Making it to the Top of My Own List

I went to see Peter Gabriel on Friday. Those of you who know me will know that he’s not my musical cup of tea, but he is Husband’s, and as he’s sat through his fair share of Morrissey gigs for me (apart from the one where he walked off stage, and no one got to sit through that, reluctantly or otherwise!) I braced my knees for being squashed by the seat in front and wondered how many songs I’d know. The concert was a 25 th anniversary concert – it’s 25 years since the album ‘So’ was released , and yes, for those who remember it being released, hasn’t the time flown!   But this silver anniversary celebration meant that the audience was very… middle aged.   I like to think I was one of the youngest people there (even though I know I wasn’t!).     If you’d wandered into the arena by mistake, you could have been forgiven for thinking the event was actually the Specsavers convention, so many pairs of rimless glasses were in attendance.   The lighting techni...

Holidays, breaks, mini-breaks, even days out imply happy times, relaxation, a break from the old routine.   And eventually they are, but first you have to overcome a big hurdle…packing. I used to holiday in sunny climes with Sister and various friends, usually for a fortnight, and it wasn’t a success if the suitcase wasn’t labelled ‘Caution – heavy’ at the departure airport.   14 days and nights away takes a lot of clothes when you’re in your twenties.   But never once did any of us face excess charges, or spend time packing and unpacking.   In it went, off it went and happy holidays.   Alas, Family Packing has a completely different strategy. Budget airlines have a lot to answer for.   Holidaying in my twenties was different full stop.   Off we’d go to our local Lunn Poly or Going Places and book our package.   Not now.   We’re all independent travellers these days, and half the time that involves a budget airline who really just...

L asked me a (presumably rhetorical) question last week.   She asked me, ‘Where has the time gone?’.   If anyone should be able to answer that, I should, given that we’ve known each other since we were 11 and now I’m staring down the barrel of 39 (L would require me to note at this point that she is six months younger than me and not 39 until 2014). But it did start me wondering.   Sometimes I’m shocked by the face that looks back at me from the mirror.   Where did those dark circles come from (5 years without an uninterrupted nights’ sleep probably, thanks Daughter)?   And the lines!   My new office has the cruellest light.   I sit side on to a big window and have the reality check of my wrinkles in natural daylight every time I look in the mirror to refresh   my lipstick.   You know when you’re looking rough when your 5 year old suggests putting some makeup on.   I was driving Daughter to her 9am ballet class and hadn’t had time t...

I wasn’t pushed as a child.   Encouraged, supported, but never pushed.   So, in that supportive environment I got myself a decent set of qualifications and along the way picked up a fair bit of ambition.   I wanted to be good at what I did, and I wanted to be more.   I think there are a few ex-students who would say I was good at what I did, and I loved teaching.   Then I got into management, and the plan was fairly clear; I was groomed to be the next Director, with a longer term view of Assistant or Vice Principal, and maybe one day Principal.   Then things changed. The first change came in a little pink bundle weighing 7lb 7oz.   The second change came much later in a far less attractive form, and changed the plans and directions of lot of people.   But they don’t deserve space in my blog, and my legal training reins me in from saying any more! So, the pink bundle.   She took my plans and ambition, slobbered on it and gave it back...