What a week and it isn't over yet.

Monday was the anniversary of my Mum’s death. As you can imagine that was quite a difficult day. As I said in my previous post I do miss her so much but you know in many ways it was quite a ‘smiley’ day because all sorts of memories came back to me, memories that both me and the lads shared, so it wasn’t an awful day. Just sad because she was only 69 when she died and she had a lot more living to do but it wasn’t meant to be. Still love her though, I love her very much.

Tuesday I had a debriefing meeting at Attingham Park that was good. The book fair that Wrekin Writers were part of is going to take place again next year only next year it will bigger, better and longer. Three intensive days but it’ll be fun.

Wednesday gosh that was a day and a half. I had to be at Bridgnorth Hospital for 9.30 in the morning. Now those of you who know me, know I don’t do mornings but I managed it. Daniel (no 2 son) took time off work to drive me, only trouble was he drove my car, fortunately they didn’t take my blood pressure when I got there or it would have been significantly raised. However, after a long time of pain, swollen joints etc, I have been diagnosed officially with Psoriatic Arthritis and Spondylitis, you’ve never heard of it, well that about sums me up, I never have ‘common’ diseases, I always go for the different things. Anyway despite the not nice feeling of actually having it confirmed by an expert, I actually feel very positive because when I asked him what the prognosis was, he said it was good. So look out folks, maybe soon I’ll be able to move and not creak, laugh and not wince and what I’ll be able to do with my hands, well I’ll leave it there

Wednesday afternoon was the job centre with my youngest son in Ludlow and I took my eldest son too where he had a driving lesson. Tedious being a taxi driver but living in a village where there is one bus a day that doesn’t cater for anyone who wants to work etc Mum’s taxi is an integral part of life. But, whilst in Ludlow I made enquires about buying a new car. Okay I know mine isn’t old but hey I’m fifty next year and this girl just wants to have fun, so I’m looking at getting an Astra twin top so in the summer (don’t laugh) I can throw the roof back and have the wind blowing through my air. Probably play havoc with the arthritis but who cares, WD40 should sort that out.

Today was yet another trip into Ludlow where Robin (no 3 son) had an interview with the Wheels to Work Scheme. This is a charity designed to help people particularly in rural area get transport so they can get to work. He has three options, one is an electric bike (you should’ve seen his face)

An other option was a 50cc scooter (again you should’ve seen his face)

The third option is a contribution to driving lessons and his theory test. I know Robin would prefer that option but realistically a Ferrari is out of the question. The outcome was nothing was decided upon but now he knows his options.

After we left the interview I called in at Tescos in Ludlow and on my way back to the car I saw a lady sitting in her car with a flat tyre. Now I know how I’d feel if that was me. In theory I know how to change a tyre but in nearly thirty years of driving, I’ve always managed to find some bloke to do it for me. So, bearing in mind how I’d feel I asked if she’d got help sorted or did she want Robin to change the wheel for her. She looked at Robin, earrings, eyebrow bar, tattoo and spiked hair and asked if he’d done it before. Confidently he told her he had and I think somewhat reluctantly she agreed to let him do it. It wasn’t quite as simple as it should’ve been but he managed it in the end with a smile. Bless her, she was so grateful but you know the sad thing was she commented that not many people would have stopped to help. That is quite a reflection on the world we live in.

And tomorrow my first born son Christopher is 26. I don’t know where the years have gone. I certainly don’t feel old enough to have a son of that age and in many ways I find it difficult to get my head around how old my kids are because in many ways I feel like their still children and they’re not. That’s what gets me about the books on raising children, they don’t really prepare you for the realities of being a parent, they just tell you to what to look for in the developmental stages and the terrible twos are a things of the past, or at least that’s what they tell you.

Funny, funny week and my novel, I haven’t done much writing on that but in my head, that’s where I’ve escaped to and the urge to write it down is becoming more and more important. I think in some ways once I start life as I know it will cease to exist, now that’s exciting but also quite daunting. I can see piles of dishes stacked in the kitchen, the laundry spilling out of the utility room and threatening to invade the rest of the house, the grass growing to such an extent that to get to my car I shall need a safari hat and a guide. Now I’m being silly or am I?