I had a text conversation with Bee last week that almost brought a little tear to my eye.
She was staying with my mum back in Bridgwater at the time, and appeared to have had a moment of dawning realisation.
“Just walking along the street I’ve seen like 10 people, I feel so isolated like when people end up in a sinister town in a horror film. Even the water tastes distustinger than I remember.”
“Lol,” I replied, (I AM a cool mum), “is this Bridgwater? I told you all along it was shite :)”
“Yeah it is,” she replied, “I realise that now. I heard the advert for Gloucester Road gear boxes and I want to go home :( xx”
She wanted to come home! It was a very lovely moment. That feeling, finally, of my decision to uproot us being validated, reassurance that despite months of complaining, of emotional blackmail, Bee had finally seen the light.
Wanting to strike while the iron was hot, I decided to follow it up with a Folk House brochure. “Is there anything in here you fancy doing?” I asked, quite aware of Bee’s usual hatred for any sort of organised activity. “I thought I might do a hula hooping course, or there’s a Saturday workshop for making your own knickers out of vintage silk scarves?”*
I was expecting a look of disgust, or at best the funny face Bee does when I suggest silly things – a raised eyebrow and half smile, as if to say ‘really? And you are considered a grown up?’
But no.
Instead Bee took the brochure from me, and browsed with something akin to genuine interest. “I quite fancy doing beginners guitar,” she said casually.
I forced a similarly casual air, not wanting my excitement to put her off. “Sure,” I said, “that sounds like a good idea.”
Organised activities! Bee wants to do organised activities!
*takes deep breath*
Of course, the whole ‘living somewhere where stuff actually happens’ plan has the drawback of being quite expensive, but it’s a small price to pay. (Not literally). Yes I am having to work a lot, but everything seems to be working out ok, and I haven’t had to resort yet to cash for gold.
Besides, once we’ve finished at the Folk House we’ll be able to make our fortune with our guitar and hula hoop routine.
*These are both actual things you can do there.
Awe how lovely! :) nice to know all a Mum goes through to do what’s best sometimes pays off. Well done you. X
It’s so hard to contain your excitement and uncoolness when teenagers want to do organised activities – and with you is a double bonus. Hula hooping sounds like a lot of fun, and think of those tummy muscles!
Glad you are settled in Bristol, we did the opposite to you and moved from Bath here to Cornwall for something less hectic but sometimes I do wonder…
Bex and I off to Bath on Saturday so will get a taste of the ‘Bright lights’ !!! :-)
Hoorah! Hula hopping is huge fun and makes me competitive. I am often found at ‘family fetes’ hula-hooping behind a hall saying “But look! I’m STILL doing it! Everyone else has gone home!”
Quite fancy the knickers course myself….
Haha, I can so see myself being as competitive with the hula hooping at a ‘family day’. I’m competitive enough just with myself on the wii
Looking forward to the guitar- hola hoop combo! Should enliven family gatherings! Glad you are all settling down well, I seem to have seen more of you since you moved – beginning to quite like certain bits of Bristol myself – perhaps not the ice rink! Apart from your Jayne Torvill impersonation yesterday! Lots of love Mummy xx
love it! I live near Bridgwater and my husband teaches there – and it sure does have its social problems! Not as exciting as Bristol, but much nicer architecture than it is given credit for.