Son had a friend over from his class this week. Had big plans, we'd go pumpkin picking (all nice and outside), then go home and carve the pumpkins we'd picked.
At the pumpkin patch we normally go to - you sling on some wellies, grab a wheelbarrow and mooch around in the mud finding your perfect pumpkin specimen. As somebody that loves to tromp in mud it's something I really enjoy.
We drove 15 miles to the pumpkin patch only to find that it was temporarily shut. Most annoying as night before I'd checked it would be open. I had few other plans (let's face it what can you actually do at the moment!), so needed to think fast.
In the end we did go pumpkin picking, but his year it was different, we put on a mask, grabbed a trolley and went pumpkin selecting at Tesco! Not quite as bracing and fun as I'd intended, but we did end up with pumpkins to be carved. It also meant it was a lot cheaper than I'd anticipated - so swings and roundabouts. But let's face it - in 2020, the year of COVID everything is just a little bit sh***er than normal!
I find the supermarket carving pumpkins make horrific soup - so we took a slight detour on the way home and went to a local greengrocers to get some eating pumpkins. So whilst the boys carved I made pumpkin soup. Something I regretted quite quickly - it took me the grand total of an hour to get the pumpkin out of its skin (I think it was made of rhino hide). Much longer than it took the boys to carve and decorate their pumpkins.
Once the soup was finished we all had a bowl - both boys hated it. I quite liked it actually, but it's a seasonal thing - I wouldn't dream of making pumpkin soup at any other time of year.
Monday was exciting because I launched the website for my new company. Things are beginning to come together. I desperately need a new phone though and am struggling to get my questions answered by my provider.
They're still using the 'COVID' excuse and have turned off their live chat. Grrrr - surely the whole COVID thing is no longer an excuse and any company that's still got their 'we are focussing on those that need us most, so wait times may be longer' message up are being crossed off my list of suppliers. Even if I've used them for years.
That message never did wash with me - I mean - how exactly did they know who their most needy customers were - I know nobody ever asked me my circumstances. It's not that I would have been deemed a customer in most need - it's just HOW DO THEY THINK THEY KNOW THAT!
I'm getting thoroughly cheesed off with things right now - did you notice?! It's strange how my mindset has changed since February/March. I have been extremely well behaved since the start - following the rules, which frankly isn't something that comes naturally to me. But I see no evidence that anything we've done has made a difference. It doesn't mean I'm going to start stamping my feet, I shall continue to follow the rules - I just moan about everything more now.
Today son and I are going back to the area where I used to work. We're going to meet up with one of my 'old' team from before I was made redundant and then go to his old nursery/holiday club. Because I commuted and needed to be near my baby boy, son commuted with me - his nursery was just down the road from work. He was there from 6 months old.
Once he started school he'd still go back at half terms and holidays as they have a holiday club for older kids. Admittedly this has wound down as he's got older as he can entertain himself when we work from home, but he still usually goes 2 days a week during half term and holidays etc.
So one way or another the nursery/holiday club has been part of his life for 12 years. There are people there who taught him how to wipe his bum (thanks to them), who taught him how to eat etc. etc. I daresay they also saw his first steps before me, but didn't tell me so I could see them first. If you're a working mum - you'll understand what I'm talking about - if you've got an older kid like me it's impossible to remember just how hard it was to juggle being a mother of a young child and work full time. I think your brain blocks it out - a bit like pain!
Obviously as I've been made redundant I'll no longer be doing that commute. So today we're off to say a final goodbye. It's strange, but it's this that makes me feel a bit tearful about the change in my life. I didn't get the same lump in my throat when I cleared out my desk and cupboards at work. Maybe that's telling. I mean I'll stay in touch with the people who are important to me at work - probably not very well - I'm always useless at that, but I'll make an effort. Particularly with my small and - let's face it - amazing team, I'll miss them a lot.
So thought I'd just write this beforehand because I daresay I'll be a bit red of eye afterwards.
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