All the gear …
When I look back over the past five and a bit years it’s a bit of a halcyon reflection. And part of me asks myself where those days have gone to? We lived in a motorhome for almost five years and, as a result, life was so much simpler then. We did what we wanted – nearly always on our feet, in our running shoes or on our bikes – and loved it.
This morning, as I got up at 6.30 and peddled into the MoD’s place at Abbeywood in the cold, I did reflect on whether or not the pendulum had swung too far. Two days this week, five next, two the following … the money’s good and helpful and all that, but if we continue to live sensibly it’s not absolutely necessary. And I find myself distracted from the books. And, with Jen still not well (she came out of hospital yesterday but we’re now having to take her into Birmingham tomorrow because the pain is still not under control), I am distracted further. Sure, we are still among the luckiest people alive, but we’re not browning our knees in warmer climes. That ‘gay abandon’ which we cherished and eventually took for granted, is gone. Life is back to near normal.
And yet.
I’ve had two long (one and a half hour) sessions with two civil servants today and really felt that I have made a difference. In many ways it has been a delight. I am with the school on Friday and, again, it’s a long day, but people do keep coming back. I was described today as a ‘life coach’, which I think is what I’m turning out to be. And at £320 a day, it’s not bad money, although that it absolutely at the bottom end of the consultancy scale.
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we’ve still got Cassie dog
So. The balance? I don’t know. I guess much of this is to do with the awful weather. Much to do with Jen’s operation and subsequent issues. Much to do with the fact that neither of feel as though we’re firing on all cylinders. Of course, we’re only a month back from a three week skiing trip to Chatel. What are we moaning about? I dunno …
Anyhow, the good news is that Sorrel now has all the recording equipment she needs to get on with Unsuspecting Hero’s audiobook. I still haven’t started my read through with C of book 6 (no title, but it must have the word ‘red’ in it), but we’ll get round to that. And book sales have continued to be more positive than the last 3 months on the back of offering Unsuspecting Hero for free three weekends ago. I am doing the same for Innocence of Trust this weekend. And will continue to do this each month with a new book in the series until I can work out if it makes a difference.
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Sorrel – bless her. All the gear … (it’s going to be fab)
On reflection, then. Things aren’t all that bad. We had supper with Peter and Karen on Monday night, brunch with Alasdair and Annie yesterday and don’t we have the loveliest of friends?
More to report at the weekend. Hurrah!
