Insomnia – (or the chance to watch movies)

Last night I had one of those nights where no matter what I tried, sleep was evading me like a bank note in the wind. In the past I have been accused of tossing (not like that! Well, not always) and turning all night when I’ve been unable to sleep. Allegedly I accompany this with loud and frequent sighs. In order to prevent further aggravation for my wife I decided at around 2.00am that sleep wasn’t going to envelop me in it’s purple cloak, and I might as well get up. I made my way downstairs and then tried to think of a way to fill my time. Playing music quickly eliminated: too noisy. Reading: I’m not really enjoying the current book I’m reading, so that had no appeal at 2am. Sorting out my CD collection? I always struggle to find the CD my mood demands, in fact I suspect that someone is filtering my collection, removing some of my favourites that they don’t enjoy. But enough of the paranoia. I think about putting them in some sort of order, but alphabetically seems too anal, by genre too time consuming; how do I class certain groups? I ruled this out as an option, this wasn’t the time to start such a momentous task. If there is a right time ever. TV: I flicked through some stations, but even the naked flesh on certain channels wasn’t really grabbing me, although it was filed as a definite possibility…. I ended up looking through the DVDs huddled together and inspiration struck : Withnail and I. A film where nothing much happens, but the dialogue sparkles with gems. It’s about a journey two out of work actors take to the area I was raised in, the Lake District. So watching it is almost like a trip home. As soon as it came on I realised my choice had been inspired: the memories of the great lines came flooding back. “I fail to see my family’s of any interest to you. I’ve absolutely no interest in yours. I dislike relatives in general and in particular mine.” “I have a heart condition, if you hit me, it’s murder” “These are the sort of windows faces look in at” “We’ve gone on holiday by mistake” I could go on all day – the film is so quotable It saw me through till 4am anyway, then I made Heir no.1’s school lunch and sorted some bills. I got back in bed at around 4.30am, my wife groggily asked “Where have you been?” , then fell straight back to sleep. I lay there making a conscious effort not to move, or make any sound resembling a sigh. At some point I must have drifted off as I was awoken by Heir no. 1 shouting “I want my breakfast! Please” loudly in my ear at 5.45am. My mind did a quick calculation on the length of prison term I would serve, and I ruled out murder in cold blood. Instead I chose to acquiesce to his demands. It’ll serve him right – he’ll be knackered all day and have too long a gap between breakfast and lunch. What I failed to work through to, is that he will cope much better than I’m going to. After 5-a-side tonight I foresee an early bed time for me.