I try and space out visits, grandchildren sitting and looking after, friends etc but every now and then, despite my best intentions, I end up charging around like the proverbial.
Last week I was in London with darling grandchildren. In the afternoon I had been to Bloomsbury to attend a tea party and a meet with the author of one of their books (more anon). Had a delightful time but then had to face the Tube back to Ealing and, as Tottenham Court Road station was closed for refurbishment, had a trudge back to Holborn. Then fought my way onto the Central Line and all the memories of how ghastly it all was in the rush hour came roaring back with a thud. Delighted that as soon as I pushed onto the train a delightful young girl stood up and offered me her seat (I was pretty sure I looked exhausted) and I accepted gratefully with a thank you and a smile. She gave me a wave when she left the train a few stops later. Lovely.
OK got out at Ealing Broadway and waited for the bus to take me back to The Avenue. Long wait, huge queue so I decided to walk. MISTAKE. Took me forty minutes and I was shattered when I arrived but it was worth it as Florence and Beatrice were sitting looking out the window and as soon as they saw me rushed shrieking to the door and flung themselves on me. A card was thrust into my hand from Florence saying Dear grandma I cannot wate to see you and hop you are well I love you Florence. Come bak soon. Choke choke.
On Friday went out to lunch with a friend I had not seen for ages and we caught up on all the chat and gossip and then I slung my bags in the car and sallied forth to tackle the North Circular, A12, M25, Dartford Bridge, M23 in that order to go to visit my good friend Daphne in Horley. Took to my bed on arrival and had a great few days just pottering and chatting. Visiting Daphne, however is fraught with danger as though I take bags of books to give her thinking AH HAH I have cleared some space, I inevitably come back with far more than I went with. And you can see precisely how many below:
So I reckon I returned home with five times the amount I went with. It is all part of a cunning plan by Daphne to clear some of her shelf space I fear……
This morning I was greeted by my postman with a cheery Welcome back, I have a few parcels for you. I cannot win.
Tomorrow I am off again, this time up to Quorn in Leicestershire to see my sister and a Messiah on the Saturday evening given by her choir, a massage tomorrow night (birthday pressie from Jude and I shall need it by then), drive back Sunday with Jude who is staying with me for a few days and then back to London on Wednesday afternoon and look after Florence on Thursday and Judith can spend time with children, she then catches the train home on Friday, I stay and have time with family, then Saturday I go to the ENO for a performance of Sweeney Todd with lovely Bryn Terfel then I drive home and take to my bed in preparation for a return visit to London the following week.
It is all TOO MUCH TO BEAR.
I love it really.
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