Please, Let Me Sleep

By Irene Russell

Please, Let Me Sleep is a relatable and humorous take on a topic that will surely resonate with readers. As the author candidly shares her experiences, readers will find themselves nodding in agreement and chuckling at the absurdity of it all. In a world where stress seems to be the norm, from mortgages to job insecurity to global conflicts, this book offers a welcome escape from the chaos.

Amidst the challenging times we face today, including the COVID pandemic and the rising concerns about school bullying and drug use, parenting can feel like an overwhelming and joyless task. This book offers a lighthearted look at the ups and downs of parenthood, reminding readers that it’s okay to laugh at the challenges we face.

The author’s sense of humour and upbeat attitude are evident throughout the book, making it a perfect antidote to the stresses of daily life. Whether you’re looking for a quick laugh or a way to unwind at the end of a long day, Please, Let Me Sleep is sure to leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready for a peaceful night’s sleep.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jun 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781035802722

Irene Russell

I was brought up in a home resounding with music, all sorts of music although predominantly classical music, as my mother was the first woman in N.Z. to win the Piano Classical competition plus a Bursary to study in Europe, with the intent of  becoming a World Concert Pianist; she was 16 years old and did not have the confidence to pursue the opportunity. We were singers, pianists and guitarists so music filled our home after dinner at night. My father had a very acceptable tenor voice, my sister was singing at eighteen months of age and one brother won every pub-singing competition he ever entered and was offered a recording contract which he politely declined. My love of writing emerged in my time of the standard classes at school and I was in my element when essay period was announced. However, the downside was having to stand in front of the class and read them out when the teacher called my name, because I died a thousand deaths. I have endeavoured to live my life leaving those I have met better off than when we did meet, and still live by that code. I wasn’t always successful, but the times it ‘back fired’ were few and far between and always regarding life and reactions to certain situations therein. We now live in a very chaotic and violent world with the result that the majority of people with whom I have had contact are fearful and full of anxiety, which is the reason for this book, so it is my sincere desire that should you, Reader, be tossing and turning and sleep seems impossible, that you would pick up this book and laugh yourself to sleep!!!

Book preview

About the Author

I was brought up in a home resounding with music, all sorts of music although predominantly classical music, as my mother was the first woman in N.Z. to win the Piano Classical competition plus a Bursary to study in Europe, with the intent of becoming a World Concert Pianist; she was 16 years old and did not have the confidence to pursue the opportunity. We were singers, pianists and guitarists so music filled our home after dinner at night.

My father had a very acceptable tenor voice, my sister was singing at eighteen months of age and one brother won every pub-singing competition he ever entered and was offered a recording contract which he politely declined.

My love of writing emerged in my time of the standard classes at school and I was in my element when essay period was announced. However, the downside was having to stand in front of the class and read them out when the teacher called my name, because I died a thousand deaths.

I have endeavoured to live my life leaving those I have met better off than when we did meet, and still live by that code. I wasn’t always successful, but the times it ‘back fired’ were few and far between and always regarding life and reactions to certain situations therein.

We now live in a very chaotic and violent world with the result that the majority of people with whom I have had contact are fearful and full of anxiety, which is the reason for this book, so it is my sincere desire that should you, Reader, be tossing and turning and sleep seems impossible, that you would pick up this book and laugh yourself to sleep!!!

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my late mother. Mum whom I got the love of words and to my mend and Sharon McGrory, who gave of her time and thoughts so willingly.

Copyright Information ©

Irene Russell 2023

The right of Irene Russell to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

All of the events in this memoir are true to the best of author’s memory. The views expressed in this memoir are solely those of the author.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035802715 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035802722 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Party Prattlings and

Stereo Sounds

I believe there is one cause for sleepless nights to which we all react—noisy parties! Haven’t most of us been the victims of such ‘events’ at one time or another? I know we have, and I doubt there is anything more frustrating! The frustration occurs because the culprits are normally totally selfish and purely ignorant of the code of ‘Social Etiquette’! I am able to recall numerous such occasions, but one in particular remains highlighted in my memory!

It was a wonderful, still evening without any wind and our neighbours decided it was the perfect night for a party that was being held to celebrate their recent property purchase.

You could hear a pin drop, the night was so still; in short, it was definitely not the ideal evening for any sort of party if you didn’t want the noise to carry, let alone a more vocal occasion which this was destined to be, for the balmy conditions tended to exaggerate even that which was normal! This particular party started quite early (from memory, I think about 5.30 pm or thereabouts). Cars started arriving about this time in the afternoon which did not cause us any consternation as we knew our new neighbours to be a truly delightful family, and we anticipated an early start heralded an early finish. We didn’t pay too much attention for the first three or four hours, as we were watching television and although we were aware of the noise drifting across from next door, it did not present an intrusion at that point; however, it was soon to be a very different story!

We completed our nightly ablutions, having observed enough television to send us totally mad, and crawled into bed at about 10:20 pm. And then we heard it—boy did we hear it! You think I’m referring to that good old party faithful, the stereo, but you couldn’t be more wrong.

These people had obvious musical abilities and were not reliant upon modern technology for their entertainment! The very melodic tones wafted through our window, open for reasons of intense heat and our survival. The night was still, very still. The neighbour’s house was close, so close we could almost touch them, and we were privy to every word spoken. We found the music very soothing, however, one party goer had a most unfortunate laugh; it was very high pitched, intrusive and singularly distinctive! At 10:30 pm, it was amusing; by 11:00 pm, it became less amusing. By 11:30 pm, it was becoming annoying; by midnight, it was positively grating, but by 1:00 am, it had become unbearable, for my husband anyway, and I too was beginning to lose my sense of humour! The more the guests imbibed, the more frequent the laugh. This laugh, and I kid you not, could drive a sane person

crazy, and we were no exception!

My husband was up and down to the window, what for, exactly, I’m not quite sure, however, I suspect it was in the hope of observing signs of people leaving; but it was not to be. He was muttering the whole time, issuing death threats to the owner of this peculiar and most irritating laugh.

Each time the high-pitched, raucous laughter intruded into our room, his shoulders nearly hit his head because it was by now such a shoulder jerking experience!

By 2:15 am, the laughter made it impossible to even catnap, and had my husband nearly pulling his hair out, quite literally, which concerned me for he could hardly afford such luxuries. I must admit, by this time, I was not particularly enthralled either, but this was the first party they had held in several months; and it was Friday night, so we had the weekend ahead in which to recover! By the time 2:30 am came around, this laugh was beginning to drive me crazy, too, and I was finding this situation totally intolerable as well. Something had to be very, very amusing.

Husband was all set to storm next door, so I was kept occupied in preventing what would have been a most unfortunate confrontation, for he had long since exceeded a reasonable level of tolerance.

Just when I thought a confrontation was inevitable, we heard cars starting to drive away. We became aware the terrible, mind-shattering laughter had ceased! It was absolute heaven after the agony of the preceding hours.

Had anyone described such a situation to me, prior to this experience, I would never have believed one person’s laughter could have been so mind shattering!

Of course, the majority of us are all too