Freezing fog

Parrots freezing in freezing fog this morning

So this morning we had freezing fog. It was/is very very cold here. Bitterly cold. Please do not mention the European heat wave to me right now. The only positive thing I can think of in relation to that is the fact that it is statistically unlikely to have occurred in Aberdeenshire.

Sorry - a pause while I stare at the television in amazement. There was an advert on for sensodyne toothpaste where a woman with a strong Aussie accent just said "It's nice that I can just put that straight in my gob" in relation to icecream.

Things I should have brought with me - more jumpers. Gloves. Hat. Scarf. I did bring some scarves, but they were of the floaty, cottony, skimpy variety. I have had to go out and buy wool and knitting needles and knit scarves. So I should have brought knitting needles. I have knitted two scarves and a jumper so far.

I have also been writing and researching a lot! Not just knitting.

I have been considering the rather ironic fact that I have spent two months reading about, researching and writing about good and bad mothers. I know about all the different mothering ideologies extant in western culture - traditional, neoliberal, feminist, postfeminist, intensive, economic nurturant, etc, etc. I can even throw around a reference to Foucault and how he argues that hegemonic ideologies - in the case of motherhood in contemporary society, intensive motherhood or 'the new momism' - support the dominant culture, ie patriarchy (bastards). However, I have been unable to find an ideology of motherhood that includes going off to Australia for two months... Will continue to look - and I am back in ten days!!!!