dogproofing and mutant motherhood

On Monday I had walked up the stairs for the umpteenth time with that sinking feeling: These stairs are really grimy, I really should hoover, when am I supposed to find time to hoover? When I finally snapped and ripped all the carpet out so I will never have to hoover it again. It only took about an hour. I know, as I did it while the pizza dough was in the breadmaker. Well, it was finished when I'd done and we got our lunch about 3 o'clock, but hey...

I had agreed to look after the dog again, and really, the carpet was still hairy from last time, not to mention the half-a-century's worth of dust and other people's dog hair that was underneath it. We even found a dog tag, but I suspect it was from an ex-dog, so didn't phone up the number.


Anyway- don't you think it looks loads better now? (the other picture was 'during' not 'before', I was too driven to think of taking 'before' pictures- this rarely happens does it? You can see the carpet at the bottom.

So, anyway, the dog's called Mutant, and has many mothers, and apparently I have the ideal existence for supporting a waif and stray dog, as my life consists of being at home, with a cosy domestic set-up, loads of kids and basically I don't work, but have nothing better to do that sit around knitting yogurt all day, ie I bake my own bread, and grow herbs, when its perfectly possible to buy these things neatly packaged in the supermarket. But just look at us: cafe culture, baby chinos and latte.
Anyway, I seem to have gone a bit silly since I started writing this post several hours ago, when I was interrupted at the beginning of the last paragraph by the real owner of Mootie, coming to pick her up. This was about half and hour after, and while I was still recovering from, the children leaving for their dad's wedding reception. Look at me: I'm not bitter, not at all, just a bit frazzled from having to get up at seven to get them ready, etc.
So, I'll cut straight to the chase and try and include any other business. O, yes: (and I can't stop telling people this as I'm bursting with maternal pride) Meg has just been offered her first proper job as a Graphic Designer. And she's moving out next week to a flat in Hebden, which she seems to be even more excited about than the job. I do have mixed feelings about this, but generally I'm pleased for her, just with a few tugs of sadness that my baby is finally going and I have a feeling she won't be coming back this time.
So, anyway, I think it's getting even sillier here now - there is another dog taking over my house as I write and he's a poodle and he's very big and I don't get him. I think it's time to go and taste the freedom of childlessness...