no graduation ceremony July 07

The first thing I have to tell you is that after all that faff and angst on my part, A* decided last week that as her mates are not going to the graduation ceremony she is not going either. She is adamant about it so I had to have a little laugh to myself, but phew! Probably just as well as last week FH put the phone down on me when I asked him to look after Specky the dog – said he is too busy. He is also showing reluctance to have J2 to stay for the same reason. It seems he can’t hear my voice for 30 seconds without imploding. I am sad about that.

A* and J1 have both moved back home and it has been an exhausting process as they start by throwing everything out of their rooms – A* has even redecorated – put their stuff in and leave anything else they don’t want in bags for ‘mystery collection’. As I can’t bear to throw anything out and recycle wherever possible it takes me days to sort and offload to various charity shops et al.

A* has a number of rather exciting openings, one of which I got through my ‘contacts’ (it’s very gratifying suddenly realising you have influence), but I’m not sure she will decide they are worthy of her attentions so I’ll report on those next time. At the moment she is temping for 10 days at an architects at London Bridge. She is getting into the routine of getting up, dressing appropriately and lasting the day. Apart from uncertainty about work A* is very happy at the moment. She met this 26 year old financier at Hay and she is really keen on him. He seems grounded and kind. She has stopped being veggie and is eating reasonably normally again which is a relief.

We had a crisis about 4 weeks ago when FP drove J1’s car (that FH’s Mum had given him) that he was borrowing and about to give back to him in 2 days into the back of a range rover with a tow bar and wrote it off. FP was not hurt, but I was so upset because of the cost and the fact that Ro had given J1 the car. In the end J1 put his own money to what FP gave him and has bought a 4×4 Vauxhall Frontera which he loves and FP has bought an Audi – both second hand obviously, but infinitely more glamorous than what either of them had.

J1 finished at uni and then went away and passed his 2 week phase 1 course with the marines. He plans to complete phase 2 by Christmas and go on tour (i.e. to war) straight after he finishes his degree. He is working putting up marquees over the summer which some days he likes and some days he doesn’t and every spare moment is spent running or at the gym. The obsession with fitness could get a bit wearing to live with!

J2 is in Newquay this week with his mates and I am just hoping he is not going to lose his money. He did his ref course last week-end and now has to do a child protection course then hopefully he can start reffing games and earning his spends.

My new boss has arrived at work, but not much is happening at the moment while the new senior management team find their feet. As part of my appraisal and training programme I am having nine 1 to 1 sessions with a German female career/ communication coach who used to be a trader in the city. We meet in the members room of the Tate Modern and I am working my way through a designated reading list. It’s all about focus and pitch and selling yourself – quite interesting. She tells me in a guttural German accent that she is going to help me ‘get zee job I vont’. We are just working out what it is at the moment!

FP and I are busy. It’s tiring in the house with all of them there and the extra cleaning, cooking, listening and encouraging and trying to do our own jobs on top. We’ve got the pond all redone and I’ve discovered FP likes watching fish almost as much as FH. There’s lots of week-end work for both of us and we still haven’t sorted out a hire car, but I’m happy. I can see the end in sight, a window of opportunity to focus on what I want to do before I volunteer for childcare if needed and even if it is tiring, it feels good to be here for the children in this transition period.

The Chief executive at Scarman has suddenly expressed a keen interest in Can Do Freedom travel so expect to see movement there. I am going to send out an email including you, inviting you to be part of a virtual advisory group. Ignore it if it is too much trouble. We’ve just engaged a professional company to review the logo and come up with a style guide.

Last month I went to the Ritz for tea with former foster daughter Tracey to celebrate her 40th birthday. Her daughter who was just born when she lived with FH and I is now 18. It’s the nicest thing, but weird. I have also done a bit of reasonably effective match making this month with a woman I worked with at North Herts and a guy from the pub. My talents are endless!