I really hope that they are impressed, if only compared to last year's crisis (for me!) visit. The house is still a mess, it is still cluttered. But it is SO MUCH LESS of a mess, and SO MUCH LESS cluttered that I am daring to be a little proud.

I keep making plans of what to tidy and what to prepare, and I think they are all too over-ambitious because I'm not sticking to them. But I am getting a bit done nearly every day, which feels good.