Work and parenting......

Not blogged in ages – I’d like to say there was too much going on, but truth is, it’s really down to a lack of motivation. Did I really want to share with anyone else some of the low times?

Truthfully, not really. But I guess if I only managed to put good stuff down in writing, it wouldn’t be a terribly realistic or authentic life.

Work has not been easy. Following a number of difficult meetings with my Line Manager, I have had to agree to a reduction in my working hours (and salary), and although there seemed to be a plus to this ( I get a night off from counselling), in practise, it’s been a difficult and politically sensitive decision, so is on a trial basis only. The whole process has left me feeling pretty yuk about me, my job, and my colleagues.

However, I did feel that an important change in me was an ability to be “honourably assertive”. I did not shout at any of these meetings, but neither did I lie down and let people walk all over me. I realised that I have been quite compliant for most of my life, and so this was quite a change for me. I think the changes have worked out thus far as well as it could have done, but it will take time to implement, as I can’t just say to clients “sorry, I have to stop seeing you as of right now!”

Also would value your prayers about my youngest son, Andy. Had a very interesting chat with him today, which, although it has helped me to understand one very significant part of how he thinks and feels, is going to be tricky to help him with. I know that all parents have times when they doubt how well they’ve raised their children, and how ready they might be for a huge, imposing world, which seems frightening to us as adults, let alone them. In my lifelong determination to demonstrate that I desire to treat them as normally as I can, there are still times when the reality of them having Asperger’s Syndrome rears it’s ugly head again, and takes me by surprise. I won’t go into any more details here, as that would be unfair to him, but prayers would be appreciated.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes – I’ll write a little bit more another time about my birthday weekend.

The quilt....

If anyone ever bothers to read profiles of bloggers (!), mine includes the fact that I love needlecrafts.

One of my favourites is machine quilting, and a few years ago, I made a quilt for John and I. My quilt is made from soft yellows and blues, in a log cabin design (for those who need to know such things) I'd post a photo, but I'm having tech problems with this, and I didn't really want you to see the inside of my bedroom, either!!!

I made this particular quilt with very thin wadding, so that we could use it as a summer quilt in its own right, but I also added an additional back to it, so that we could also use it as a duvet cover when it’s really cold.

Anyway, the top edge (nearest my face as I sleep) has become very worn and torn, and needed fixing. I should add (with due respect to my hubby), that I am an extremely restless sleeper, and am forever flipping my pillow (it’s colder on the underside – nice) and pulling at whatever covering we happen to be using. This is all to pre-empt the fact that John’s side of this quilt is looking pristine, as he barely moves when he’s asleep.

So I had to make a decision this week; do I buy just enough fabric to patch it up on my side only – as John’s side is fine? Or I do I go for the more complex option, and remove the backing, then take the whole outside edge off the quilt, to replace it with completely new fabric, and replace the cover? What would you do?

Pat’s Thought for the Day
Sometimes I think we live as though God only has to “patch us up” and send us back into the fray. Sometimes we act as though that’s actually all we WANT Him to do. Much of my professional life is spent with people asking me “Why do you want to talk about stuff in the past? It’s the here-and-now I have problems with, not the there- and-then “. The truth is, sometimes the only way we can sort out the frayed edges of our lives is to go back to where the fabric was intact, and take it from there. Have you been resisting God’s need to take you back a bit – to where things were OK, and then to sort it out from that point?

What did I do with the quilt? The harder option, of course – but one which will ultimately be better for both of us, not just for me, and which looks to the long-term solution, and not just a quick fix that I’ll have to repeat in the very near future…..

One final pic...

And one final pic - one of my favourites, with the most wonderful, special sister on the world, who, as I had no time between getting home from the cruise, completing the Race for Life, throwing more clothes into a hurredly emptied case, and dashing off to Norfolk ( within 2 hours of the Race) for a wonderful week with my hubby and my boys, spent much of last week cleaning my home - Kim and Aggie, eat your heart out! - together with help (and Consultant advice from Mum!) from Darren and Reece and Chantal - what a welcome-home present guys!

Pics of the Cruise...

Ok guys - in response to requests, herewith some pics of the Cruise - absolutely fabulous time, and all we could have ever hoped for ( and much more!!)


Mum being serenaded with her birthday cake......

Also getting to meet the lovely Tom O'Connor...his cabaret kept us crying with laughter, and not a swear word, a nasty comment, or anything disparaging all night - BRILLIANT!!

On a carriage ride through Bruges....

And just to show that we can look the business, here we are on the Gala Evening, having just come from the Captain's Gala Reception ( by special invitation only!)

Race for Life 2006

Can't beat the blogs of those who have pipped me to the post - see Rhi's blog and Helen's blog for pictures - guess who forgot her camera! - but here's living proof that we all took part and had a great time. With 6000 entrants the "Walkers" start was a bit ragged, and I somehow managed to lose the rest of the group before we actually crossed the start line. I did try to wait back for you guys, but was kind of pushed along by the crowd....

It took about 2 km for the whole thing to start spreading out a bit, and I was able to open up my stride - having had a phone call from Rhi asking where I was! Delighted to say I managed to finish in 1 hour and 1 minute exactly! Also thanks to my sponsors, as I raised just over £250 for this worthy cause