Wondering where I've been?
Just got back from another trip to Gothenburg, where I was smart enough to head to without my laptop. So I've been sharing Mr. T's laptop with him, somehow managed to get heaploads of work, which I had to handle on a computer with no Office programs!
On top of that, I also became the key person in the middle of an apartment move, which led me to have a total of 11 hours of sleep over the past 4 days! Needless to say, I'm exhausted and intend to spend this weekend catching up on sleep.
And of course... a bit of blogging!
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Friday, 2 September 2011
Sunday, 27 September 2009
The Man, the cock, the crow.
There's a cock that's been living on our wall. Lately, it's been crowing louder than ever for longer than ever. A few weeks ago, it got unbearable. My heart would jump and I'd awaken from its loud crow at 2.30 a.m. After the first shock, I got up, slammed the loovers a bit and the cock moved further down the wall, leaving us with a bit of peace.
The next night, it seemed to come back with more strength, first waking baby, then me, then Virgo. Our whole night was ruined, so as you can imagine we were far from happy when the crowing started on the third night. I woke up to find Virgo getting dressed in the middle of the night. After a while, I heard steps in the grass by our window, a cock's yelp, then the scurried steps of a cock running away (Virgo had thrown pebbles in its direction and it had ran away). The rest of the night we slept undisturbed.
Man - 1 Cock - 0
The next night,in a genius move, Virgo went outside our bedroom window as early as 9p.m., chased away the cock, and we actually went to bed smiling.
Man - 2 Cock - 0
We thought we'd found our recipe for success, so Virgo did the same thing the following night, but somehow, by 3a.m. it had forgotten all threats of pebbles being thrown at it and came back crowing louder than ever (after all, it had had a night's rest).
Man - 2 Cock - 1
Still, we thought we'd give our early night pebble chase another go so that night, same old story, a few pebbles were thrown on to the wall outside our bedroom window to get the cock to move down a bit or jump back into the neighbour's yard, where he belongs. However, a stroke of really, really bad luck hit us. The cock mistakenly jumped/fell into our garden and didn't seem able to fly back up on to the wall. This situation made it crow louder and more frequently than ever, and so begun our night of hell with crowing from 10p.m. onwards, til 6a.m.
Man - 2 Cock - 1,000,000!
But now it seems, a cool chic, a hen that hangs out in our garden has managed to walk the crow out of our garden and back to his own land and it hasn't found its way back yet. After those nights of complete hell (after all, do parents of a six-month old really need anything else to keep them up at nights???) we're hoping for a bit of peace.
FIngers crossed!
The next night, it seemed to come back with more strength, first waking baby, then me, then Virgo. Our whole night was ruined, so as you can imagine we were far from happy when the crowing started on the third night. I woke up to find Virgo getting dressed in the middle of the night. After a while, I heard steps in the grass by our window, a cock's yelp, then the scurried steps of a cock running away (Virgo had thrown pebbles in its direction and it had ran away). The rest of the night we slept undisturbed.
Man - 1 Cock - 0
The next night,in a genius move, Virgo went outside our bedroom window as early as 9p.m., chased away the cock, and we actually went to bed smiling.
Man - 2 Cock - 0
We thought we'd found our recipe for success, so Virgo did the same thing the following night, but somehow, by 3a.m. it had forgotten all threats of pebbles being thrown at it and came back crowing louder than ever (after all, it had had a night's rest).
Man - 2 Cock - 1
Still, we thought we'd give our early night pebble chase another go so that night, same old story, a few pebbles were thrown on to the wall outside our bedroom window to get the cock to move down a bit or jump back into the neighbour's yard, where he belongs. However, a stroke of really, really bad luck hit us. The cock mistakenly jumped/fell into our garden and didn't seem able to fly back up on to the wall. This situation made it crow louder and more frequently than ever, and so begun our night of hell with crowing from 10p.m. onwards, til 6a.m.
Man - 2 Cock - 1,000,000!
But now it seems, a cool chic, a hen that hangs out in our garden has managed to walk the crow out of our garden and back to his own land and it hasn't found its way back yet. After those nights of complete hell (after all, do parents of a six-month old really need anything else to keep them up at nights???) we're hoping for a bit of peace.
FIngers crossed!
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Good morning Accra!
The day stars at 5.30 with the sound of the neighbours sweeping the compound (a concept completely lost on me). About twenty minutes later I can hear the family in the boys-quarters screaming conversation at each other (even though they are no more than a few meters from each other, if that).
I manage to slumber back to sleep only to be woken by the sound of a bulldozer next door. I hear the neighbours yell: "Ofaine, ofaine" ("please" in Ga, excuse the spelling) as they scream and run around the bulldozer. From the comfort of my bed it seems the owner of the land is trying get rid of the squatters by bulldozing them away!
