This half-term malarky is tiring. I’ve been off all week, and it’s been an opportunity to catch up on all those jobs that have taken a back seat.
I’ve painted a couple of walls at home, methodically cleaned every room, looked after my son when he wasn’t well for a day, and travelled down to the south-west to visit Bryan’s siblings. I’m writing this on Friday evening, hidden under the duvet from whence I don’t intend to surface until the morning when we have a couple of new sofas arriving.
Still, I’ve been productive, and that’s a good thing. I’ve also had some quality time with my son, and how can that ever be a bad thing? He misses his dance lessons, which I’m not surprised about; I’m just thrilled he’s found his niche.
Dance is a brilliantly-expressive medium, but not one I’d ever give much thought to before Bryan embraced it. He dances as comfortably as we all breathe, and you might as well ask him not to breathe rather than not to dance.
Bryan is comfortable in his own skin, and I’d be mortified if I ever thought that he wasn’t doing something he was passionate about because he was worried about my reaction. Dancing is for everyone (well, everyone who’s coordinated, that is – I have enough left feet for several people), and he does ballet, jazz, street … oh, the list goes on.
I was intrigued to see how he got on with ballet, as it’s the one I have least knowledge about – but the structure, poise, strength, and coordination required seem to really appeal to him. Go for it, Bryan – I want you to succeed in the things you care about, and dance is certainly one of them.
He goes to a dance school in Ramsgate – Masque Theatre School – and it’s definitely the right school for him. We’re there quite a few times during the week, so it needs to be! This year, Bryan is looking forward to a few different dance exams, a big dance show, and appearing in a panto – I love seeing him so passionate about these things, so I’ll take him wherever he needs to be. On a different note, he’s made some good friends there, which is something a parent always wants to see.
I’ve not had a lot of time to write this week; I’m usually washed out by the evenings, so my brain isn’t ready to be that creative. Sometimes, I get up early in the morning and manage to squeeze in a bit of time then – or, like Wednesday, Bryan wants to write as well, so we can work on something side by side. Those times are particularly precious to me. This Wednesday, for example, we went over to Ramsgate Library and worked there (on our laptops) for a few lovely hours.
I used to work in the local libraries when I was younger. In fact, it was my first “proper” job – I’d worked in retail for a couple of years while at school – and the district manager took a chance on someone who was young and inexperienced. I was glad she did, and I did my best to repay their confidence in me.
I enjoyed working in libraries for the three and a half years I was there. I met some truly lovely people, who I remain fond of to this day (twenty-odd years later). I cut my teeth working afternoons at Margate Library, read stories to kids in Broadstairs children’s library, and have probably worked cover shifts in every library across Thanet. There were times when I wheezed with laughter working alongside some very funny and welcoming people, and I miss a lot of them – I would have loved to take them with me when I moved onto my next job.
Thinking about it, wouldn’t that be lovely? You could take half a dozen or so of your favourite co-workers to your new job. I’ll start building a list, in case we’re ever allowed to do that.
Reflective and thoughtful as always.
Good man.