Chapter 44

 

She woke up after a very brief nights sleep.

25th February again. 5.30am.....why had she woken up so early?? Oh yes, the noise.

She turned to the source of her discomfort and tried a very subtle heavy sigh. Nope, he wasn't going to stop snoring. She really wanted to kick him or nudge him hard, but she didn't want the fallout, not today. 

That's it. She was awake now. Might as well go on her phone. Social media beckoned. There was already a birthday wish to greet her from an old colleague who lived in Australia. Nice! She scrolled, not really paying attention to particular posts or what was going on in social media land. She wasn't too sure she wanted today to happen. As birthdays went, the idea of having to go to work and doing all the usual Mum things was not her ideal. 

7.00am best get up......kids were still asleep, which was odd. "Morning" she said, in an attempt to stir them. A moan followed from the teenager, the 10 year old replying "Oh yeah, Happy Birthday!"

She walked downstairs and was welcomed by the dog, tail wagging and happy to start the day. She wished she had the same enthusiasm. She looked at the dining table, usually set up for birthdays with gifts and cards laid out for the birthday person. No such luck today.....a pile left on the edge that she had hastily put there before going to bed the night before.

She let the dog out and started tidying the kitchen, still with a few baking items left out from making her birthday cake the night before. Yup, she made her own cake! And one for work too.....they weren't looking too shabby! Then onto making breakfast for the now emerging 10 year old, bounding into the kitchen and wondering what was on the menu.

"Toast?"

"Yeah, whatever's easiest"

Toaster set. Plates and cutlery out. Butter and jam at the ready.......right now to get her breakfast on the go.....no such luck! Eldest daughter had made it into the kitchen and put her toast on, meaning she would have to wait until she had finished before getting to make her own breakfast! She turned and made a tea instead whilst she waited.

Finally, she made it into the front room, tea and toast in hand and TV on. Escapism time! The only time she got to just switch off before work. A 20 minute gap to catch up on one of the soaps recorded from the night before until it was time to turn to work mode. She multi tasked, doing 10 year olds hair, chatting to the teenager getting ready for school and keeping one firm eye and ear out for Eastenders.

Some cards made their way across, as did some gifts, the youngest daughter suddenly eager to find out what her Mum had recieved. It still didn;t have the usual air of extiement reserved for birthdays usually, but it fared well. her husband joined them in his dressing gown, coffee steaming from his mug.

Then everyone dispersed. 

Eldest to school. Youngest watching her fix of K Pop. Husband getting ready for his works trip to London and all was left was her, another year older and 2 piles of washing to sort.

She had to turn this around. How could she do it? She felt flat.

If she had to work on her birthday, she was going to do it her way.......with a bit of flair!

Birthday badge firmly placed on her top, she got ready for work. She borrowed youngest daughters party blower.....that would cause some annoyance and giggles at work! Make up on, cake ready to go.

She picked up her bags and held her head high....."Let's make this chapter start with a happy air!" She thought to herself as she shut the door of her house and took her daughters hand down the path.