17th December, Heathrow Airport
We’ve just come through security and collapsed in front of a Costa. The gentleman next to me smiles, but nevertheless departs so quickly for his plane he leaves a flurry of five pound notes, which we find fifteen minutes later. I have this brilliant idea to give the money to the people at Costa, to pay for the drink of the next person in the queue. What a glorious Christmas good deed, etc, etc. I am already wiping away tears.
I join the queue, and end up in front of a trainee barista whom, it soon transpires, does not speak good English. I ask her whether she can use the note to pay for the next person’s drink, and she asks me whether I want a single or a double. No, I clarify, I want to pay for someone else’s drink. Single or double, she responds, menacingly. I end up impatient and loud, she ends up waving the fiver in my face. The chap behind me gets his free drink but we’re all terribly embarrassed about it. I don’t think Jesus ever had social awkwardness problems.
17th December, somewhere above Chicago
On the descent, and Henry is sobbing on Tim’s lap. Ohhh, I think, clutching Teds and my own head, he got my ear problems. Poor baby. What have I bequeathed upon you?
On and on it goes. It’s a long descent. I am cursing my genetics and the seatbelt sign that prevents me going to help him.
‘His ears!’ I say to Tim once we’re off the plane, my tone a wilderness of self-reproach and sympathy.
‘No’, Tim replies. ‘He was cross I turned the iPad off’.
18th December, the front drive
Having an argument with the cat about where butts should not go, viz. in my face; on my trousers, between the covers of my Agatha Christie. He gives me a five-clawed scratch in response. Violence does not win debates, Ugly (his name really is Ugly).
19th December, the mall
There’s a whole shop selling merchandise for the Alabama football team. Its motto appears to be ‘Crimson Tide’.
I cannot be alone in thinking uncomfortably of periods.
19th December, Airport Boulevard
Really, though. Would you use a garage called Budget Brakes?
20th December, the back bedroom
I’ve forgotten about the voltage difference in America, because I am an idiot. My straighteners use variable voltage, and are fine. But using my hairdryer is like being caressed by the warm breath of a horse standing at some distance.
This may be the last time I wash my hair.
21st December, cinema, screen three
On a double date with my bros. Jennifer Lawrence is crawling away from poison gas, bellowing like a stuck pig. Tim leans over.
‘That’s what you sound like when you give birth’.
Next time I’m in labour, I will meditate on the image of Jennifer Lawrence in poison gas, and I’ll feel pretty good about myself.
22nd December, LDS chapel
Someone just said ‘lackadaisical’ in a Southern US accent, and it was the most beautiful thing I ever heard. Andrew Lloyd-Webber should set it to music, when he’s finished lurking creepily in corners and getting his eye-bags monitored from space.
Next time you’re in labour…?
I don’t intend to be there again ANY time soon. But we probably won’t stop at two, so I’ll be in labour again eventually, most likely 🙂
“But using my hairdryer is like being caressed by the warm breath of a horse standing at some distance.” Tee hee – I like this!
Ha, it really was. Next time I’ll remember…and bring a lot of dry shampoo 🙂
Ha, next time I won’t be quite so badly prepared!