Five years ago I packed my entire life up in the back of a large van and set off on an incredible journey.
Since then, that journey has taken me to places I'd never have expected, introduced me to people I'd never have met, and allowed me to do things I'd never have dreamt I could do.
So much has happened in those intervening years, and while some of it is recorded in the pages of this blog, that's only a fraction of it - the tip of the iceberg.
I'm different now to how I was then - but still me - possibly more me than I've ever been.
Here's to the next five, and enjoying the journey.
Good question, that.
Good thing I've got just over 7 weeks to think up a good answer.
With any luck, that'll mean I won't make a total arse of myself when I get up on stage to answer it in front of a live audience.
20x2: Twenty speakers. One question. Two minutes each.
Sunday, 19 November 2006
Madame Jojo's 7-9:30 pm
8-10 Brewer St, Soho, London, W1F OSE
He called out to me, as I approached.
Attention focused, eyes beseeching.
Brazenly, without hesitation, he offered me his throat,
and boldly, inevitably, I succumbed.
Gently, at first, I stroked, then I scratched.
Teasing.
Testing.
Harder.
Softer.
Faster.
Slower.
Til his body relaxed and eyes closed in simple ecstasy.
Til I stopped.
Dropped my hand.
Walked away.
Ignoring the look of surprise in his eyes,
as I left him wanting more.
I had to, you see.
It was for the best.
For I am the crazy cat lady of North London,
and he is somebody else's cat.
Everyone knows that with children come sacrifices.
With very small babies, the most obvious sacrifice is sleep, and I was fully expecting to make that sacrifice when J and the baby got home.
In the end, that wasn't the sacrifice I made.
Instead, my sacrifice was my pinky nail.
You see, while it's not news to anyone that I'm not a particularly girlie girl, I do like to have long fingernails.
Partly because I think my hands are particularly stubby and short and having long nails makes my fingers look longer, but mostly because 15 years ago, my piano teacher threw an epic fit at me for daring to arrive for my piano lesson with nails longer than the tips of my fingers and painted black.
She ranted at me for a good 15 minutes of my half hour lesson and refused to continue teaching me if I didn't agree to keep my nails short and never wear nail varnish in such an apalling colour again to my lessons with her.
... and so, in a somewhat pathetic fit of teenage rebellion that's never really gone away, I've had long nails ever since. Well, except for the times when I break so many of them that I have to get all scorched earth on them and start over, which is something I had to do a few weeks ago.
In the intervening weeks, they grew, in a pleasing shape and to a pleasing length, without a single breakage.
I had achieved the apotheosis of natural long fingernails.
Then my niece arrived, and needed comforting. Being her parents daugher, it was pretty predictable that the dummy just wasn't going to do it for her. That'd be way too easy.
Oh no, only the very best (carefully washed) finger would do.
Except all of mine had long nails that would doubtless injure her tiny mouth or gums, so I had a decision to make.
Something had to give, and the pinky nail drew the short straw.
I mean, what's a perfect set of nails compared to a quiet, contented (for now) baby?
Three days old, and already she's got everyone wrapped around her tiny little finger.
Things I've learned in the last three days:
At 7 minutes past 7, my niece was born, weighing 9lbs 8oz and measuring 59cm in length.
I'm so relieved that both mother and baby are doing well.
Wow.
I'm an auntie.
1900: P's sister calls. J has been taken down for a cesarian because she's been in labour for 36 hours, is exhausted and the baby is lying in an awkward position. In 20 minutes, if all goes well, the baby will be with us at last.
1800: News at last. J is 8cm dilated and it seems that things are once more moving. J and baby had temperature and baby's heart rate was a little high, but tests indicate no infection. J now on drip to stop her from becoming dehydrated. Hopefully it won't be too much longer. P sounds exhausted.
1700 (again): More no news. Cats are restless. Hamsters are restless. I am restless. Knitting for baby progressing. Cardigan approximately 45% complete. Baby presumably 100% complete but not 100% here quite yet.
1130: P calls. J has been given an epidural because she's exhausted. Hopefully she'll be able to get some rest and sleep ready for the final push later.
0400: P gets called back to hospital. Hamsters and worry keep me awake for a good hour afterwards.
2300: Movement so slow that P is sent home to get some sleep and J given something to help her sleep. Am experiencing sympathy twangs - most bizarre. This baby is certainly determined to make her entrance only when she's good and ready - and not a minute sooner. Baby cardigan begun earlier has reached 3.5 inches from back of neck almost to underarms. If things don't move fairly soon, I might actually have this thing done by the time she arrives. I kinda hope I don't.
1900: 12 hours in and finally, movement. Tremors occurring at approximately 5 minute intervals.
1700: no news, one presumes, is good news. Bloody boring waiting though. God bless sky+ and all who sail in her.
1100: avalanche very slow moving, so slow as to appear not to be happening. Further attempts to induce movement planned for later this afternoon.
0700: "The avalanche has started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."
In all the exhaustion and misery of the last few days I've been terribly lax in not saying a public thank you to my Lace Swap pal, Donni, who is fabulous and thoroughly spoiled me with well over the required amount of yarn (required amount 1200 yards) by sending nearly 4000 yards - 3000 of black Australian wool and almost 900 of red Peruvian wool, two patterns I've been lusting over for months (the Raj Shawl and the Shoalwater Shawl) and a fantastic extra gift - a chart holder from Knit Picks.
... the online home and (not very) alter(ed)-ego of Ann McMeekin, a recently freelance Web Accessibility Consultant.
... passionate about many things, most of which will turn up on this site at some time or other.
... contactable via email.
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