Just Call Me Jonah

Last week I dashed over to see my mother. One of the worst things about living here is that we don't see our family often enough and the guilt I feel about it is a burden I'll always have. In a weak moment my mother once confessed that all she'd wanted was to be able to have her grandchildren calling in for tea after school....

The whole trip was organised pretty much at the last minute as H. does have to pick up the slack: walk the dogs, act as taxi driver and chief cook and bottle washer as well as juggling his own stuff.
I also wanted to do it on a shoestring.
H. was generous and donated a handful of air miles, the ones he saves for that exciting trip we're always going to take..I managed to find a good deal on car hire; a car is essential - there are shoestrings and shoestrings and so I set off with a light heart.
My first day there and a fool trying to beat the lights drove into the side of the car. As I write I can feel my blood pressure rising...And, of course, I hadn't taken the extra insurance. I usually do but this time I didn't...so to save some fool a three minute wait at the lights it cost me 600 pounds!
And on top of that my allergies kicked in. Just don't talk to me about Spring....

But it was lovely to see Mum and in spite of all, we still managed to have a good time.