Roots and wings!

Yesterday was one of those days that I would rather forget; the workman who is tidying up the cul-de-sac where our unit is, was power-washing the building and driveway and the noise was just incredible! Coupled with an apparent lack of understand that I cannot respond to his shouted requests and cheery comments whilst I am on the telephone to customers, it was a tres stressful day.

Today there is a blissful silence outside, what joy for the eardrums! Actually I knew today was going to be a good one when I managed to persuade Dave to get up before me and make a cup of tea (for the first time in about 3 weeks), but watching him unfold himself and clutch his back as he stood up, gave me a hint that he is aching and sore after moving huge boxes around the unit yesterday. Now call me cruel, but I didn't leap out of bed and tell him to take it easy, no I just lay there and revelled in the pleasure of being brought a cup of tea in bed.

We are on a final countdown now; Cecily (pictured above) moves to Bath in 4 days time to start her new life at the university. She has realised that she is not only excited, but pretty scared too. I on the other hand I am terrified! She has grown into a beautiful, intelligent and witty woman and despite being her mother she is also my friend, I really enjoy her company and will miss her dreadfully. What, I wonder, will I do without the 4 or 5 telephone calls from her each day to tell me what she is up to or the latest gossip or asking what I would like for lunch (which she has kindly prepared for us most days since she left school)?

I don't imagine Dave will want to come clothes shopping with me for hours on end, stop me from making fashion blunders or be able to say 'actually that makes you look really fat' without being embarrassed. Good grief, why don't children come with a manual that tells parents all the right things to say and do and gives a guide for helping parents let go. When the children were little, my mother gave me a lovely wall plaque that read 'There are two important things we can give our children; one is roots, the other is wings'. This week I am learning how hard this really is to do.... so to all parents who's youngest child is leaving home this month, I offer my heartfelt sympathy.

Chat soon, Liz