Been an interesting time!

Holiday breaks are never long enough!

We all know that, but why is it? It has been an interesting time for me personally. For the first time in I don't know how long, I have not had a projects or pressing work that needs doing. So, instead, Mum and I have spent time together at times, and then also apart - she working, me chilling or cooking or whatever! I have also had a chance to catch up with some TV and cross stitch - which has been great.

I do have a niggle that maybe there will be a whole load of matters that have to be dealt with when I return to school - but it is Tuesday afternoon and I still have not checked my school email. That is actually quite something for me. Part of it is to try and discipline myself off work for a little while, the other is that I just choose not to, and the final reason is that I am sure my inbox will be over-full, and there will be nothing I can do about sending emails under those circumstances, so until I can get to my school machine, I cannot even clean out my inbox and free up space.

It's also been an interesting time as I have been touching base with some of my special ex-pupils. Finally getting my Blackberry has meant that I have been able to start chatting to some of them and that has been really special. It is wonderful to see the fabulous young people they have become, without losing who they are in real terms. Once more I realise how very blessed I am to be in the profession I am in. I get a chance to meet some really quality people who are really special in their own rights. I often say to people who are running down things, I am really lucky that I get to work with the future - hence my optimism for what the future holds. I know that there are people who think I am nuts, but if they experienced what I do in the way that I do, they would understand better.

What has also been great for me personally is the wonderful affirmation from these young men and women of the positive impact that I have made in their lives. So often I try to duck compliments and such like, but I am trying to learn to accept them and realise that in some way it adds value to those people who are giving the compliments. I know that when I am giving compliments and someone deflects it, it makes me feel yeach, so I am trying hard to be gracious in accepting the compliments delivered.

This week has also been an interesting week thus far from a point of view that I have spent quite a lot of time talking about Dad - and so thinking about him. I know he, like all humans, was flawed, but it is really wonderful to know how special my relationship with him was and to remember the wonderful times we shared. I really am very lucky that I have all those memories. So, wherever you are Dad - thanks for just being you. It's brought to mind a typical greeting on our regular Saturday evening dinners. I would walk into the kitchen where he would be cooking and give him a huge hug and kiss hello, and then ask how he was. His response more than 50% of the time was, "All the better for seeing you." Special memory indeed.

And now, I have a really wonderful and special relationship with Mum. People, I know often have tough times with their parents - and in my line of work I see that so often, but what a blessing to have been gifted with these two special people as my parents. There have been many tough times - when one or the other got irritated with each other, or angry, or frustrated, or just simply misinterpreted something said - but what a blessing that I will always have paramount to all of that the memories of wonderful parents, in whose hearts I never ever questioned whether I was loved or not. They love/d me no matter what. How many people are in a position to be able to luxuriate in that knowledge? Thanks Mum and Dad. You are truly special, no matter what!

Mum and I have enjoyed a number of laughs this week, and that has been special. It started on Friday when I got back from school at the start of the half term week-long break and decided to clean out the two drawers and my make up drawer that Mum has been on about forever. So, down to the sunroom, seated flat on the floor and chaos ensued for a period of time before some semblance of order prevailed and I tossed ruthlessly. It was rather fun, but I do confess feeling a little like a hurricane had rushed through.

Then Saturday morning I decided that I wanted to cook a lemony fish risotto for which I needed fish stock, so it was a case of making up some fish stock. Interesting, as I did not have all the correct ingredients, but I mixed and muddled my way through and we eventually got there. The risotto was lovely.

And so on Sunday morning I awoke to Mum cleaning out the spice cupboard and trying to sort out some of the spices that were on a rack that Dave had given me a number of Christmases back. We culled, tossed and repacked various spices, and then made sure that the bottled on the table top rack were emptied, labels soaked off and then washed - mainly all thanks to Mum's hard work, and then it was a case of trying to work out which spices, etc we wanted in those bottles. Then, under the tutelage of Mum I created labels that will go onto the bottles once Mum is happy that the bottles are dry enough.

Yesterday morning was consumed by a visit to Arthur Bales as I bought Mum some wool for her to knit something for herself, and we searched and searched for an appropriate pattern as this wool is not quite double knit and not quite chunky. She eventually found a pattern that I would never in my wildest dreams have said would be the one that she would choose, but it is a stunning jersey, and we bought that plus some circular needles so that she can ensure that the whole thing is done properly. She started working on that last night and was really chuffed that she was at last able to start on it. She has been wanting to knit it up, but has just not been able to find the time or whatever to get a pattern - and the one I chose and bought for her a while back was not working as it was a double knit pattern. It's great.
Mum has also been footling around on the Renico website work as well as some other stuff that Nico is asking her to do - and it is wonderful to see the way in which she is just enjoying the chance of being able to do all of this. I think there is no greater loss to someone than the feeling that you are no longer needed. If only Mum would realise and take ownership of the fact that she is so loved and needed by so many people - all in different ways.

The cats are enjoying this time too - with me being somewhat static as a result of the freezing weather, they get a chance to enjoy sitting with me on the duvet that I am wearing over me. The weather really is appalling. Where it has come from, I cannot say - but to have a light misty drizzle on top of the cold weather in Gauteng at this time of the year is really most uncharacteristic!

Well, warbled on for long enough - done the philosophising and pondering things. Now expecting Megan and her friend Xanadu, who went to primary school with Meg as Xan is apparently now marketing some oxygen therapy thing and I really couldn't face the whole process last night so said I would be prepared to do it today. Little did I know how cold it would be! Especially as the whole process apparently involves a bath!!!! Oh well, could be worse - could be a bath outside I guess! :-)

From a Wendy who is feeling quite chipper at present!