After a very busy week, I had Friday marked in as an ‘admin day’. It started really well and I managed to do all of my emails, invoices and expenses before my 10am virtual workshop delivery. After the session, I decided to assemble the new BBQ, which previously I had started to get out of the box and then couldn’t be bothered to follow the extensive instructions.
Due to the nice weather, and the fact I had most of my work done for the day, I felt more motivated to try again, and, it proved to be a good decision. It took about an hour, I didn’t lose my temper once and the end product looked exactly as it should look! The day was going so well and I felt fantastic having achieved so much. The sun was shining and I was planning to, possibly, have a BBQ on the Saturday.
Then the curve ball came in…
My Sister called me and she was getting a bag ready to take to hospital for an over night stay. She had not been feeling well recently and was a bit jaundiced so they asked her to go in for tests – now! As Trudi is the main carer for my Mum, I was suddenly required to travel to Melksham and look after my Mum (With my Brother-in-law) at their house. The problem was, I didn’t know (none of us did) wether it would be for one night, two nights or what, and I had work booked in, Monday to Thursday this week, which required a degree of travel.
I washed, dried and packed all the things I needed, just in case I’d have to stay over and travel on Sunday, from Melksham to Coventry. Eventually, at about 6pm, I got in the car and travelled to my sisters, fully loaded.
The good thing was the fact that I could just pack and go, the support around me made it easy to do. My wife took over all of the planned taxi duties, made sure I had everything I needed and reassured me that everything would be taken care of whilst I was away.
This is something I think I take for granted, at times, and I expect that my family will manage irrelevant of the choices I make. I often make decisions without looking at the potential impact on others and I expect a certain level of support, but, only because that is what I offer as a father, husband, son and brother.
It was an unexpected disturbance to my weekend, but on a positive note, I got to see my Mum for a while – and that is priceless. My sister did come out of hospital on the Sunday, so I went up to Coventry midday after some cake and coffee with Mum, celebrating Mother’s Day.
I do need to plan to treat to say “Thank you” to Sandra. A short break away would be perfect, so time to look for a space in the diary and get it booked in!
I am grateful for the support my family give me, especially when the curve ball comes in, as it will from time to time.