Ever get a week off work? I hope you do, it’s healthy, right? Well it sends me into a spiral if I’m not prepared for it. Because I don’t like just sitting around, so if there’s no work on the calendar, if I have time off…I need to fill it.
Here is a recount of my attempt.
Monday
The 2nd of June
9am. Who books a vet visit at 9 am on a Monday? The furry editor-in-chief was dramatic. She chased the clinic cat, is in perfectly good health for a slightly chubby bean, and made her displeasure known by whinging at two poodles that came in after her. She was called very cute as a result. A girl can’t even be dramatic in peace when she’s cute.
Got home, had breakfast, trudged around the house. Finally settled on a task. I will now spend an hour re-doing the holiday itinerary for the 45th time. This is what happens when you want to see too much. You get crippled with choice.
Realised I needed to write a Substack post…it’s Sub-ception (Substack-ception?) reading the post while I talk about writing the post. I only got part of the way through. This is a ‘write a bit every day’ sort of thing.
I try to sit and write a list of other things I need to get done. I hate emails, I’ll do them tomorrow, problem solved. Now to re-revamp this itinerary.
Tuesday
The 3rd of June
Woke up to no power. They sent a letter, I put it in the calendar and forgot to look at it. Thank goodness I made my parents keep the gas stove and gas water heater. They’re on holiday. Living with retirees means you live alone half the time. But I’m stuck . I look at the bank account, okay no going to a cafe, maybe the library? It’ll be packed. It’s exam time. Fine.
So, I can send emails only until the laptop battery runs out, then have a nap, read a book, lounge around and off to my ballet class. But which book?
I spent an hour choosing the book, an hour choosing the tea to drink with the book, an hour making mediocre brownies to eat with the tea and the book. Then I only had an hour left to read the book.
I think I have problems with making decisions, but who doesn’t?
Wednesday
The 4th of June
I woke up and looked through all the writing projects I’ve had through the years in the hopes of being productive. No, apparently I don’t believe in resting my mind. My to do list is empty, and instead of taking this as a sign to lounge about and do nothing, I decide to re-edit a project I’ve been writing and editing over again.
This is one of those fruitless writing projects that we all must be plagued by. Midway through this hell loop of re-writing my project, I start randomly reading The Writers Way (look, this is a universal thing for all writers, I don’t want to sound unique here) and she emphasised resting and taking yourself on artists dates, so you exist in the world instead of just writing about it. The issue with artists dates is when you’re trying to save money, which I am, they can become pricey. The train costs money, the car costs money, grabbing a meal or even a snack when you’re out. So I stay in.
I stay in and I rake the garden and mop the floors and have something to eat, all while listening to an audiobook, and then I went off to yet another ballet class. When I got back, I was met with a satisfying yard and a clean house. Ah, this is inner peace.
Thursday
The 5th of June
After a proper sleep in, I read a book about writing. It said things I’ve already heard in different ways, so I gave up quickly. I moved on to sending emails, asking how people are, what is coming up? Is there anything I should see? Querying some agents, the usual, all while listening to Wuthering Heights. Maybe I’ll finally finish it.
I now start online shopping or vacation things I don’t need, new sunglasses, maybe a new blouse I’ll never wear again…I remember hearing from a friend ‘you don’t become a new person on vacation’. I delete everything in the cart. It’s a friend’s birthday and leave early to go buy her some flowers to go with her little gift. I may not have very much in the way of money, but I can spare something to make sure those I care for are aware of how glad I am that they were born.
I drop off her gifts by her house on my way to dinner with a different friend. We head to Vietnamese food to talk over her recent holiday to Vietnam, she bought me a hilarious tote bag. Something she knew I would love, and I do love it. I bought her flowers. We go on talking over my favourite bubble tea, and then we go on talking in the car, until we both realise it’s gotten too late and it’s time to go home.
Friday
The 6th of June
I wake up to a slurry of emails, work for the next three weeks. I’m a scribe and report writer when I’m not trying to slowly better my career. Say what you will, a job is a job. I’ve learnt a lot from working adjacent to the government, and it’s a welcome change from the inherent narcissism in the film and television industry.
I spent a little time to look over the paperwork, take in my instructions and organise myself. I decide to then have some tea and listen to the rest of the audio book as I organise my laptop and delete all the files I’ve kept for some weird reason.
I decide that’s enough working. Not that I did very much work at all this week. I decide to take an extra amount of time to decide on a leotard and skirt combination for ballet class, elaborately braid my hair into a bun and head off. Sometimes the extra effort to look a little prettier is worth it. I come home, have dinner and spill my red wine all over the floorboards where it immediately stains. I laugh at myself two hours later, on my hands and knees trying to remove the stain. I give up, and go to bed. I quite enjoyed my odd week.
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Really a joy to read. I appreciate your day-to-day, day-in-the-life entries. Ballet. Birthdays. Dates. Friends. Work. Show biz. Spilled wine. You capture so much with brevity. All the best to you!
Love the time you take on decisions that serve your soul ❤️