Alex and I get the keys to the new flat on Saturday. This is hugely exciting for me, not only because of my lovely boyfriend, but I get to do what every girl secretly dreams about: homemaking.
I know, I know, what has happened to the Atheist Rockstar(TM) who is taking on religion and giving nonsense a good slapping? What about the articles, the books, the public speaking, the denouncing all gods on prime time TV?
Don’t worry. She’s still there. Ever since CQUK finished, I’ve really been out of sorts, and have found it very hard to motivate myself to do anything. Essentially I’ve been on mental hiatus. Still, I’ve been working on a book proposal, speaking at one or two functions (debate at the Cambridge Union coming up next week!), and procrastinating for my Masters. But I’m learning that life doesn’t always have to be about the drive to succeed, make money and be the best. Sometimes life should just be about throw cushions. And drawer organisers.
Oh the drawer organisers!
When Alex and I started going out, we went into a kitchen shop together. I never thought I would find a man who gets as excited as I do about Tupperware. And good quality pepper grinders. Now we have a whole flat to organise and equip together. We’ll certainly get the underbed wheely storage boxes, but most of what we start with will be from Freecycle, eBay, or passed down from various grandparents. My grandmother had some amazing coloured crystal wine glasses. And my mother has given us a handmade tea/coffee set from the Isle of Skye that was a wedding present (they got several tea sets – these were in the days before wedding lists, presumably).
So for the next few weeks I will continue to struggle with my commitments: my Camp Quest duties, my Masters reading, and general important life stuff. But I think it’s only fair to allow myself to experience the thrill of living with someone new in a brand new place, the excitement of going into a homeware shop and looking at boxes, bins, blankets, bookshelves and bedspreads, and finally getting to choose all the little details.
I need to allow myself to be a bit lazy sometimes, and focus on things that make me happy. It’s hard for me to do, because I have always defined my worth by my success. I hope that the wheels will start turning again and I am able to face “life”. But until then, anyone for a Large Magnetic Spice Rack?
1 Comment
November 10, 2009 at 12:22 am
Sam, don’t forget ikea. wonderful stuff.