It is a frosty, January morning. Mrs Bloggins sits at her desk with a fresh mug of tea reviewing the day and her life so far. Already, this morning, she has fed the cats, the tropical fishes and her three dogs. She has checked that the garden hens have food and clean water and has put fresh seeds on the bird tables. The milk bottles have been brought in (Mrs Bloggins still has a milkman although he only delivers on Monday and Friday), condensation on the windows has been wiped off and the dishwasher is running, as are the washing machine and tumble dryer. Mrs Bloggins looks out across the Neath valley, for inspiration. This is going to be her first blog post and she is already fighting thoughts of alternative ways to spend the next hour or two.
Mrs B is a very domesticated lady. She has become domesticated (like a cow or a dog, she grumbles to herself), by default. Since her third son’s birth, she has only worked for a salary for fifteen months and that contract ended almost a decade ago. Mr Bloggins has recently retired after keeping his family going single-handedly for many years.He can now sleep in every morning rather than have to get up at 6 AM. But when, Mrs Bloggins wonders, does a housewife retire? Does she want to retire? Does she want a new job?
Mrs Bloggins does know that she doesn’t want a ‘pin money’ job in a shop, bank or office. What Mrs Bloggins wants is an outlet for her creativity and a way to keep herself occupied that isn’t limited to cleaning up after geriatric terriers and shopping for five adults. Keeping house is an all-consuming career if one allows it to be. Mrs Bloggins knows that the daily grind of housework has made her grumpy, sour and moody and her first-class honours degree over-qualifies her for toilet-cleaning and bed-making. Mrs B has forgotten more than some people ever know. She used to be able to pick ideas up quickly and learn new skills with ease. What Mrs Bloggins needs is intellectual stimulation and a challenge. This is why she has started her blog.