A few minutes later there's silence. I think the squatters won this battle. I turn over and fall back to sleep, only to hear "Auntie, good morning" at 6.45. I try to ignore it but it grows louder, "Auntie, good morning. AUNTIE!" Moaning, I have to roll out of bed and open the househelp. I know I've complained of her showing up late for work, but to come an hour early, today, that's just cruel!
After opening her, explaining that I am VERY tired and sorting her out with everything she may need, I go back to bed. Just as I fall back into deep sleep with my pillow covering my head: knock, knock, knock. "Auntie, Mrs. D is here for your meeting". Of course I had forgotten that my Thursday in-house meetings with Mrs D have since last week been moved to Wednesdays.
I get up, go to the bathroom and get ready for a brand new, very exhausting day. What's a girl gotta do to get one, ONE mid-week sleep-in in the city of Accra?!
I manage to slumber back to sleep only to be woken by the sound of a bulldozer next door. I hear the neighbours yell: "Ofaine, ofaine" ("please" in Ga, excuse the spelling) as they scream and run around the bulldozer. From the comfort of my bed it seems the owner of the land is trying get rid of the squatters by bulldozing them away!
A few minutes later there's silence. I think the squatters won this battle. I turn over and fall back to sleep, only to hear "Auntie, good morning" at 6.45. I try to ignore it but it grows louder, "Auntie, good morning. AUNTIE!" Moaning, I have to roll out of bed and open the househelp. I know I've complained of her showing up late for work, but to come an hour early, today, that's just cruel!
After opening her, explaining that I am VERY tired and sorting her out with everything she may need, I go back to bed. Just as I fall back into deep sleep with my pillow covering my head: knock, knock, knock. "Auntie, Mrs. D is here for your meeting". Of course I had forgotten that my Thursday in-house meetings with Mrs D have since last week been moved to Wednesdays.
I get up, go to the bathroom and get ready for a brand new, very exhausting day. What's a girl gotta do to get one, ONE mid-week sleep-in in the city of Accra?!
Saturday, 9 August 2008
Early bird
It always happens. The irony annoys me each Saturday. During the week, I struggle each morning to get up. I, once known as an early bird, who used to be the human wake up alarm at sleep overs during L.M. Engströms days, now hate every early morning. I frown and squint, whilst taking as much time as possible to roll, literally roll out of bed. Using my hands, I lead myself through darkness to the bathroom to get ready. Only once I've had my shower, I open my eyes and face the bright daylight. The only thing that really pushes me out of bed each morning is knowing that if I don't get up in time, I will face the over all most annoying factor about living in Ghana: traffic!
However, on weekends, the story is very different. At 5.40 my eyes open wide and no matter what I do, I can't go back to sleep. This happens whether I've gone to bed at 21:00 or 2:00. The chance of resting, enjoying a sleep-in that I have longed for all week is gone, snatched away by myself. The weekend is spent working, socialising or just lounging around with friends, but sleeping? No.
And I usually manage to get through it feeling relatively energised, only feeling the weariness, tiredness, sometimes complete exhaustion, when? Monday morning, of course!
However, on weekends, the story is very different. At 5.40 my eyes open wide and no matter what I do, I can't go back to sleep. This happens whether I've gone to bed at 21:00 or 2:00. The chance of resting, enjoying a sleep-in that I have longed for all week is gone, snatched away by myself. The weekend is spent working, socialising or just lounging around with friends, but sleeping? No.
And I usually manage to get through it feeling relatively energised, only feeling the weariness, tiredness, sometimes complete exhaustion, when? Monday morning, of course!
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Sleep patterns
There are certain people I feel very jealous of. Those who can sleep. Through anything, with all kinds of worries. I am the complete opposite. Last night, I went to bed and battled with my thoughts for a good hour before I slept, even though I was exhausted. I woke up a few hours later and went to the bathroom. Then I couldn't help but wonder how the bathroom had been cleaned. Was the same sponge used to clean the toilet and the sink, and if yes, was it rinsed in between? After a while I managed to fall asleep.
I woke up an hour or so later feeling cold. As I reached to turn off the AC I spilled out my glass of water and had to jump out of bed to rescue my camera, phone, books and precious magazines on the night stand. When I got back to bed, I couldn't remember on which side I had been sleeping. If I don't lie the same way as when I woke up, it'll take longer to sleep. As I tested from side to side, of course I got warm and decided to turn on the AC, so I had to look for the remote which had disappeared when I spilled the water. Got back to bed and slept another hour or so, dreaming wildly about the most mundane things (including telling Virgo to buy V-power (petrol) as the car was running low in the dream).
