’s baked sweet cinnamon rolls. As we all sat talking around the table, Big C was stood on my chair behind me, as I sat down. She played with my hair and then announced, "You have white hairs. But you're young." Thanks for pointing that out so loudly, child. I replied, "It's because I'm also very wise." Ha, stick that in your pipe and smoke it, young un', I was ready for you this time! Lol. Thankfully I was wearing a different dress this time, so she couldn’t pull me up on that.

We were having fun discussing plans for the group and generally chit-chatting, but I was feeling more and more tired and had to lean on Big Sis as it was hard to remain upright. Eventually, I gave in and went to lie on the sofa nearby, so that I could recline but still listen to the conversation. The children clambered all over me and used the nearby footstool on wheels to spin around on while pretending it was a boat, with sharks in the water beneath them. I was too tired to play along, but kept laughing when The Destroyer jumped on me intermittently, saying “Hello!” I kept hearing snippets of the conversations, but eventually fell into quite a deep sleep, missing a meeting during which it was decided that I would be the children’s co-ordinator for the group (which they then teased me for my ineffectiveness at, seeing as I was asleep) and a short singing practice, only waking when everyone was about to leave. In total, a nap lasting 3 hours. Oops. My body was obviously in need of rest and recuperation.

After we had exchanged hugs and pleasantries, Mum and Big Sis updated me on the plans while we had a cup of tea and a snack. I got changed and got my stuff ready, as Mum had agreed to make a detour for me to Ikea before dropping us home. On the way, I realised that my plans for Sunday lunch with my uni girlies was probably not going to happen, as I was still feeling rather rough and didn’t envisage me feeling better by then. I texted them my apologies and then stopped at Boots to buy some Night Nurse, which for a change I actually had legitimate reason to take. We then stopped at Ikea and Mum and Dad waited in the car while Big Sis accompanied me to buy a chest of drawers I desperately need to sort out my disorganised clothing collection. I also picked up some light bulbs for my floor and reading lamp and an additional hanging organiser for my wardrobe. After paying, I treated us to veggie hotdogs, fries and a drink each, with fries each for the ‘rents and cinnamon and chocolate donuts for dessert, including a couple for Bro-in-Law in his absence.

We got home after a successful shopping trip and I hauled my goods up to my shockingly messy room with the help of Big Sis. She mentioned that Mum had been into my room when she had dropped by the other day (which, due to the mess, I had specifically instructed Big Sis to prevent her from doing). “Do you want to know what she said?” Big Sis asked, to which I replied, “No, actually. I’d rather not.” I tried on some skinny jeans that had arrived from eBay and wondered if I had been a little ambitious with the 'skinny' part. I got ready for bed, took some Night Nurse and after watching some telly, settled down for a good night’s sleep, looking forward to a thrilling Sunday of furniture assembly and tidying up.