Britain is still at school. Mostly. My oldest three, now no longer AT school per se have been home for a while.
22 has no more lectures on his Masters course, he does however have a few months to write up his dissertation.
19 has broken up from his first year at uni.
17 is also home after her AS levels. One more year for her, hopefully, before she heads off to university.
Which out of a total of four kids leaves only 13 in school. Apart from yesterday and today. Teacher training days – didn’t they train at college? Shouldn’t they know what they are doing?
Aww, don’t start, I know. I do know.
Yesterday Hub had most of the joy of watching 13 while I worked. Of course I only worked to 2.30 p.m. so we had a nice afternoon together. We have to make the most of time actually spent at home at the same time. Mostly we are like the couple in the weather house, you never see both of us at the one time. One works, the other has the kids. Usually Hub is the former and I am the latter. Trust me, I would be home all the time if I could. See lines 2 to 4 above as to why I still need to keep working.
Today Hub was back at work and I was in full charge at home, as it ought to be.
I watched 13 as she sat in front of the window, alternating looking out of it to what was going on beyond to watching the television to turning to look at me.
Outside has a draw, it calls to her. I hate that when we try to go out it is too much for her. Short moments are all we can manage. Beyond that she tries to be off or, overwhelmed with the size and the options she returns to the security of the house. All moments HAVE to be supervised. A child with no sense of danger, no awareness that getting away from me might be hugely fun but could lead to harm. A car won’t necessarily stop in time. The canal is too close.
Short moments, briefly grasped and savoured by she and I then over again.
It is our lives.
But look what can be enjoyed in a moment. A spell outside, a little time between showers can bring a chance to smell the heady scent of a rose.
The opportunity to really enjoy the sight of raindrops on rose petals.
Or see, oddly out of place at the end of June, a brown and curled dead leaf in the middle of the rain.
However your day has been, I hope you are able to enjoy at least one small moment within it, maybe many more.
All images ©penbleth / L. McG.-E. All rights reserved.
© 2012, Penbleth / L. McG.-E.. All rights reserved.
janet isserlis - love to you all. much much much
Catherine - I love your eye on to the world it is so unique and it makes me realise and appreciate so much.I have been taking photos this week and all the time I have had at the back of my mind your images…!
I love the leaf…little things are so preciousxx
Penbleth - Thank you so much Catherine. I often feel I take endless shots of much the same thing. It encourages me to know they are enjoyed.