I’ve just finished the first child-free weekend that I’ve had for ages and my first one for this year. The thing about not seeing Builder Bloke anymore is that I have indeed managed to distance myself from all the stress of what is going on with my ex husband and his new fiance. I didn’t have to think about any of it at all. I did LOADS of really lovely things – went to the cinema, watched a DVD, read the papers in bed, got up late AND had a really lovely lunch at the RAC Club with a gorgeous (very young) bloke. Actually, I’ve known him forever. I probably used to babysit for him. He clearly took pity on me and invited me to his club. I’ve been wanting to go for ages. I hadn’t quite thought it all through though. I arrived all ready for lunch only to find that we were having a swim first. Swimming is not good when you know that your mascara is going to run, your eyes are going to be red, your hair is going to look like shit, you are going to have goggle marks for the entire rest of the day because your skin doesn’t bounce back quite like it used to and your overly hairy, white blobby body is going to be seen in public. Even worse than that, we had a sauna and then I had to dive into a freezing plunge pool THREE times and pretend that it was fine. It wasn’t fine. It was bloody freezing and I nearly had a heart attack.
What a lovely place the RAC club is though. Very grand. I hope they didn’t object to a drowned rat of a woman with goggle marks eating a huge roast lunch – in the end, I didn’t care, it was a really lovely treat.
My kids are now back. My daughter has a major ear infection owing to one of her latest piercings. Bright red ear and sore neck. Not good at all. My youngest son went on and on about his dad’s new huge big house and how exciting everything was and how he spent lots of time with Builder Bloke’s children and how the wedding plans for May are coming together and I am finding that all very difficult. It’s not going to be easy to get through the next six months of listening to all the planning and executing (now that’s not a bad idea) the wedding. My daughter is upset that she’s not going to be a bridesmaid and I have to try and be calm and reasoned about it all.
Oh well. Such is life. My friend is in hospital with her father who is on death’s door and I’ve talked to her today and she sounds so small and sad and I don’t know what to say to her other than that I’m here for her and will do anything I can to help and sometimes it’s important to remember that if we all threw our problems into a pile and saw everyone else’s we may well choose to grab ours back.
Regina Brett, aged 90 said both “life isn’t fair, but it’s still good” and “Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s a still a gift”.
London Dad
January 10, 2010Saunas and plunge pools eh? Tell us what really happened and will he feature again in your blog?
Family Affairs
January 11, 2010There were people around. Nothing else happened. WHAT else was supposed to happen at a posh club? Lx
Chic Mama
January 11, 2010Your weekend sounds lovely. How lucky getting to spend the day with a gorgeous man!! I’m very envious. Where do you meet these people, I never go anywhere to meet anyone.
So hard listening to your children talking about the wedding plans etc..my children don’t talk at all about their father’s lifestyle etc. I wish they would, it worries me. It’s all so hard isn’t it but yes someone is always suffering more.
Family Affairs
January 11, 2010Well, he’s the brother of a friend of mine, so doesn’t count and the thing about the kids talking is a big issue really – because they struggle with what to say to me and what they feel I won’t want to know and maybe it’s better to let them just talk and try not to let them know it is painful. V difficult Lx
Expat Mum
January 11, 2010Look at it this way (you can cheerfully strangle me whenever you see me as I always seem to be telling you what to do. I must have been your big sis in an earlier life!) –
– it’s better the kids are happy about the uncoming nuptials, even though you aren’t and it’ll last about two years max. (I’m taking bets in a few months.)
– you have freed yourself from the drama triangle, at least for the moment
– you absolutely can’t look as shite as you would have us believe or you’d never have done any of these things with such a young, hot bloke.
xx
Family Affairs
January 11, 2010Well, yes, big sis, you might have a point or two, much as I hate to admit it…..Lx
allie
January 11, 2010Thanks for making me laugh out loud on a Monday morning.
And a Monday where I am having to do all my own housework myself (blegh!) so that is an extra great feat.
I’m so enjoying your blog – you manage to turn even the yuck things in your life into hilarious tales.
How do you DO that!?
Family Affairs
January 11, 2010Not sure really – insanity I think Lx
Zed
January 11, 2010Sorry to hear about your daughter’s ear infection but I suppose you can smugly tell her “I told you so” once it’s over. Christ, imagine if she’d pierced herself somewhere else….
Other people’s problems make our own seem so insignificant, but I do wish I could shake off this feeling of fear. Ho hum.
karen
January 11, 2010Great post! And I did enjoy Regina Brett’s wise words. Wishing you a marvellous 2010, I’m sure things will be getting better all the time for you!
Family Affairs
January 11, 2010Thanks Karen and to you xx
louise
January 11, 2010Oops … what makes me think you are taking a page out of Mrs. Robinson’s book – naughty girl!
I agree with Expat Mum – see me in a swimming pool unexpectedly? No way … unshaven legs and blackberry bush hair and that rather fetching skin colour verging on pale green? I definitely wouldn’t have been invited to lunch afterwards!
Family Affairs
January 11, 2010Mrs Robinson who lives in Ireland? I’m not that bad – I’m not 60 and he’s not 19 Lxx
Austin Worsham
January 23, 2010Its good to see some good people keeping their site up, one of my other favorite sites quit working the other day for no appearant reason