Holy preparation !

So the youngest child is due to make his Holy Communion in 20 days time, unfortunately falling exactly 20 days before the Confirmation of the eldest boy...very bad planning on my part, and most unlike me. My slightly frazzled ( see previous blog) brain has had some difficulty in accepting this twist of religious fate ( or should that be faith?) and for some time the two dates have appeared large and looming my mind, as I try to ensure I have everything covered. Thanks to the kind words of a friend who also has Holy Communion I booked the all important bouncy castle over a year ago...the lady advised me I was her third call that day for a booking the following year ! The caterer has been booked...my Boeuf Stroganoff being rejected by the men in my life for the cheaper ( and far more common!) Chicken curry. In an effort to minimise financial ruin, I have been circumspect in relation to the clothing and both boys will wear something old, new, borrowed and blue and I will don the Lennon Courtney jumpsuit seen only last Christmas day and a charity event I managed not to be photographed at...truthfully the local photographer walked straight past me in the knowledge I will show up at the opening of an envelope. GASP is , of course, not buying anything new , but has no need and sees no need. Planning is where GASP and I differ somewhat....I am an advance planner extraordinaire ...he is more of the "let's see what happens" type, which does lead to some frustration when I am in my mode and he in his. My head is full of food, decor, cleaning, clothing, guest lists, weather, drink and lists ...he is watching a western. As I tick another box on one of my many lists, he ask " what's for tea?", as I write in my diary to remind BMM to out out the Child of Prague, he is contemplating how long his cattle will have grass in the back field. He thinks I'm nuts and I find him VERY annoying .
I have requested that he, in his role of " Minister for the Environment" ( as opposed to my Internal Affairs portfolio) "consider" cleaning the paths and patio having given up and paid a man to clean the windows. He is " considering it " a little too long for my liking, so I have suggested that the urgency is around the fact that I have slipped 3 times recently...I have not told him that I was in my slippers at the time. I have " suggested" he borrow a power washer and "reminded" him that he has a container of Patio/path cleaner I bought him last year. And still I wait....I have not, as yet got to NAGGING , but have a sense I am getting close to that point, the point at which I might as well just admit defeat. I do, however, still hold a weapon in my armoury .....the financial one. Although GASP has no difficulty paying a man to clean the windows, his whole body is horrified by the thought that he might pay someone to do something he will eventually do himself. So, over the next few days, I will leave out the business cards of gardening companies, cleaning companies and odd jobs men, along with a fake list in my diary of prices ranging from €150 to €300 until he asks what exactly what I am up to. I will, at that critical point, indicate the need to pay a man to do the job he does not apparently want to do and then will turn around, stroll off smiling gently, as he proceeds to the garage in his new wellies and commences the task I have been asking him to do for weeks......he will also be smiling of course, as he always knew he was going to do it, just on his timetable, not on mine....God forbid he should roll over so easily ! I will, of course, "reward" him, so that I don't have to wait so long for the next job and he will strut around his newly cleaned patio and paths on the day of the Communion like the man that has it all, as the sun shines ( thanks to the Child of Prague) and we have a wonderful day thanks to ME ! That evening we will sit down, with a glass of Merlot in my hand, and he will remark that he really didn't get what all my fussing was about, as the whole event went just great...as always.