This has been a busy week of, on the one hand, mopping up (sometimes literally) various leaks, breakages, accidents and minor catastrophes, and on the other, luxurious pampering, preening, and adorning of self and general environment. Mostly, in both cases, this has involved sticking things on and making everything look as good as possible, despite often challenging circumstances.

Made me think a bit about my experiences over the past year or so. Lots of temporary issues, and in some cases solutions, to deal with – and a fair bit of putting stuff in perspective as a result. Which has, I realise, allowed me to take a more pragmatic view of things. A year or so ago, the discovery of an undetected but clearly rather long-established lump in my left breast really sorted the whole perspective thing. A year or so ago, the discovery of an undetected but clearly rather long-established leak behind the washing machine, and the subsequent difficulty in securing a plumber, would have bothered me quite a lot. This week, however, I cobbled it together with some gaffer tape and still made it to the nail bar in time for a new seasonal design. Last year, a massive blister on my foot would have stopped me going to the gym, and not going to the gym when I wanted to would have put me in a foul mood. This year, I enjoyed a few days off, and then stuck a massive plaster on and used the machines that didn’t require excessive footwork. 

I am of course familiar with the various sayings intended to convey the unsatisfactory nature of temporarily patching things up. Papering over the cracks, applying a sticking plaster, you get the picture. However. Sometimes, the paper is really pretty. And some sticking plasters are pretty damn sticky. So, let’s not disregard those solutions. Granted in all cases my experiences this week have been temporary, but that can definitely be a good thing. On the one hand, a leak fixed temporarily with half a roll of gaffer tape around a pipe is definitely better than a flooded living room or an inability to wash until the plumber turns up. And on the other, Christmassy sparkles on my nails are great while they last, but are really best replaced with a more seasonally appropriate design as the months roll on (and the nails grow out), and similarly the snowy Christmas window displays at Harrods might spark a little more confusion than excitement mid-summer. Also, presents are always hugely exciting when wrapped in shiny paper and mystery – less so when ripped open to reveal the standard sock / calendar / box of Roses* (*delete according to preference of auntie or other relative).

Anyway, my point is, stuff happened this week, some good, some bad – none of it permanent and none of it worth worrying about. Which kind of makes it all good. And now, time to dash into town for a spot of Christmas shopping. Socks, calendars and Cadbury’s Roses on the list. I am that auntie.