Time to perfect a pickle recipe

Yes, I know I've been quiet. I'm well aware that my poor, neglected blog has spent more time ignored than attended to in its short life.

The past few months have been difficult - not proper, life-changingly hard, but difficult. Work stuff. And then spending happy evenings writing job applications and interview presentations demonstrating my creativity and writing ability. Strange how boasting about such things saps the will to actually use 'em.

But all the hard work has paid off, and before I start my exciting new job (no, I won't be saying anything about that one either, on account of wanting to keep it), I have a few weeks off, in which I can do anything I like.

Heavenly. I'm still planning to keep largely to the rhythms of a working day - starting with breakfast with the Husband in the mornings (although I'm going back to bed for an hour with a cup of tea, Radio Four and my knitting quite often - my definition of heaven) and having normal after work evenings with him most of the time.

But in between, the world is my oyster. And I have plans. I'm going to knit and read more, potter round the kitchen a bit, see friends (rather than just throwing the house keys at Blonde and her Best Mate when they come to stay and telling them where the gin lives, I'll be able to pour - and enjoy - the G&Ts. Or Gs&T, as she would no doubt style them), do some sewing, finish little fun jobs around the flat, and do some more exercise. And write ridiculously long sentences. And blog.

Yesterday, I went for lunch with a friend and her baby. We talked about my holiday, and I outlined all the things I wanted to do. She laughed, and said I had time to perfect a pickle recipe. I've never heard the phrase before, but I love it - it sums up everything I'm excited about. For the first time in so long I have time to myself, to devote to whatever I want, and right now, I want to concentrate on the purely domestic. When the holiday is over, I know I'll be desperate to get back to work and be a career woman again - but until then, I have a chance to relax and slow down. I might even try making pickle.