Are you an early riser?
There’s a ton of research about the benefits of being up with the lark. My problem is automatically waking up an hour before the alarm and then being unable to get back to sleep. For an hour? Is it worth it? You’ll just have got your feet warm again and then the alarm will go off.
What I am currently wide awake at six o’ clock for, is a visit from the plumber. The new shower has been leaking. A plumber came out a couple of months ago and failed to fix it, so the whole item has to be dragged out, resealed and put back again when it has set. As the bathroom is located over the kitchen sink I have always been keen that the floorboards in the bathroom stay well away from the wet rot that would cause the unwary bather to make a speedy descent into the kitchen sink via the ceiling. So when the plumber’s receptionist rang me to say they would be here at eight on the dot, I set my alarm for seven and therefore woke at six.
Waking up at the crack of dawn in the winter is funny when it’s someone else. When the S&H, who, throughout his time with us, was inclined to get up late, if at all, had a job and two children that necessitated his feet hitting the floorboards at half six, I thought this was jolly funny. If you are, or have been, the parent of teenagers, you will share in my hilarity
Get up!
I’m getting up.
Get up!
I’m up.
Get up now!
Mup.
Are you awake, up there?
Dgnjjjjjjjzzz.
Get up you’ll be late.
ok
Are you up?
Yer,
You’re not up, are you? If I have to come up there……
I’m up. I am. updjgzzzzz.
I’m coming up! I’m coming up now!
All right, all right, I’m up.
Really?
Mup.
Mum?
Yes?
What day is it?
They will get married or shack up, they will produce progeny, the progeny will be up and ready to go at five.
My cousin, an owl, had two boys who rose so early that at Christmas, when her parents were staying, there was an arrangement involving an alarm clock, a bell and permission. Everyone was downstairs, washed, dressed, had breakfast, presents opened before it was discovered that the alarm had been circumvented and it was actually three in the morning.
They all went back to bed but I don’t suppose anyone was able to get back to sleep then either.
Well the plumber is here, not as threatened, no later than just after eight, but at a rousing ten past nine.
I shall be like the six million dollar man* by nine tonight. Just was well my social life is such rubbish. I might even have a nap this afternoon, though that way lies madness, obviously. After which you won’t be able to get to sleep at bedtime, which is, of course, what long novels are for.
*A man barely alive, according to the voice over the titles.
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