The alarm went off and I groaned. It’s not that time already. Peeling my eyes open and squinting at the time, I was hoping the clock was wrong. I laughed thinking about that thought. As if the clock could be wrong, probably more like ‘user error’ as my daughter states. Time in life just keeps ticking on. I seem to be rushing from one event to the next. I do remember now why I enjoyed school holidays so much. The tyranny of keeping to a time schedule was relaxed and sleep-ins were a pleasure. Relaxed meals at the dinner table accompanied with enjoyable conversation, with no time master sitting on…

There was one very excited little girl on the morning of her sixth birthday. Actually, Mackenzie had been excited all week, to the point when her Mum picked her up from school on the Monday and her birthday was not for two more days, she had plans. She told her Mum that she had been “inviting people” to her birthday and her Mum was like “what??? We’re not having a party, any parties this year.” Mackenzie’s smile on her face dropped. “What do you mean?” Mum explained that one year they will have parties, the next year they won’t. “But what about my friend Evie? Who was so excited about…

Oh, what a remarkable lady! All the world could see it and now they are acknowledging it. Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96.  The tributes start rolling in from many people. What stands out to me is how so many of the ordinary Englishmen talk about how the Queen was always there for them. She was constant, reliable, true. Many spoken to by reporters felt that they would miss her because she had always been there. She had this constancy about her character and her failings were rare. She was greatly admired by many. Queen Elizabeth was appointed to the role at a very young age,…

I know I’m getting older but after the few days of painting, measuring, carrying, cleaning, driving, walking, picking up things, holding tools, acting as a labourer’s assistant, making drinks for many (and the list doesn’t stop there) … I am tired. My bones and muscles ache. My knees feel wobbly, especially if I try to bend down. It made me laugh really. Shows me how unfit I am. Or at least the lack of usage of some of the muscles. The funny thing is the whole team of people with us are feeling the same.  We gave our all. On the day after the event, we just looked at each…

Rush, rush, rush. Have I remembered everything? I start going through the list in my head as I glance at my watch for the time. Oh, I have not long, so again I ask myself, do I have everything? I send up a prayer to ask for assistance for the day as I grab the bags ready to walk out the door. I start going through my mind the jobs for the day. Working it out in my head as if I had a map, how can I fit it all in?  So, my thoughts went progressively through the tasks. I can go here, backtrack and then go there, then…