Adventures of a Non-Binary Author – Zelly Approves

We both agree, we’ll let ourselves get up when we get up in the morning. We have a lot to do. Unpacking. Food shopping. But we’ll do it on our schedule. Unfortunately our schedule is still pretty early. Despite how tiring the last few days have been, I’m still awake before six.

I focus on getting through my morning routine. My pace is somewhere between my own and we’ve got things to do today. My partner is also up earlier than they intended. This isn’t a bad thing. The more we can get done, the less stressful it will be in the long run. Once we’re both showered and dressed it’s time to start organising. First we want to switch the location of Zelly’s cage with one of the book shelves. Right now we can’t both see the TV comfortably, this will fix that. Once her cage, and our couches, are set, it’s time to tackle the next bit.

There’s a fridge, currently in the bedroom, that we want to use. It was the only item of furniture we asked to keep from what was offered to us. To use it we need somewhere to plug it in. Just not in the bedroom. We want it in the living room for convenience. We also want the choice to use some of our own kitchen equipment. Like the kettle and the rice cooker. We’ve already picked up a kitchen space saver to make this possible.

So we start by shifting boxes around, making space. Then we set up the table and move the fridge. Finally we build and set up the space saving unit, slotting what we need into place. The setups not perfect, but it will do. With the fridge plugged in and running, we can now do our food shop. I just need things a little more organised first. In the end we have lunch before we set out. There’s still plenty to do when we get back, but at least we know where our food is going now.

It takes over an hour for the food shop to be done. We’ve had to go into the city center for it, as that’s the closest Sainsbury’s. This is our big shop. Our Nectar points are needed to off-set the cost. And it works well. Nine days worth of food to get us through to the next viable food shop day. Most of it is covered by our Nectar points. We still have money on our Sainsbury’s gift card too. A cheaper way to shop made possible by my work. For us it means this week’s larger food shop has been covered by previous months savvy shopping.

We get home. I sort the food shop whilst my partner works on a different task. Once we’re both done, we focus our attention back on unpacking. We’d like to finish what’s left today, but there’s a lot to do still, and it’s already gone two. Still we potter on, tackling one task at a time, mostly. Moving between the two rooms. Shifting boxes. Sliding things under beds to get them out of the way. Eventually the end is in sight. My partner, tired, decides a box containing bathroom things has been sorted enough. This is something they will regret later. For now though we both breathe a sigh of relief at our mostly tidy set up.

My partner films it for our families, as I hoover up the mess unpacking has left behind. Well, unpacking and owning a gerbil. There’s a lot of sawdust everywhere. Strangely that’s the bit which makes it feel most like home. Even though I accounted for today in the food planning, it doesn’t take much to talk me into another takeaway. Once that’s arrived, and we’ve started eating, Zelly can finally come out for her first playtime in our new home.

She’s nervous at first. And clearly unhappy with us for the moving process. My new sitting position is right next to her cage. She doesn’t want to use my lap as a bridge to freedom. I shuffle a little away, allowing her the space she needs. It doesn’t take long after that for her to start exploring the room. She whizzes about, and it’s hard to keep an eye on her. Eventually she slows down, and returns to the couch. Now she wants to climb all over me. I’m pretty sure it means I’m forgiven. By the end of her play time she appears settled. We take this to mean our elderly gerbil approves of her new home.

Our thoughts then turn to the rest of the week. Tomorrow will be our first day commuting to work from our temporary home. Will we be able to make it in on time? Can we really make this new situation work? Only time will tell…

To be continued…