Soon it’ll be too cold

We’ve had a busy day. I drove to Sue’s for book group, for 10am, first dropping off a birthday present for Katy. Thankfully I was not alone in finding the book tedious, self-indulgent, whiny and boring. It was Soldier Sailor and about a young Irishwoman feeling isolated with a baby. I thought it must have been written in the 50s as her attitude was so dated. It had rave reviews saying all mothers would empathise and all men would learn from it. Thankfully I doubt many young woman these days would become such a martyr, as the partner would share childcare, which all of us but Sue said our partners had done. Sue said children who went to nursery would be institutionalised. We disagreed and said they learned to socialise and would be happier there than with a miserable mother like the protagonist). At least it gave a lot to talk about. (By coincidence today Nathaniel said in history they’d learned about patriarchy and the pink tax. I’m impressed).

After book group we went to Morpeth where I had my hair cut and Mr C got some M&S pepper crisps. Then we went to town as he wanted new walking shoes so I called on Luke and then the children came home from school. Ella is into making her own packed lunch, cutting the bread and putting on salami, lettuce and olives. She also chopped some red peppers and took an apple. Nathaniel said they had muscle and mussel for spelling. He said the teacher told them glutimus maximus was the biggest muscle in the body and you had 2. Nathaniel asked if that was one for each cheek. Ella showed me the new skirt and top she’d bought with her money from cat sitting then she went off for a run with her dad.

We’ll be having a gin with pepper crisps tonight while we re-watch Slow Horses.