Woke up 4.30 and turned off the AC. Then I heard the roosters and somebody sweeping. I began deliberating whether the humming of the AC was better than the sound of the roosters and decided, yes it was. Turned on the AC but was a bit cold so searched around in the bed for my socks and somehow realised I had been bitten by mosquitos 4 times in the night. Wondered where from and how they had come and shared my bed with me and created such huge bites all over.
Must have finally fallen asleep around 5.50, only to be woken up just after 6 to get ready for the gym. By the way, this is in no way an unusual night for me, is it any wonder I am always tired???
Funnily enough, I'm feeling quite peachy today anyway.
I woke up an hour or so later feeling cold. As I reached to turn off the AC I spilled out my glass of water and had to jump out of bed to rescue my camera, phone, books and precious magazines on the night stand. When I got back to bed, I couldn't remember on which side I had been sleeping. If I don't lie the same way as when I woke up, it'll take longer to sleep. As I tested from side to side, of course I got warm and decided to turn on the AC, so I had to look for the remote which had disappeared when I spilled the water. Got back to bed and slept another hour or so, dreaming wildly about the most mundane things (including telling Virgo to buy V-power (petrol) as the car was running low in the dream).
Woke up 4.30 and turned off the AC. Then I heard the roosters and somebody sweeping. I began deliberating whether the humming of the AC was better than the sound of the roosters and decided, yes it was. Turned on the AC but was a bit cold so searched around in the bed for my socks and somehow realised I had been bitten by mosquitos 4 times in the night. Wondered where from and how they had come and shared my bed with me and created such huge bites all over.
Must have finally fallen asleep around 5.50, only to be woken up just after 6 to get ready for the gym. By the way, this is in no way an unusual night for me, is it any wonder I am always tired???
Funnily enough, I'm feeling quite peachy today anyway.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Girl Interrupted.
Since Friday I’ve had difficulty sleeping. (Well actually, it’s been going on my whole life, but since Friday it’s been particularly bad). I slept four hours a night Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday and Tuesday night, I only slept two hours per night (Ok, it’s possible that the Grey’s Anatomy season 4 disc that I borrowed from Dee had something to do with the last two nights lack of sleep) and so I’ve been walking around like a zombie for days.
Opening my eyes for too long is tiring, standing up is tiring, yes, anything really wears me out. But as soon as I get into bed, the sleepiness goes. I have to put on a DVD to distract myself from thinking or getting bored of trying to sleep.
Yesterday, I couldn’t take it anymore. At 15:45 I had to leave work to get some rest. Even the ten minute drive to Virgo’s house was a struggle, at every chance I got I’d lean against my seatbelt to rest my heavy head. Got to bed, but it took another 50 minutes to wind down. Then suddenly, I felt it – sleep beginning to drift over me. What a wonderful feeling, when you know the rest is about to come and refuel your body, like a medicine beginning to treat a disease. Then I drifted off, into the deepest, soundest sleep that would have gone on for hours...
…Except instead I was woken up 17 minutes later by the sound of my phone, as an extremely badly timed call came through.
Just another reason to detest MTN :)
Opening my eyes for too long is tiring, standing up is tiring, yes, anything really wears me out. But as soon as I get into bed, the sleepiness goes. I have to put on a DVD to distract myself from thinking or getting bored of trying to sleep.
Yesterday, I couldn’t take it anymore. At 15:45 I had to leave work to get some rest. Even the ten minute drive to Virgo’s house was a struggle, at every chance I got I’d lean against my seatbelt to rest my heavy head. Got to bed, but it took another 50 minutes to wind down. Then suddenly, I felt it – sleep beginning to drift over me. What a wonderful feeling, when you know the rest is about to come and refuel your body, like a medicine beginning to treat a disease. Then I drifted off, into the deepest, soundest sleep that would have gone on for hours...
…Except instead I was woken up 17 minutes later by the sound of my phone, as an extremely badly timed call came through.
Just another reason to detest MTN :)
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Kermit must die
Written at 5:25 a.m. this morning:
I hate frogs. Those evil little so and so's have kept me up all night with their constant noise. As soon as I'd fall asleep, they'd raise the volume to a higher decibel.
I do NOT function well without sleep! So if you're in the Greater Accra Region today, do not cross my path. Don't worry, you'll recognise me, I'm the one with a dark cloud across my face and bags under my eyes.
Grrr...
I hate frogs. Those evil little so and so's have kept me up all night with their constant noise. As soon as I'd fall asleep, they'd raise the volume to a higher decibel.
I do NOT function well without sleep! So if you're in the Greater Accra Region today, do not cross my path. Don't worry, you'll recognise me, I'm the one with a dark cloud across my face and bags under my eyes.
Grrr...
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