No Maurice is not missing, but I am missing him.

A few days on your own is fine – very good actually – and I rather enjoy the luxury of having my own space and doing my own thing.

But nearly two weeks is more tedious. I end up speaking to myself a lot, and doing things I would perhaps not normally do.

Here is my guide to 16 things to do when home alone in Houston….

1. Spend money. This covers a number of other items on this list but also is important to mention on its own. This is a very bad way to fill one’s time. Online or in stores, put the credit card away – now!
2. Shopping. Closely related to number 1 but can be done without actually spending money. Especially when the shops and stores are beckoning with their ever so fresh and icy cool air conditioning. A quick browse is all that’s required to refresh and be on your way. No risk, no money spent!
3. Eating. Yes, I eat when Maurice is home. But while he’s away I experiment. Maurice is not one for much experimentation – well not with food at any rate. I buy lots of interesting produce from stores like Whole Foods and end up making far too much for one person. I also like (some of) the remarkably-bad-for-you junk food. Sorry, that again is related to number 1.

   

4. Drinking Margaritas. Tsk tsk, I hear you say. And I can also hear “I told you so” from a certain person back at work in Aberdeen. But I don’t drink them at 11am as was first feared, or even 5pm. I wait until at least 8pm and perhaps only have one. Jug that is.
5. Drinking wine. Ok now you think I have really become dependent. Not at all. Not even a tiny bit. One bottle will last me a long, long time. Mind you, they are usually 2 litre bottles, or whatever the US imperial equivalent is. And before you ask – I only drink wine after the margaritas. Not before or during.
6. Browsing in bookstores. Always a guilty pleasure. However I do fear for the future of the local Barnes and Nobel. Hardly a customer in sight, except in the in-store Starbucks, and as for the CD department – tumbleweed. Actually amazed they still have this whole department.
7. Going to see Hairspray at Miller Outdoor Theater. Fantastic feel good show. All for FREE, and magnificently performed by a very young cast. So grateful that this is right on my doorstep.

   

8. Visiting Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Another FREE attraction – on a Thursday evening anyway. And full of wonderful works of art. Outside there’s a street party going on with wine (no, I was driving) and music. Great vibe and a very acceptable way to pass a couple of hours.
9. Catching up with friends. Having the car to myself for the period is a bonus. We have managed perfectly well with only one car in Houston, despite all the dire warnings from various quarters. But to go further afield through the week I do need the car so it has been very handy indeed to help me get about and meet up with folk.
10. Making soup. Maurice is partial to his bowl of soup, even in hot weather, so I am batch making and freezing quantities with the left over veg that I bought too much of in Whole Foods. Oops, made too much and the freezer is now full.
11. Watching TV. Not too much but can’t wait for the season finale of GOT tonight. Will Daenerys come flying in on Drogon and rescue Tyrion? Will they fly off together into the sunset and make more baby dragons? Will Cersei become a ‘nice person’? Suspense is killing me!

    

12. Working. Ok I know I only work 9 hours in a week, but it punctuates the day and gets me out of bed a lot earlier than otherwise. Starting at 2pm over in the UK means an 8am start and surprisingly I prefer to be properly up and about, not lounging in my pjs in the bedroom. I am thoroughly enjoying it and extremely grateful that I work in an area where I can do this perfectly well from home, even with the time difference.
13. Completing my tax return. Oh dear. I have postponed this long enough and will have to get it done soon. But maybe tomorrow.
14. Housework. See number 13.
15. Wondering when the gardener is going to appear. It’s a tad generous to call our corridor at the side of the house a garden, but there are a lot of vines that get out of hand if they are not trimmed. The gardener was supposed to come the first weekend in June. Two and a half weekends later, no appearance so I’ll have to chase that up. Maybe tomorrow (which is turning into a busy day).
16. Getting a doctor. At long last I have registered with a doctor in the US. The experience was pretty painless, but the ‘surgery’ was considerably more immense than the surgery back home. A small hospital really. The interaction with the doctor was perfectly pleasant and pretty much like back home, although she was curious enough to ask if it was different. No I said. But that was before she suggested a colonoscopy as part of a routine medical. Oh dear. That would appear to be very normal here. A ‘routine’ colonoscopy for anyone over the magic age of 50. Oh well, when in Rome.

So there you have it.  16 exciting and not so exciting things to do while one’s husband is away.  I’m looking forward to him coming home and having to put the volume up on the tv while he strums his guitar in the background…

Oh I forgot, number 17, walking on my own and visiting the ducks. Did I tell you already that I like ducklings….?