shewhomust | Things are getting ahead of me

I started to post this yesterday, at which point that title was already entirely accurate: the fact that I had to abandon without actually posting indicates that it has not become any less so. Ah, well. Trying again, editing as I go.

This time next week, I began, if all goes well, I will be well on the way to Inverness (or even better, there already), en route to Orkney for midsummer. Update: by this time next week we should have taken possession of our cottage in Stromness, with D. (though we may still be awaiting the arrival of

valydiarosada, who is avoiding the long drive by flying.

Until then, everything is done with one eye on that target. I've already declared a state of - let's say, semi-purdah: we didn't go to the pub for the quiz on Wednesday, and we won't go next Wednesday. We're not being hyper-cautious:

durham_rambler attended his meeting in person on Thursday, because he wanted to speak (though natually time ran out before they reached the topics he was interested in); we have every intention of going to the EcoFest at the church tomorrow (it's mostly an outdoor event); and I hope we shall be able to go to the exhibition of railway posters at Ushaw college before we go. We pick and choose.

The laundry and the ironing are under control, I think (I still think, though my confidence decreases. There will be clean clothes to wear, if not always our first choice). The shopping - oh, well, it will be fine. We are self-catering for the first week in Stromness, but we can shop locally. Ocado delivered this morning, but that's mostly everyday supplies. I've ordered coffee from Traidcraft, and that ~~should arrive well before we set off~~ arrived pretty much as I typed that - they seem to have given up e-mailing in advance of delivery.

Main uncertainty right now is that the little Toshiba notebook on which I am typing this is growing grouchier and more sluggish by the day. Yes, I know, aren't we all? And I've become accustomed to the battery failing to hold charge through a few days' disuse: but those few days are becoming fewer and fewer, and it's taking longer and longer to wake up again when I plug it in. I have had it for - oh, I don't know, but I took it to Iceland in 2009 - which makes it very elderly in computer years, and entitled to show that age: I'd replace it, if I could buy like for like, but that doesn't seem to be an option, so we soldier on.

On that note, back to the washing up...