Bicester cornflakes note

I’m sat out on our little patio, it’s a total sun trap. I’m flanked by a potted cherry tree to one side and pear tree on the other - you really need no space to add a tree to your garden or balcony - their lush new foliage shimmering with a gentle breeze. I can see the chives are doing well with flower buds about to burst into bobbing pom-poms any moment. This is a great time of year, but I would say that when I have my second cold brew coffee of the day at hand, lots of milk, ice, and the perfect amount of too much maple syrup. Did you know if you dump coffee in water and leave it in the fridge overnight it’s amazing?

This week I was away from home overnight. I traveled by car to Bicester for an all company away day. Thankfully R’s mum stayed over while I was away, so I had no worries leaving R and T alone. Happy to report I didn’t die and the journey was very smooth, it was a bit of a worry as I’ve never driven that far without R, and never having consistently slept not enough. I even drove some colleagues from the venue to the hotel and back, and they didn’t die either, and I didn’t even ram into a colleague’s parked car. These are my intrusive thoughts. No it was all very smooth and what a wild time to be away solo. I missed R & T a bunch, and found myself staring at photos at the hotel when I should have been sleeping. I also found myself having one more pint when I should have been sleeping but was far, far from the last at the party. Might have had my own little silent headphones-in dance party with a cup of tea before bed. It wasn’t all fun and games. I’ve never read a 40 page corporate strategy so fast. But there were a lot of fun and games. It’s a joy to spend time in person with the whole company. We did some tataki-zomé, enjoyed a farm tour, and I even bought some blueberry bushes at lunch.

The day after getting back was rough. Rough. I couldn’t even say why. I had slept more, everyone was well, but I was in no mood. Totally drained.

Friends visited all the way from Margate with their little one and I was afraid after a busy week. My worries were unfounded it’s been a fabulous weekend of park picnics, allotment time, and silly voices and excessive eye contact. Somehow parenting alongside our friends parenting feels like, a lot of parenting. Real parenting. Like, how did we get here?

I’m thinking we should go on holiday together and get those little variety packs of mini cereal boxes but only one so there’s a squabble for the best ones. Don’t worry, I’ll have the cornflakes kids.

That’s it I guess! Sounds like T’s finishing his feed, so I need to spring into action now. Ta-ra.