The title was slightly longer, however it put me in mind of an old song by the Carpenters and whilst rainy days don’t get me down, unless they go on for days on end, they do limit what one can do. I digress: Monday we awoke to a very damp and drizzly day. The Ship’s Dog and Deckhand were quickly dispatched for walkies, whilst I put some pastries in the oven for breakfast. I washed the dishes, tidied a little, and felt at a loose end.

I dug out my trusty cutlass, leapt into the Deckhands berth (bedroom) and threatened to cast his belongings into the briny if he didn’t help me tidy out some of the accumulated junk. Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little which I know is totally unlike me LMAO. Back to reality: I emptied a dust laden shelf of all its ‘stuff’ and got him to advise what he needed to keep, and what could be binned. This is the third time we’ve done this. Earlier (months ago) we went through all his old school work, and before that it was books from when he was younger. The school work was dispatched to paper recycling, whilst the books were given to a neighbour with young children.

I threw all the stuff he didn’t want onto the landing, added boxes that goods had been delivered in, and threw them down the stairs to be dealt with much to the surprise of the Ship’s Dog. An hour or so later, I had 2 full black bin bags to be binned, a pile of cardboard that I’ve taped together for recycling, and a clean and tidy shelf for the items he wants to keep.

Unlike the Deckhand, and the Scurvy Dog that is his father, I’m not a hoarder. Being an ‘army brat’ (way back, not now) and having to move frequently, hoarding was not an option. My father was also a neat freak and if toys/stuff weren’t tidied away in good time, he would throw them away. I exaggerate not! I do like a tidy Ship, and like things in their place, however I’m not a neat freak; I’m too lazy LOL.

Once we have a dry few days, I’ll get the ladder out, and do same in the attic. The ladders are padlocked outside as they won’t fit anywhere else, and when the weather is damp, they’re no use as they’ll drip inside the house. I’ve looked at loft ladders that would be stored indoors, but what a price! The shed has a good clearing out every so often too. This of course is in preparation for if I move to a new house, either for financial reasons, or if the Deckhand would like me to be closer when he starts Uni. He may love the independence, he may hate it. We won’t know for a while. When I was his age (21) I’d not long been married, and was living with in-laws whilst we saved a deposit for our own home. When my Mother was his age, she was married and expecting her second child – me. Times change, and I think previous generations grew up faster. Not always a good thing, not always a bad thing.

Tuesday, we’ve awoken to a dense fog and don’t my lungs know it. The damp always makes me cough, and coupled with a cold I have, I sound like a 30-a-day nicotine addict. Nice! I’m hoping it will clear up later and even turn sunny so I can get outside and do something useful. Although after a night disturbed by leg cramps, and coughing, lying about in my hammock being gently rocked by the waves does have a certain appeal…