September

It is only September, but already, my children are looking like they have been dragged through the proverbial hedge not just backwards, but sideways, too.

On Friday morning, Mini Seymour emerged from the vehicle and I had to do a double-take as I tried to work out if there was any way she could have been spattered by a mystery white substance in the 2 seconds since she alighted… but no. It was toothpaste, missed by me in our hurry to leave the house. Yes, she looked like that when we left! The shame.

I rummaged in the car for something – anything- to wipe her down with, and settled upon some interior car dashboard wipes.  Why have I not learned, after having children for over eighteen years, that it should be BABY WIPES all the way. Not only can they clean kids, but they can do dashboards too, I shouldn’t wonder.

In my defence, this September is a little different. We remain homeless, and are having to travel significantly further than usual in our efforts to get to school and work. We’re currently residing by the sea, in a friend’s airbnb, for which we are hugely grateful. But we’re on a countdown until this roof is no longer our sanctuary, and I suspect it’ll be the caravan next!

It’s all change with us for other reasons too, as yesterday, my baby PP, Little Seymour Number One, my greatest fan and biggest comfort, left us! She’s off to university (oh I am jealous!) and is about to embark on adult (or at least student) life. The leaving home thing must surely have been mitigated by the fact that we don’t have one: she’s gaining a permanent residence. But it’s a big deal… and I know she’s nervous. Excited, yes! But understandably a little bit terrified, too. She’s only twenty minutes away – such a relief! – but she’s away nevertheless. Far enough to avoid the constant irritation of too many siblings. Near enough for a quick visit from Mummy. If she’ll have me!

Boy Seymour is currently out. He’s at the enormous and scary skate park round the corner. I worry about him… but oh! It is so lovely and quiet as he makes the most of the Worthing town life. And however much we all long for our new house to hurry up, there will be some things we will miss about this town. Boy loves the scooting and skating, Number Two loves the fact she now has her own room again, Mini loves the bunk bed and as for me, I simply cannot get enough of the nineteenth century architecture!  But hopefully soon, maybe we will have some news regarding our next venture. Some good news, perhaps. Possibly even  – the holy grail – a date to work towards! In the mean time, I’ll dig out the sleeping bags and the woolly hats.

It’ll be ok… but I do get panicky little episodes where I realise we are at the mercy of the God of Moving House (I think his name is Janus – no, seriously!) Plus… I am starting to think that maybe we shouldn’t have ripped the gas fire out of the caravan after all. Seemed like a good idea at the time.

As ever, please do wish us luck, and I will try to channel my positivity.

Through gritted teeth, whilst missing my Number One child.

It’ll be a challenge!

Off she goes…