Sunday, September 4, 2011

Perpetual Motion...

"Oh it's a long,long time from May to December" so the song goes, but we're more than half way through and time is just galloping. Now we're into September and the new School year is about to start. This means that Grandson is about to start at his new school, which will be his third in three years!! He first went to Powell Corduroy in dreaded Dorking for just over a year, then to St. Aubyn's in Rottingdean for a year and a half, and now he's due to start at Elm Grove Primary on Tuesday. He is both excited and nervous, which I really understand. And I do hope it will be a good place for him.

The other day we were also counting up the places he has lived, and it was quite an impressive total for a seven year old. He started life in Wakefield (1), moved swiftly here to Hove (2) when he was four months old and his father disappeared, then they moved into Son's flat in Brighton (3) and lived happily there for a couple of years. Next they left Brighton and moved to Dorking (4) with the ex-boyfriend (big mistake - huge). A year ago last Christmas they moved swiftly back here to Hove (5) where they stayed with me for 7 months, and then moved into a shared house in Hanover (6) with Daughter's friend, which lasted precisely a year, and they have now moved into a flat on their own, also in Hanover (7), which is near his new school. Bless the boy, that's 7 homes in 7 years. I bloody hope this one sticks, because they could both do with a bit of stability. It's no wonder he loves coming to stay here with me; I guess it's the one place that doesn't change in his little life.

I have been on a mini-jaunt up to London this weekend to stay with a London BF. I drove up in brilliant sunshine, and we had some lunch in her lovely garden before walking round the corner to see an open-air performance of "The Importance of being Earnest". I love Oscar Wilde, well, I love his wit,and it was a very good and funny production. We sat with glasses of wine and laughed in all the usual places. Then we sat in her garden again, catching up on all the gossip until it was almost dark. This morning we breakfasted in the garden again, and then went to a London Car Boot Sale where the heavens promptly opened and soaked us literally to the skin! Sadly, it meant we couldn't meet up with Son for a drink, as we had to beat a hasty retreat and change into dry clothes. Never mind - though I did mind really, I so wanted to see Son, however briefly, because his busy working schedule and his jet-setting back and forth to Poland (I actually wrote Pooland there!) and his girlfriend mean that we see very little of him. And he's off again very soon - he's flying to Pooland on his very Birthday (16th September). Carole King said it perfectly in her song "Far Away". "Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?" Me and Grandson too - we both need a bit of solid ground...

4 comments:

Expat mum said...

Did "The Importance" for A level English and have loved it ever since.
You're right - you are a ballast in your wee grandson's life. Bless!

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi Expat Mum, yes I did Oscar Wilde too during my degree course. And loved him.
Ballast is exactly how I'd describe it too - you're spot on.
Lovely to hear from you. M xx

Maggie May said...

My grandchildren also have moved from Japan to a new culture over here and parents are now split up and the girls go from one place to another.
I always thought that my home was a bit of stability for them but now I can't even guarantee being well enough to look after them because of this cursed disease.
However, children seem resilient.

Seems to be the way of the World now to move to other countries. I suppose the World is a smaller place.
It is sad when sons take off like that. (Influenced by a woman!!!!)
I'm sure your grandson will grow up to be a very adaptable young man.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Dear Maggie, I do sympathize, I know how much you have always enjoyed having the Noodles staying with you. As you say, life seems to be increasingly like this and thank heaven children are resilient!
I'm hoping Son won't disappear to Poland - at the moment it looks more likely that she will come to England! We'll see :-) Love to you and yours, M xx