Sick but Soldiering On

In spite me of me spruiking about how careful I was to not catch a cold this Winter (I am so diligent with my hand sanitiser to the point of being laughed at in public) here I am with a rotten head cold.  Not an option to curl up and let it take its course, I really need to keep the momentum going with a good routine for the kids right now after all the upheaval and it actually helps to keep busy.  It's been raining solidly since Tuesday night, and it's still going, I'm guessing the causeways will all be covered in water when we go out this morning.
We finally got our car back $3,600 later.  I'm sure we got ripped off but not a lot I can do about that.  It left us a bit short but we'll manage, just glad we could pay cash for it and not go into any more debt, but it didn't help to talk to Phill last night after he'd got off the train to Melbourne for work and to hear he was filthy rotten drunk after drinking wine all the way down there (not cheap to buy it on the train either).  He disgusted me to be honest, and he lied about it more than once which is the worst thing.  I told him to ring me once he got to the motel but of course he didn't and when I rang him he was passed out and I had to ring several times to rouse him.  Apart from being very unprofessional (although he doesn't start work till lunchtime today) he must have really made a dick of himself both on the train and checking into the motel.  I don't understand what his problem is, he is turning into a sad excuse for the man he once was and I am not sure why.  I do know however, that today he will get an ultimatum.  No alcohol, especially in the house, or he's going to have a serious problem with me.  There were four stubbies of beer in the fridge and I emptied them out last night.   It doesn't take him a lot to get drunk these days, puts me in mind of my father in his last years.  Apart from causing a lot of problems (and I am up front about the problems my own drinking has caused in the past) it's really bad for his health at this stage of his life, he has high blood pressure and cholesterol and takes all these pills and potions for it but has not modified his diet at all, he eats like a pig constantly and the alcohol just makes it all worse.  Might look into some life insurance. ;)
Picked the kids up at lunchtime (sport day) and we drove up to Young in the pouring rain to see how the car went and to get some bits and pieces, including cold medicine, inhalers, Vicks (chest rub) and lots of tissues.  Made pork balls and fried rice for dinner (rice noodles and Asian salad for me) but I think that recipe has run its course.  I have some nice gravy beef and will make a peppered beef casserole in the slow cooker.  Good day for it too.  Emily has her counselling this afternoon and then our course, again here in Coota.  She seems a lot more settled and I'm happy with how I'm dealing with her behaviour and we haven't had any blow ups because I simply don't allow it to get to that stage.  I'm being firm, and just walking away if she starts nagging or escalating and that seems to be working.  I'm proud of her toughing out school, she has made it hard for herself there, and she is still determined she won't go onto year 11 next year but doesn't seem to have a plan and the school hasn't followed through on their ideas, they are just trying to talk her out of leaving.  I will have to step up soon and find out what our options are.

Josh shocked me by setting up his books on the dining table last night and doing maths homework!  I can't remember the last time I saw him do homework.  Then he enlisted Emily's help with his English assignment and they sat there together for a while, mostly laughing but I think they got some work down on "paper". 

Had a pretty good night's sleep last night and am feeling a little better after a couple of cups of tea.  Time to get up and face the (rainy) day.