Help! I'm Being Held Captive!

By my carpet.  The carpet was really bothering me, there were stains from dirt and ink and things I couldn't even identify and it was getting me down so we found a carpet cleaner, couldn't remember the name of the guy who did our couches but I'm glad I couldn't now.  Bruce is a lovely man, very professional, told me how to treat spots with only Orange Power (which I use anyway) and he even gave me some of his stronger orange solvent to mix with what I had, and he was cheap!  I paid him a bit extra as he didn't have change and it was well worth it, the lounge looks good, haven't got a look at the entry, hall and bedroom outskirts as the carpet is wet and I'm holed up here in the kitchen.  I've had a lovely time though, cleaning those little things that don't always get done like cupboard doors and handles and little edges etc.  It's damp here today so I'm giving it extra time to dry, I'll go shopping soon and then come home and finish off the kids' rooms, finally  got Em's done.  I think I'll go to the carpet store and get new mats too to match the lovely clean carpet. 
Phill rang to say he found the perfect wedding ring in Melbourne.  He lost his original one in the January drama (threw it in the bin actually) and we replaced it with a stainless steel one as he preferred that to gold but it had a sharp edge and was dangerous.  So he says he found one that looks much nicer and is smooth so I'm happy.  I would never have dreamed of having a ring made of stainless steel but Mat got one when he and Ali got married (hers is white gold) and he said it was really cheap and is really hardy and it looks fine.
So now I'm feeling better, better than better actually, I have lots of plans and will get back into my course and my writing.  I really think things happen for a reason and I think I needed a good slapping, metaphorically speaking, to wake me up to how good I really have it.  And how precious my health is, not only for me, but for my children who still depend on me so much.  I had a banana smoothie for brekky and Josh came out sniffing around and had half of it!  Score one for me for getting something in his stomach before school! 
It's weird but having the carpets done and fixing up things around the house and making things nicer feels like we've kind of reclaimed our home.   Because this IS our home.  It's somebody else's house but it's our home.  I'm glad the crazy landlady did what she did because now the real estate is running scared - tenants really have all the rights these days whether that's right or wrong and now they know we know it - and we will never have to deal with her again.
Even the struggle to get washing dry is not worrying me.  I'm just plodding along, hanging stuff under the stables then finishing them off in the cool cycle in the dryer, and putting what we can in the dryer.
I was reading about gratitude journals the other day.  I know it's an old concept and perhaps a bit hackneyed but I think there is merit in the process.
So here's what I am grateful for this Friday:
My usual good physical and mental health.
A husband who takes care of us so well and whose truly good attributes really outweigh the uh....not so good.  Mostly.  And that he loves me no matter what.
Two healthy kids who make me laugh every single day.
A warm bed and a cosy house when so many don't have either.
Those second skin rubber glove thingies so I don't have to get my hands icky when crumbing food or rubbing in butter.
The good people in the world, including many of you who are reading, who lift me up, speak sense to me when I can't see it and who let me into their lives and so often make me laugh, cry, relate, and empathise.

Okay I have to see the stage show of Mary Poppins that just opened in Melbourne last night.  We're going down there for my birthday in October to see the Titanic exhibition but I just saw reviews of Mary Poppins and it sounds amazing so we'll have to factor that in as well.

Okay I'm off to the shops.