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First Friday Freedom

Sat 29/4/2017
9:10am

The morning after. I don't remember the last time! Was a bustling day yesterday and loved it. 

Greyer start but not as cold. Ran to school for drop off, almost late again. Ben's mum was really upset and told me that her husband is threatening to sell their flat, divide the proceeds into three and give her and Ben two thirds, as he was going to leave them. Horrendous! Counted my blessings after hearing that. I offered to help but she obviously wants round the clock companionship and I can't give it, especially right now. Feel terrible but am up to my eyeballs with my own deadlines.

Was led to a greasy spoons with mum friends. Not impressed! Not our usual swanky wannabe breakfast bistro affair, which was fine, but totally no space to swing a cat, never mind three buggies and my cherub, the avid climber. My husband has bred a snob in me.

Gossip was juicy and felt so great to natter – was just able to contain the monkey in the buggy for that half hour before playgroup time next door. The unexpected shindig was set to continue and Lorna joined in on the chitchat. Hux seemed happy to roam by himself amongst the toys but Ben's mum turned up, so I was torn away from the girlie huddle, and spent the rest of the time consoling her, thankfully with Lorna's help.  

I wasn't there to oversee Hux's snack time and was miffed that he may have missed out. Rushed over at the end to forage for some scraps for him and then I was 'saved' by a poo explosion! My cheering up skills weren't working anyway. Quite tricky when he's trying to do somersaults on a foreign change table and there isn't an iPad for distraction; my phone kept jumping channels with his wandering fingers. Managed a bit of group singing time with him before the session finished – such a treat to be able to entertain baby while having a morning "off" myself.

Got home to try and clean up the breakfast chaos and sit down to the screen while baby napped. What a surreal afternoon without hiccups; I was so grateful for the time!

Didn't want to make a big deal out of going out with the girls, so didn't start to get ready till after 8 and left a bit late at 8:40. It was my first night of freedom that I can remember, since kids, and made easier as it was literally round the corner – a nice, very quiet pub that I never knew about. And all of Mandy's friends were very friendly. Lorna sat next to me, so ended up buying her wine to thank her for the rocking horse that I'd picked up on way home from school, and that was the only £5.20 spent! Unheard of in London.


The whole thing was nice and chilled – could've stayed longer as a text told me that things were fine at home. Rafy was asleep as soon as I'd left and baby didn't cause a problem for once. Daddy even thought I looked/ smelt hot and said I should've got drunk; that it was very easy for us to be able to do again! Boom.

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