Not Friday 13th!

Driving my elder son to school, along narrow back road, when there was a hedge-trimming vehicle in front of me. I noticed a lump of "mud" on road which I tried to avoid but hit, immediately I knew something was wrong! The steering became difficult, I slowed down. When I got out of car and checked the tyre was flat. For once I had left handbag at home; no insurance details and no phone. The school let me phone and the service just required reg number, promising that someone would be there "within an hour." There was nothing more I could do but sit and wait... and wait ... and wait. Sixty-five minutes later a breakdown van drove up. He exchanged tyre for "space-saver" and I was able to rush home and rush to work. I had thought damage was to brand new tyre. However, ATS pointed out that was rear tyre. But a deep slash meant this was unrepairable and the only option was a new tyre, which had to be ordered. Guy at ATS was very nice but I could have done without expense. Husband thinks I probably hit part of a blade or something from trimmer.
This happened yesterday!

Problems of working mum

I received a phone call from school today - my younger son wasn't well! I spoke to him whilst wondering what I could do, I'm still on my probationary period and as manager not in today felt uneasy about rushing to his side. However, he's normally very healthy and it is unusual for him to complain of headaches. I also had an opticians appointment, which I needed as eyesight has not been good recently. Luckily my mother was able to collect and tend him, allowing me to carry on. Not sure where this places me as a "caring mother", although now he is at senior school he's beyond the stage where when he's ill he needs his mum.

My elder son brought home a note explaining he had a study morning on Friday. This means he does not need to go to school till 1.00pm. The problem is that as I'm at work till 2 so I can not take him in and it's too far for him to walk. Upshot is that it's easier for him to go to school as normal and study there. I think he was disappointed by this as he rather looked forward to a lie-in. Me too but I'm working Saturday morning this week.

Another new year!

When I was young I couldn't wait to grow up. Grown ups could do lots of exciting things. Nowadays I wonder why I was in such a rush, I don't think I appreciated being young, having few responsibilities and no one depending on me. Of course it didn't feel like that than. So my new year's resolution is to appreciate the now, or live in the moment, so far it's proving harder than I expected. Partly because I'm experiencing a tiredness which may be due to time of year, a virus, work-related, or just that I've been overdoing things. Whatever. The thing I'd most like to do at the moment is hibernate. Snuggle into a warm duvet and sleep till spring. In order to inspire myself into action I've been planning the decoration of my sons' bedrooms, not really living in the moment is it? The problem is that I spend most of my time doing things I'd rather not be doing, which isn't how I envisualized being grown up at all!
Someone asked me the other day about my dreams for the future and I suddenly realized that I didn't have any. Maybe that's my first move towards being aware of the present?
However there is one dream that I haven't yet realized, or let go of, visiting Venice for my 50th birthday.