09, 12, 15, 24, 38, 48
Not a single one of them came up. Life’s a bitch.
October 3, 2010
October 2, 2010
The future is his
I am mentally exhausted. We took Tom to Warwick University today. It was high octane stuff. Everyone was on edge. It’s a big thing for all of us. Anne and I were thrilled that he was going. We know it is the right thing and that he will have a fantastic time. We are proud of him but you could feel the tension, the electricity in the house. Even Tom, though he probably wouldn’t admit, it was hyper.
It was all about the need to get there for 11am. That’s when everyone was going to arrive. None of this “look around the University”. “Just drop me off and let me get on with it”. I am pleased to say that the nearer we got to our destination the more our son became our son.
When we got there we were a team. Tom and Anne got out of the car when we were in the traffic queue and went to suss out the scene. Two major trips from car to room had him installed. The Tesco shopping trolley was invaluable.
An hour walking round the campus with other parents and offspring was rewarding. He was one of us. Tref and Anne’s son. He put up with Tref the Paparazzo and paid attention to his younger brother John.
We picked up his Students Union card, listened to the Endsleigh insurance sales pitch, waited whilst he spoke with various official and unofficial organisations and marvelled at the Warwick University campus.
Back at his room we said goodbye. Hugs and handshakes. Everyone was happy. The future is his.
October 1, 2010
Friday Night Is Music Night
Friday night isn’t normally music night in our house. Tonight the younger lads are X-Boxing, Anne is out school PTA quizzing, Hannah is dancing and Tom is radioing. So tonight I have a bottle or two of beer, twitter and Windows Media Player.
The rain is doing its best to drown out the music but I have it on as loud as the little USB speakers will allow.
Everyone’s a Winner, Hot Chocolate
Moondance, Van Morrison
Mustang Sally, The Commitments
Riders on the Storm, The Doors
Sweet Dreams (Are made of this), Eurythmics
Hotel California, The Eagles
I remember during my first year at Bangor University I left my Frank Sinatra’s Greatest Hits LP on the deck on the windowsill. The next day was a hot one and I came back to find the record completely warped. I think I must have gone out and bought another one. Frank was pretty indispensable.
The first two LPs I bought were the Soundtrack of the Stud Movie and Sgt Pepper. Sgt Pepper is still one of the greatest records ever made. The Stud will be long forgotten.
Ne Me Quitte Pas, Jacques Brell
Is She Really Going Out with Him, Joe Jackson
My Baby Just Cares for Me, Nina Simone
Girl From Ipanema, Toquinho E Vinicius
Child in Time, Deep Purple
All classics. Now listening to some modern dance music – no idea what you call it. It’s Tom’s last Friday Night show on SirenFM. Not my kind of thing, the music, but he is my son, and he is leaving home to go to Warwick University tomorrow.
September 28, 2010
The hard drive whirrs
The hard drive whirrs. I could hear humming in another room. Tuneful contentment. The kitchen emanating warmth. Now the humming has stopped. They are all in bed. The brain is clear and the hard drive whirrs, keeping me connected. My lifeline to everywhere.
A few essentials hang from the airer and around the room there are signs of preparation. Supplies for a prolonged trip. The build up to departure. Tom is leaving us. I can hear the clock. For the first time ever as far as I can recall. It isn’t much of a competition, hard drive and clock.
The wooden block calendar on the windowsill still says 16th August. Time drags. The pile of papers in my “In Tray” on the worktop has reached unmanageable proportions. There will have to be a sort out. Manyana.
Some bowls have been left out ready for breakfast, and a few plastic beakers. This is a great, lived in, working kitchen. A jumble of utility and ornament, tidiness and random scatter. The jug of water is empty. Time for bed.
September 26, 2010
The chilli crop is in and all is well
It’s raining outside. I can tell without looking because of the noise on the conservatory roof. The fire crackles in the grate and inside I feel a comfortable glow.
It is not long now until the clocks go back. It almost feels as if we might just as well get on and do it now. Summer’s tans have long since faded and with the new school year in full swing the holidays are already a distant memory.
Today I harvested what was left of the chilli crop and put them in the oven on a slow heat to dry out. An unusually modern day version of preserving foods for the winter ahead. I doubt that drying chillies was in Mrs Beeton’s repertoire.
Anne has discovered the art of bread making and has become quite adept at it. We are now frequently treated to fresh bread for our sandwiches. It makes especially good toast with crunchy crusts. Throw my home made spicy plum chutney and a good strong cheddar into the mix and you have the elements of a perfect cheese and pickle sandwich.
All is well.
vine withered tomatoes – autumnal sadness
vine withered tomatoes bring autumnal melancholy to the back garden
Lincoln Cathedral looking at the Wren Library #FindBritain September 2010
Dusk at Lincoln Cathedral looking at the Wren Library in September 2010
Flying Buttress Lincoln Cathedral #FindBritain September 2010
Flying Buttress at Lincoln Cathedral Chapter House
September 24, 2010
The Cricket Pavilion at Owmby By Spital Lincolnshire – July 2010 #FindBritain
The cricket pavilion at Owmby by Spital July 2010