remembering life is not the space between a rock and a hard place

Saturdays' beautiful clear view from East Prawle coastal walk

I am on HOLIDAY for a week- which essentially means sans my dear-darling-stroppy-wonderful-preteen. As any single parent knows, this time is exceptionally precious - when your kid is with others that love her dearly, you have a chance to relax, recuperate and build up reserves of energy and self-worth again ;-)

I have invited my friends to let me house-sit at their spacious delightfully appointed second homes on the Southwest coast, but it turns out they are are without the resources to facilitate that particular dream.

So, I am Totnes based with some day trips planned. It is wonderful to have the time out of the usual grind to get some grounding.

This morning I am sitting in a Totnes cafe enjoying a decaf soya mocha, musing on the relationship between all the 'stressful' aspects of my life: the hectic freelance recordist -always with a microphone at the ready responsive to the continuous and almost-over-whelming offered data- and the single parent- always on call, clock watching, time juggling and trying to keep up with the emotional and physical needs of a child- and the socially engaged individual seeking her 'calling' - always trying to expand her horizons, find work, develop her professional potential, and 'make something of her life'.... These 'stressful' aspects are (of course!) also the very best aspects of my life- being involved with arts and community and sound, being a mum, and being in the process of adventuring along a career path of my own devising.   - lucky  me -

I'm off to the woods with a chocolate brownie.