Categories: uncategorized
Date: 21 February 2005 17:32:15
I hope. This last fortnight hasn't quite plumbed the depths of March '02, (named 'The month that time forgot' in family tradition), but runs it pretty close. I speak as one who only an hour ago heaved the now vomit-free dog's blankets out of the washing machine. Yes, even the dog has been off-colour. Mr M and I have bought up half the town's supply of Benylin, whilst I've been stuffing antibiotics down my throat as fast as is physically possible. Which may account for why I've finished the course a day early. 'Take one capsule 3 times a day at regularly spaced intervals' seems pretty straightforward when you're fuzzy headed and decorating the sink with Jackson Pollock type creations courtesy of ones bronchii. 6.30 a.m - 12.30 pm - 6.30 pm, 12.30 am....easy! Thus spake Ms Grade Four (or was it Five?) CSE maths 1975.
Still they worked a treat. There came a point last week when even the prospect of standing upright won out over yet another afternoon spent watching daytime TV and I rose from my sickbed, raring to go. Then again, my recovery could be thanks to Ms Miffy, who walked in on one of the TV sessions, and uttered an anguished cry of "Oh Mother, REALLY! How could you!" Fearing atrophy of the brain on my part, she produced a DVD of 'Les Choristes,' ( a Christmas pressie from a friend in France), and demanded I watch it. You try an hour and a half's worth of French with no subtitles allowed. It certainly takes your mind off your troubles.
As did a quiet day this last weekend. It was only my second day up and about, but I was glad I made the effort to go. Doing the Stations of the Cross with what seemed to me to be an arctic blast whistling round the convent chapel concentrated the mind wonderfully. (Mental note: Should I ever go on retreat there, remember to pack a hot water bottle!).
Tangenting here. Is there such a word? Noticed that someone on SoF has started a thread on procrastination*. Now procrastination is my middle name. In fact, I have it listed as a hobby on my SoF profile. And to judge by the response to the thread, many many folk share it with me. Why do we do it? Why put off 'til tomorrow what we should do today? A classic example with me is my seeming inability to complete any task unless I'm working right up against a deadline. My writing is a case in point. The times I've dithered around, finally scribbled something at the last minute, sent it off, looked at it again a few days later and thought "Aaaggghhh! What rubbish is this?" And realised how much better it would have been if I'd only left it to stew for a while before pressing that 'send' button. This happened last week, with a short article for the church magazine - which I knocked off in just half an hour. Admittedly I had had some sort of rough plan tucked away 'up there.' And as I was ill, it was a case of 'now or never.' But still.
And generally, I get away with it. Like last week. I was notified by the organisers of a competition I'd entered last year. As usual, procrastination nearly won the day. I was scribbling away at my entry between Christmas and New Year, when I'd had 6 weeks in which to plan the wretched thing. In the end it became a matter of pride, "I've started so I'll finish,' and then having written it, it seemed a pity to waste it, even if it was unlikely it would arrive on time. I've been justifying sending the piece, " It's all good practice," and making excuses for myself, " This sort of publication isn't really my thing, anyway." Imagine my surprise to hear that although I'd not won, I'd been commended. It's rather more than I deserve.
Staying with the subject , and now that I'm getting over the lurgy - what about the little matter of my college assignment? Last one of the unit. The unit I've now spent nearly 15 months doing. Ahem! Procrastination, thy name is Miffy.
* You know you're a serial procrastinator when even the prospect of filling in your self-assessment tax return appears more attractive than the task in hand.