I wandered up from the kitchen garden on Tuesday night and saw this cloud hanging over the hill behind. It was visualisation of what I was feeling. High above that cloud my in-laws were in their plane to Auckland. After weeks of cohabitation we are back to our pack – two of us and two hounds.
It’s fascinating that when I tell people that I’ve had my in-laws to stay. Their eyes roll up and give that grin which says “oh poor you”. It’s sharp knocked off their face when I tell them it’s been great. Lots of fun and wonderful to have had the extra help. I’d go as far as to say that parental cohabitation is a much underrated thing. Or perhaps I’m just still basking in the afterglow of finishing most of my summer chores.
After an extended summer break it’s all go again in the Domestic Executive office. Getting back into the swing of work has not been hard, it’s just the balancing act between domestic and executive has started all over again. Gone are the days of the laundry mysteriously going from the washing machine to the line to the ironing board and back into my closet with me having to do a thing. Back are the days when I have to wear a watch and carry my phone so I don’t miss the commuter run.
I miss the banter, the background noise of the kettle working overtime. The team work in the garden and the kitchen. I miss the long conversations over meals on the veranda and having dog walking companions. The void has created a temporary cloud – the one that points it’s finger at you and says “what do you expect if you move to the other side of the world?”.
Fair point. Cruel but true.
