I went to pick the kids up from Maritzburg this afternoon, where they've been staying since Monday - they stayed a night at each set of grandparents. It's the school holidays at the moment - just a short break of one week, and I was able to work the first three days of the week as they were away. It would have been nice to have had the whole week off but since my new system of being at home for the school holidays requires lots of unpaid leave, it seemed sensible to work the three half days while I could. Unfortunately the solo afternoons weren't that peaceful as there are about a dozen noisy men on the property all day. The kids had a good time though. They were stunned to see how much more had been done on the house while they were away, and had fun climbing through the hole in the wall and identifying the bits of house strewn around all over the place.

I am pretty much coping with the chaos, but it's an effort. I'm very adversely affected by disorder in my environment and I can't relax or think straight amidst mess (with the exception of my desk at work which for some reason doesn't bother me at all). Mess affects my like static noise on a phone line and I have to get rid of it to think straight.

Before difficult experiences, it is very usual for Peter to be in a state of dread and anxiety and to expect the worst, whereas I am usually blithely and resolutely optimistic. Once the difficult experience begins, however, Peter is over most of his angst and is positively carefree. I on the other hand, realise at that point how difficult the experience actually is, and I go into a bit of shock until I adjust. It has been that way with so many challenges in our lives: overseas trips, new jobs, buying a house, moving house, having a new baby. This house renovations project is no exception. Peter is coping distinctly better than I am. Of course, this is partly because he is pretty much oblivious to mess.