I came home yesterday totally knackered but so full of joy and happiness. Cannot believe that the snotty nosed teenager who totally rejected the idea of children as a pain is now a double grandmother and I look back at that Elaine with astonishment at the thought that I might have missed out on so much. Families can be difficult, can be a pain and can cause tiredness and worry but in the end, are truly wonderful and so it has been with me. I don't wish to sound all touchy-feely or overly philosophical, but I do believe it is the bedrock of everything that is good. My mother worked hard, literally, to bring up my sister and I. She was a single mum for years after her divorce and had little or no help and she struggled financially to care for us. Only when I had my two daughters did I realise just how hard it had been. She was a great grandmother to Kathryn and Helen and took such pride in them.
Now I can watch Helen mothering her own children and see how good she is, how patient and understanding, but firm as well and can only hope that some of this came down from my mother and I and will continue down the generations. Her husband, James, is a wonderful support and simply adores Florence and she him. He has spent time in the last few days curled up on the bed with his new little daughter beside him and if ever there was a happy household then this is it!
I slept for ten straight hours last night and now feel re-energised today and ready to conquer the world. Also being on a flat surface with no stairs is going to be good for me too. The new loft extension was finished just before the baby arrived and it is really beautiful and now I am sleeping right at the top of the house which I love. Something very cosy about a slanted ceiling. Downside is that the kitchen is at the other end of the ground floor and as I have been cooking meals and making sure everyone stays in bed and rests, I have been thundering up and down three flights many times a day. Could barely walk on Thursday with cramps but now this has gone. It was all worth it as the sight of all four of them in one room all together eating my meals and being together was marvellous. And, in case you think I am being too saintly and wonderful, I was rather pleased to sit at the table on my own downstairs, peaceful and quiet, and eat with a book propped open in front of me...........
Book reviews have taken a back seat for a while but hope to catch up on a bit of reading in the next few days and to string together a sentence or two for you all, but for now just glad to be back and chilling.
As an illustration of how tired I was after driving home yesterday this is what I did: put kettle on for tea, made myself a ham sandwich, cut sandwich into four neat little squares, kettle came to boil, put one ham square into cup and poured on boiling water, while at the same time putting tea bag in mouth.
Yes I know......
