Busy Weekend

Well,
My brother and his girlfriend came, as planned, late Thursday evening. I was increasingly stressed during the day – I started out calm, but by half past ten, I was carrying boxes and furniture to and fro, and not happy at all. Still, I got parts of the house clean and organised, and that was ultimately enough. Sadly, I had to cave in and cordon off the back of the house to Joyce, but I’d decided to concentrate on the parts they’d actually use (I washed the banisters, for instance). I knew I’d be cooking three evenings, and they’d get a takeaway the fourth, so they’d not need to spend much time in the kitchen. Still, it was a shame.
The downside of all this frantic preparation was that I was so frazzled and exhausted, I had no energy to finish anything I hadn’t done by the time they arrived. I really should have cleaned inside the fridge (though I did that not too long ago), mopped the kitchen floor, and cleaned in the microwave, but I just couldn’t.
Friday, which was my brother’s birthday, he opened his presents, and I then joined them in a walk to the sea front. We went onto Central Pier, and then wandered to the football ground. It was gloriously sunny, as it had been the days before, and was until today. Warm in the sun, but an autumnal chill kept us out of the shade where possible. We discovered a great cheap (but new and nicely-presented) shop on the way. My brother spent some of his birthday money in the football shop, then we went back to the front to see the volleyball.
For the second year in a row, the English leg of the European beach volleyball tournament was held here – and in the sunshine it was very good. I swooned over a delicious Norwegian (the men were playing), but we weren’t there very long. Then we walked back, via M+S. We needed meat for the adobo I had offered to cook for tea. For the uninitiated, that’s a vinegar-based meat stew from (in this case) the Philippines, simple, healthy, and ultimately delicious. I’d never cooked it before, but it went down well with rice and steamed carrots. We played Monopoly (reliving our holiday earlier this summer), but I was a little tired to fully enjoy it.
Friday I unexpectedly spent the day with them again – my brother had found lots in his room to take to a charity shop, so I helped carry it to the nearest one, then we went into town. An impromptu lunch at a noodle bar was a pleasant surprise. We walked along North Pier, had an ice cream, then wandered around town. We got beef and a few other bits from the market, as this time I was cooking rendang (a slow-cooked coconut curry from Indonesia).
Since my bro goes to bed very late, and my bodyclock was already messed up, I’d had no more than four-five hours’ sleep each night, so I was a zombie. Still, I only got a nap – I’d left them in town when I bumped into a friend and went home early. It took a couple of hours to prepare and cook dinner, but it was met with plaudits, so I was happy. My brother and I watched trashy tv until very late once again.
Sunday, they went to the Pleasure Beach (a large amusement park), so I lazed around the house. We had KFC for tea. Today they went into town again, as their train didn’t leave until nearly 7pm. I started on a textbook for my course, but really achieved very little.
It really was nice to see them, as I’d hoped. Now I have to get used to having the house to myself again, before the trials really begin next week…