It’s been an odd sort of a week, somehow.
I’ve been absolutely frantic with work – two big copywriting jobs for regular clients came in, both with short deadlines, which I had to meet, along with doing all the usual sort of work with the business. There’s been lots of domestic stuff going on – my best friend leaving after a visit this month, and various bits and pieces.
And then – joy – a fuel panic which meant we didn’t have any petrol in the car, as all our local stations ran dry. Which means we may not get our trip to Brighton to visit friends next week, which I’d really been looking forward to. Sigh.
This morning it became obvious I couldn’t get Flea to school, and she’d need to stay home. Serves me right for choosing a school 8 miles from home, I know.
But here’s the thing. I absolutely adore those unexpected days you get to spend with children. Flea stayed in her pyjamas all day, which she’s never normally allowed to do.
We drew a world map. I taught her how to play Scrabble (boy has she inherited the family Scrabble gene), and we watched The Princess Bride and laughed like fools.
We made up songs, and sang them really loudly. We made sandwiches for lunch, daring each other to eat pickled cabbage. Then Flea played Moshi Monsters while I caught up on emails. To round the day off, we got dressed and walked to the supermarket for bread and milk, Flea racing ahead on her scooter.
It doesn’t sound like much, I know. But we don’t have nearly enough days like this. At the moment, the reality of my work situation means they’re just a bit rare. And all the more precious for it.
So go ahead and keep panic buying the petrol, now I think about it. We’ll do just fine at home.
Ahh that is lovely and boy does Flea look stunning in your pics today. Mich x
Aw, thanks – she knows how to do a good pose!
I think it sounds just perfect.
Agreed x
Aw, sounds lovely – I could use more of those days myself!!!
I suspect we all could – it’s easy to get caught up, isn’t it?
That sounds like such a great day. I finish maternity leave in just over a week & I’m really going to miss the extra time I’ve been given watching my daughter grow. Obviously leave was for looking after a new baby but my bonus was spending loads of time with Isla too. For me I hope there’s a train strike for my first day back….
Oh, I know completely what you mean – I love spending that extended time together, I bet you’ll miss it.
That does sound like a perfect day. Sometimes taking a ‘sneaky’ day is the best!
Yes, a surprise makes it all the more fun!
Sounds like a lovely day. I think it’s a hazard of being self-employed and working from home that you try to cram as much in as possible and it becomes harder to take days out. I know it’s been a personal bugbear of mine for years that whilst I have a very defined week, and weekends are very much family time, my husband tries to spend as much time as possible in the “office” working, and I think we don’t get as much family time together as other families where both parents work office jobs.
Of course it works both ways, and if he needs to flex his work to fit around the kids he has much more ability to do that too, so I wouldn’t want to change things. It meant we could have our own lovely day yesterday – my son went to my Mum for the day so both of us could take my daughter to a hospital appointment and spend some time with her afterwards. Heavenly 🙂
Oh, running a business can be horribly absorbing. I do try my best to have a bit of balance, but I’m also realistic – building this sort of thing DOES take time and I can only hope it’ll be worth it.
Well we had an inset day here and the pair of us sulked for most of the day. Clearly I need to take a leaf out of your book Whittle. I have been shamed. 😉
Once again, as so often, I am your role model.
All Hail PJ Days. We had a bonus evening – took off after school for chips and French Cricket on our favourite hill as the sun went down, then a long slow drive home in the dusky evening looking for owls and foxes and badgers.
It’s those small apparently inconsequential things that make the best memories, I think.
Sounds perfect. I’m a HUGE believer in finding moments of happiness in the everyday rather than spending life waiting for the One Big Happy.
Oh, we heard all about the fuel panic on Friday but fortunately it hasn’t reached Northern Ireland. What a lovely way to spend a gifted day, anyway!
What a nice day, and what a cute daughter. On friday I spent the best part of the day with my eldest building a lego tanker, I really enjoyed it and so did he, sometimes the simple things are the best.
sounds like a perfect day 🙂
She is just stunning! I love days like that, so enjoyable.