The 10 stages of tiredness

I really like my sleep, I know most people do. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say, “I do not like my sleep, I prefer to sleep as little as possible.” I’m pretty sure I need around 9 hours a night to be firing on all cylinders - turbo charge. And at least 8 - 8.5 to be firing on 80% of cylinders. Christ knows how Margaret Thatcher did it is all I can say. Having Erin has introduced me to the several new stages on my tiredness spectrum. Here they are:

1. Fogginess, kind of like moving in slow motion through thick clouds. Being asleep yet with your eyes open and making breakfast.
2. Not being able to concentrate on anything for more than 3 seconds such as, walking away from cooking food to put washing out and totally forgetting about food until you can smell burning or asking someone a question and listening to them answer it having forgotten what you’d asked them.
3. Not being able to retain thoughts for more than 3 seconds, for example, walking into a room purposefully and having no idea why your there.
4. Irrational irritability with fellow pedestrians that just happen to be in your way, or someone that is hogging the swings at the park.
5. Edginess - jumping at noises that are a normal part of your daily life, like the kettle boiling, or the washing machine beeping when it finishes its cycle.
6. Crying at adverts, the news, soap operas.
7. Finding an alternative (negative) meaning for everything some one says.
8. Finding everything some one says incredible annoying.
9. Seeing things moving out the corners of your eyes that aren’t actually moving.
10. Crying but not knowing why.

6.30am flight to Minorca. Around stage 5.

Inspired by Hurrahforgin's post - Seven Stages of Sleep Deprivation. 

Turning into our parents

This happens gradually and sometimes unknowingly, but for me the process was accelerated by having my daughter. I knew this was happening to me when:

• The high point of any day was going out for coffee and cake.
• I had to turn the radio off when I parked the car, there was heavy rain or it was busy on the motorway.
• I struggled to keep up with technology, for example, I had accidentally turned on the torch on my i phone and had it on for 2 hours before the doctor at my appointment later that morning told me how to turn it off.
• I forgot the name of the Foo Fighters and referred to them as David Grohl’s band. 
• I started buying pot plants.
• I enjoyed watching the Antiques Road Show.
• Occasionally, it may take me 5-10 minutes to remember how old I am.

My parents - out for coffee and cake