Dreams....

Occasionally I realise that I am going to be studying for my degree for the next 6 YEARS.... and yet in the rest of my life I don't know what might have changed by then.

That feels a little odd.

Modern reality

I've never before been in the position of being friends with both parties in a separated relationship, but over the last couple of years I have found myself in that position.  They have two children and now one of them has a new partner; so when it came to Christmas cards this year I was a little perplexed what to do.  Last year I put the children on the card of my 'primary' friend; this year I put them on their mother's card and included the new partner on the other one. It felt very weird.

Having had a discussion last night about their Christmas arrangements, and how one of them might actually end up spending it alone, it made me realise how easy it is having just the one husband. So many people have to deal with complex and emotive arrangements around Christmas time... and the depressing fact is that it is probably now the norm, rather than the exception.

Motherhood

Most people who know me, know that I am not the maternal type and and am happily 'child-free'; but the woman I met last night made my jaw drop.

I was chatting to a friend here in Phuket when a couple came up who knew them; first impression was 'English Public School', now living in Dubai.  After about 5 minutes the woman said "Oh by the way I had a baby", and the rest of the information consisted of the following: Had it in July, it apparently has no name (as none was proferred) but I did gather it's female; is currently in the hotel room with some local girl who speaks no English. She had a maid for the first 4 weeks so didn't have to get up in the night or change a nappy; now terribly bored and can't wait to get back to work full time in January; and motherhood is over-rated.

I was left feeling as though she had just bought a new car, not brought a new life into the world.