For most of my life I got up early and was out and about at the crack of dawn. Right back to when I was at Paddock House I can well remember getting up at 7, when the rest of the family was still asleep, getting ready and having breakfast alone and catching the 8.05 a.m. 267 Ribble bus from West End to the Palladium. I never saw my family in a morning. I got to school by 8.20 but that was fine by me.
When I worked in Bury I had to get the bus to Accrington and then the train. I, again, got up alone and was always in time for the 7.25 train to Manchester which meant catching the 46 bus at 7.12 and really legging it up Eagle St to the station. A good run (in 3" stilettoes too) along The Rock, in Bury, meant I was at work by 8.10 and they let me leave at 5, instead of 18 minutes past as was the norm, so I could catch the 5.10 train home.
In all the years I was a full-time wife and mother I was always up to get breakfasts, sort out lunches and see everyone off. When I went back to work, I'd get to the office for 7.30 a.m. so I could leave early - thank God for flexi-time.
So, now I'm retired and a widow and I don't have the energy I used to have, thanks to the passage of time and too many years of cigarettes giving me health problems. I've been retired for 16 months and my morning habits have changed beyond all recognition.
Except for Friday mornings, when I have to see Laura off to school (her Mum starts earlier on Fridays), I turn over and go back to sleep if Nik and Laura wake me as they get up and ready for work/school. My internal clock wakes me at about 9.15 and I get up, slowly, and wander downstairs in my dressing gown for a glass of fresh orange juice. I drink this while glancing at the daily paper then I go and make my breakfast. By the time my porridge and coffee is ready it's time to watch Jeremy Kyle and marvel at the people who have elected to appear on this dreadful (but emminently watchable) show and thank God they don't live near me. Our cat always comes to watch it too. As soon as she hears Kyle's voice she jumps on the pouffé and stares at the screen. I don't think she can believe it either.
By the time this programme has finished it's 10.30 and that's when I go and shower and dress. It's about 11.30 before I'm fully functional, clean, dressed, hair done and made up......and this is the woman who used to be amongst the first in the building on a work day.
It took me quite a while to stop feeling guilty about not getting up and out early. I used to worry if I wasn't asleep by 11 p.m. but, now, if I want to read until 2 I'll do it. My time is mine and I've earned the right to use it any way I wish. If I want to stay in bed until noon it's my business and no one else's and I'm enjoying that privilege.
When I worked in Bury I had to get the bus to Accrington and then the train. I, again, got up alone and was always in time for the 7.25 train to Manchester which meant catching the 46 bus at 7.12 and really legging it up Eagle St to the station. A good run (in 3" stilettoes too) along The Rock, in Bury, meant I was at work by 8.10 and they let me leave at 5, instead of 18 minutes past as was the norm, so I could catch the 5.10 train home.
In all the years I was a full-time wife and mother I was always up to get breakfasts, sort out lunches and see everyone off. When I went back to work, I'd get to the office for 7.30 a.m. so I could leave early - thank God for flexi-time.
So, now I'm retired and a widow and I don't have the energy I used to have, thanks to the passage of time and too many years of cigarettes giving me health problems. I've been retired for 16 months and my morning habits have changed beyond all recognition.
Except for Friday mornings, when I have to see Laura off to school (her Mum starts earlier on Fridays), I turn over and go back to sleep if Nik and Laura wake me as they get up and ready for work/school. My internal clock wakes me at about 9.15 and I get up, slowly, and wander downstairs in my dressing gown for a glass of fresh orange juice. I drink this while glancing at the daily paper then I go and make my breakfast. By the time my porridge and coffee is ready it's time to watch Jeremy Kyle and marvel at the people who have elected to appear on this dreadful (but emminently watchable) show and thank God they don't live near me. Our cat always comes to watch it too. As soon as she hears Kyle's voice she jumps on the pouffé and stares at the screen. I don't think she can believe it either.
By the time this programme has finished it's 10.30 and that's when I go and shower and dress. It's about 11.30 before I'm fully functional, clean, dressed, hair done and made up......and this is the woman who used to be amongst the first in the building on a work day.
It took me quite a while to stop feeling guilty about not getting up and out early. I used to worry if I wasn't asleep by 11 p.m. but, now, if I want to read until 2 I'll do it. My time is mine and I've earned the right to use it any way I wish. If I want to stay in bed until noon it's my business and no one else's and I'm enjoying that privilege.
