Almost daily diary!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Half term

It has been a strangely lonely half term, and this is only the feeling I have, in reality it has been reasonably full and fun.

Most half terms, unless we are away, which becomes more and more unlikely these days, are spent enjoying late mornings, meeting friends and playing (the children) and drinking tea (us mums) It is all very pleasant and sociable and keeps me sane. However one arrangement with a friend on Monday did not happen because of illness (theirs) and it left the beginning of the week very empty. We had all been looking forward to seeing them, the children and I. My friend R has a nasty chesty cold and her daughter is worse, they are very fed up not to have done anything all week but feel ill. Poor things.

Yesterday I had a very long call from her regarding all her worries for her eldest daughter who is incredibly neurotic and hardly sleeps, keeping her mother up until 2am most nights, there are health worries and mental health too,she talks about her husband troubles and constant money problems. I listened and wished I could wave a magic wand. In the end I had to finish the call in order to go to a house viewing. I didn't like to stop her mid flow.

Then last night I had a cryptic text at about 10pm. 'Are you there?' it said. Goodness me, I thought, I hope her daughter hadn't taken a turn for the worse, or that her Husband hasn't been harsh with her again or...

I texted back,'Yes I'm here, do you want me to call you?'
'No can't talk out loud' she said. Then another text...
'One of the guinea pigs has just died, I don't know how I'm going to tell the girls in the morning'

I texted back my sympathies and said soothing things (I think). She has a lot on her plate and sometimes small things can be the last straw. Another message from her minutes later 'And now Eldest Daughter has a nose bleed'
'OMG' I texted back 'I don't know how you cope'
'I don't know how you cope either' she acknowledged later.

We all need good friends sometimes

18 comments:

Steve said...

Sometimes life rally likes to pile on the crap, doesn't it? I think we'd all go under but for our friends.

Furtheron said...

Sometimes people just seem to get too much to deal with at once don't they but then that's life I suppose and it is how you learn to cope and get through it that makes you, and others around you, grow isn't it?

Chic Mama said...

It is those little things isn't it....just one more on top of a whole load of other crap.
I hope you and your friend will both be okay. XX

this is my patch said...

I remember as a kid feeling completely wretched when my gerbil followed later by my hamster, died, even the goldfish in the bowl! I hope you can find things to do, to fill up the rest of half term with. x

French Fancy... said...

When you feel in a low place already it doesn't take much for it to assume monumental proportions. You're a good friend and I hope you have the support in the real world that you give to others.

Maggie May said...

All these little things add up to bigger things, I find. You sound a lovely person to tell your troubles to! It is good to have friends like that.

Nuts in May

nick said...

It's good that you have so many close friends to help you through your current trials and tribulations. Friendship really lightens the load.

Jennysmith said...

Hi Sub

Good post. wondered how you were getting on this half-term. Horrible when arrangements get blown out, isn't it.

love xx

Rose said...

I don't know what I'd do without my friends, either. Only a good friend would understand the tragedy of a lost guinea pig. Hope you get to do something fun this week!

Manchester Lass, Now and Then said...

What a lovely friend you are Sub♥ Even though you have a lot on your plate to deal with you are still thoughtful and very concerned about your friends. xxx

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

You are so right about the small things pushing us over the edge. You are a wise woman. The straw that breaks the Camel's back comes in many guises. Many people might have dismissed her as nuerotic simply because a Hamster died but you saw past what might have seemed trivial. Good woman!

Anonymous said...

Good friends need each other in hard times xxxx

Eternal Worrier said...

I love getting random texts from friends. I always seem to get one from a mate called Ben who I dont see often but we keep in touch by text.

Elizabeth said...

I agree that it is sometimes the smallest things that push us over the edge
big things we can summon strength to deal with

I think of you often

Lia said...

Your friend is lucky to have you my dear.
A trouble shared and all that.
Thanks for your comment on my blog and sorry it's taken me a while to get back to you.
Much love
Lia
xx

Reasons said...

So very true. Sharing lightens the load. I hope you feel less lonesome now. It happens to us all from time to time and if things are bad can make us feel so low.

Carol said...

She's lucky to have a good friend at the end of the phone!! We all need someone to talk to sometimes

Sorry your feeling blue

C x

Carol said...

I've just caught up on your recent posts.

If you were in front of me I would give you a big hug...your not...so I'll just send you one over the interweb instead!

It will get better!

C x