First days back - In the name of Thiago - Day 51
Elisa was back at
school after half term, I was back at work after the break too and most significantly
Angelica had her first day back at work since going off on maternity leave. We’ve
not spoken about her first day at length as to be honest I’m not sure that
really helps Angelica. Suffice to say that she got through the day and having
got through the day, the prospect of getting through the next one doesn’t seem
so improbable.
I’ve had a mixed sort
of day. It started reasonably as I caught up with a few things and then it
dropped off before a positive meeting with a colleague that understands where I’m
coming from meant it ended on a more positive note. I’m sure most of you will
appreciate that I need to maintain that level of vagueness!
So that’s the first
two thirds of the day dealt with – but did anything remotely interesting
actually happen or at least anything that I’m comfortable to write about post
5pm? Well yes, rarely for a Monday night, there was actually.
Matt and Pippa a
couple who Angelica and I were very close to while they were in the UK are over
from France at the moment. Matt is four years younger than me, better looking
and, to me at least, seems supremely fit. You’d think that I’d hate the bastard
but nope he’s pretty sound.
They’re off to Japan
in the morning as a treat for Matt’s 40th. Just for comparative purposes,
I went to Derby for my 40th. Just saying. Bastard. Matt was my regular
tennis playing mate for a while so when he scarpered to France in May 2018, I
was left short. Unusually for me, who holds grudges forever and a day, I have
since forgiven him. In all seriousness they are lovely people but as is often the
case when you’re making a flying visit – everyone wants a piece of you and there’s
only so much Matt and Pippa to go round!
They have three lovely
children and Elisa is very close to their eldest daughter Elsie so it was great
fun to see a lot of Elsie’s old schoolmates running amok in the Dick Turpin, or
the Turnip as Angelica and I affectionately refer to the God forsaken shithole.
To be fair, yes it is crap but it does also serve a purpose – one of its main
purposes being that no one seems to give a shit that there are kids running
around everywhere!
I also had a good chat
with one of the other Dads, Dave Taylor. I don’t know Dave that well but this
big fella has a heart of gold and he’s happy to get involved with my walk and fundraising
this summer. He’s always said – as has his lovely wife Lisa – that if ever we
need anything, they will be there for us. And when they say that, I know they
mean it 100 per cent because I can see it in their eyes. Sorry that sounded a
little bit over the top, it wasn’t meant to be – it’s just a really good feeling knowing when
someone’s got your back.
I dropped Elisa off at
scouts for what is the first time for her tonight. One of her schoolmates Grace has been going
for a while and when I deposited Elisa at the right church at the second time
of asking, her face lit up. My daughter is nothing if not a very expressive
girl. She makes me so damn proud. Even more so now I guess since all my eggs are in her
basket so to speak. I just want to give her all the chances that her brother will
now sadly never have. I will do my best.
That’s it for me this
evening folks. I know I sound like a broken record but please people if you haven’t
done so already, help me to raise £10,000 for Royal Stoke Hospital and
Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Every donation is crucial so don’t leave it all
to someone else!
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