E is for (the) Early hours

I know I'm an early bird, but this is ridiculous - even the birds aren't up yet. It's 2.55 a.m. I have been peering out of the windows looking at the deserted street and watching the intermittent flashes of lightning. I noticed lights on in a couple of flats at the end of our street and was wondering if they had insomnia too... then realised it's student housing, so they are just up late.... yep, some people do have the staying power to socialise into the wee hours.

I am awake because of the pain, but also because my brain has decided it doesn't want to be outdone, so is working overdrive. Since waking up around 2.30 a.m. in my head I have already:

• been shopping and chosen new dining chairs because the ones we have are so old, faded and too low for the table (a couple of my vertically challenged students put a cushion on the chairs to give them a boost!)

• decided when it would be convenient for the cleaner to come next week and been thinking about adapting my laminated instruction sheet (yep, you did read correctly and yes, it does exist) and wondering how much more she could get done in 2 hours as opposed to 1.5...

• been creating a list of the units of a pronunciation exercise book that I want Ed to photocopy for me

• been trying to think of songs/artists/lyrics I can create some interesting lessons from. So far: Ed Sheeran, Kate Bush (Something Good, Running up that Hill) Bastille (Flaws) Tom Odell, Adele, Coldplay, possibly Florence but is that just because I like her?

• resolved that this is the day I will start using the exercise mat that I brought down from the attic about 6 weeks ago and is still on the floor in the spare room being uncurled (i.e. it has a weighty object on each corner)

• been trying to choose which 'dressy' dress to wear for Craig's wedding. My recent attic purge has been so successful that I keep returning to see what else I can get rid of, or start using. My aim is not only to clear out things we never use anymore and create space, and organise things more efficiently, but also to see what I can give to friends and family rather than just to the charity shop. I have given away a few bits and pieces so far and it is really satisfying. Also, due to the heatwave we have been having this week, I got all my summery dresses out to try on, sniff tentatively and throw in the washing basket (I could easily have skipped the sniff test to be honest!). I have rediscovered dresses from years ago. The oldest one so far dates all the way back to 2003... a very good year with 3 weddings - all of which I managed to wear the same dress to (completely different guest lists.. what a result!) So the outcome is that I have 3 realistic contenders for the 24th June wedding - nice!

• continued writing and making plans for my second/adapted book! I started writing something new yesterday in a different style and it came a lot more naturally so think I might rework what I have written so far

• written a list of questions for the doctors in Erasmus

• thought about what type of research I need to do to set up a crowdfunding campaign and the wording of it.

• decided that I need to use the cookbook mum gave me in the next few days and send her a photo of my effort... possibly with a photo of what it looks like in the book... though I will reserve the right to omit that part until I have seen the end result

• wondered when Father's Day is

• thought about who else I can follow on Instagram

• considered whether it was a good idea to eat at this time in the morning

So, feeling quite tired again now and am debating whether to try napping on the sofa (with the benefit of having the sofa back to lean my legs against) or just go back to bed. Decisions, decisions.

Focusing on writing this does actually help because while I am doing it, I am not thinking about the pain or how uncomfortable I feel. Can't sit for too long in one place, but this does really help.

Time to go...nodding dog syndrome.. just came round with my head loitering dangerously close to the keyboard!