Writing with my eyes wide shut
Image via Wikipedia
It’s dead o’clock on Saturday morning. Been up since pre-dead a.m. Getting the bus(es) into Manchester. It’s early and dark and freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezing and I’m tired. Winter has made its belated arrival. Hooray for central heating, but I’m still sitting in fleecy pyjamas, thick dressing gown and a thin blanket around my shoulders like a Russian granny.
Spud has the opportunity to take part in a study for contact lenses for teenagers. He might be in the control group with glasses. He might not be suitable. He might earn £135 + free glasses/lenses for six months of doing nothing but the occasional eye test in Manchester. He has to have an adult present at those tests. He wants the money, so I have to go with him. I get nothing out of it except the warm glow of motherly self-sacrifice, and frost bite.
I could be in bed right now with a warm husband and a sleeping alarm clock. Damn this maternal gene.
Read more Six Word Saturdays here. If you’re awake.
POSTSCRIPT
As there were so many comments wishing him good luck, I thought you’d like to know that Spud was accepted onto the trial. He won’t know which group he’ll be in until next week, but he has no preference.
Good news for me: he turned sixteen today (Sunday), so I don’t have to go with him again. Yay!
The Laughing Housewife 
Good luck, Spud
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sounds like its very cold where you are right now….
good luck too 🙂
http://faithful-wanderer.blogspot.com/2012/01/sws-2.html
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You went to Manchester in your PJ’s??????
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You got me 🙂
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Hard frost here this morning and bright sunlight… I hope the cold has arrived clad in beauty your end of the country too.
🙂
I shall defer telling you my personal contact lens story until after you know which group Spud will fall into, control or not
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don’t try getting into any posh night clubs with those maternal jeans
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😀
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You are soooo funny!
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You’re a good Mum, T.B. I hope he qualifies for the study.
It’s four here now but I will go backk to bed again. I thought being into town for a nine o’clock Early Ford V-8 Club meeting was almost a hardship but that is only a half hour drive for me.
Your cold is about like our cold tonight but we will warm nicely during the day [ http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/montgomery-tx/77356/hourly-weather-forecast/2223686 ]. I see that my kids in London will hardly warm today.
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I did a double-take when I saw your picture in your banner. You look so, SO much like my sister who has changed her name by deed poll and has nothing to do with our family any more – the thing is, you look so happy there. She’s not happy. It’s a gorgeous picture of you 🙂
And re the freezing etc…. I know! I DON’T prefer winter!!
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Sorry to hear that about your sister. Families are wonderful and heartbreaking.
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Hey listen. You get all those maternal benefits, you shouldn’t be complaining about gene. Seems prtty ungrateful to me. Sheesh.
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You are a kind, supportive mother. Good for you. It sounds like a good study to be part of – fingers crossed that he is suitable for it.
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And, what a wonderful and lovely mother you are! 😀 Free money and lenses cannot be beat!
Oh, and…um, now I’ve got that song from “Hair” about Manchester in my head! My head can find a song reference for anything…
Have a lovely rest of the Saturday!
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I don’t know that one! I’ve never seen ‘Hair’, or heard any of the songs, that I know of. Unless ‘Aquarius’ is from it?
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Hope he gets selected . . . wouldn’t want all your maternal sacrifice expended for naught. 😀
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Ah, but that’s what we do for our kids, don’t we? (I remember it well!)
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What a mother will do for the love of her children…you’re a good mom! Have a good weekend!
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That’s what Mom’s are all about!
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Good luck to Spud who looks like my brother Mike who began wearing glasses at age six when he entered school. The school nurse tested his eyes and Mom and Dad discovered Mike had not been able to see a darn thing all his young life. Dianne
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Poor boy! Spud’s problem was picked up at two, thank goodness.
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Keeping fingers crossed for Spud getting into the study, money and lenses/glasses for free nothing to sneeze at. I felt your pain and you are right, maternal sacrifice is a constant and it is our duty to remind the offspring of that periodically.
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Lovely blog. Oh to be in England (my real home). Regards from an expat in Cape Town. Very very hot at this moment…. still our pool is heated. Going in now… but will bring my woollies to the UK next month. Coming to visit my brother and 94-year old dad.
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Whereabouts in CT? We honeymooned there, and holidayed in Gordon’s Bay. Lived on the High Veld for 14 years.
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You are a good mother! Money is a great motivator. BTW, it’s cold in Hawaii, too, typical weather in Hawaii. I am wearing a jacket and long dress.
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Cold? I can’t imagine it.
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yes, the kids might earn but the adults work too. it’s great that he has the motivation. be glad.
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I am 🙂
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Oh, the things we go through to make our children happy! Hope he at least gets some money out of your freezing, too-early sacrifice.
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Ah…nothing like a mother’s love. 🙂
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you make me laugh soooo hard!
that mother gene just does not gooooo away … even when they don’t live at home anymore — it goes long distance… just wait. And I can hardly wait to see what THOSE posts will looooooook like!
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I wonder what he’ll buy you with his earnings? Maltesers may be accepted, I presume, in lieu of petrol money? !
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Major Brownie points to you for braving the cold.
By the way…. better a warm husband and a sleeping alarm clock, than the other way round!!
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That’s such a great thing you are doing for/with Spud. More kids should have such supportive parents.
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Remind him of your sacrifice sometime when you need something from him much later in life when he’s more likely to appreciate what you did (like when he’s a sacrificing parent)! 😉
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A sleeping alarm clock – where can I get one of those?
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The maternal gene will get you every time!
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A pat on the back for dragging yourself out of bed on a freezing English morning, to go with your son.
Hope he qualifies – good luck Spud!
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I’m commiserating with you but ‘dead o’clock’ – absolute humour genius right there! Why does the maternal gene always relate to no sleep, cold and discomfort? It is the same no matter what age. I really hope he gets the cash and the services and ‘buys’ his Mum some sleep-ins!!! You’re awesome.Tell Spud I said so 🙂
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I will. And frequently do 🙂
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Congratulations to both of you!!!
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Hope he gets it… you are being a devoted mom… chin up. 🙂
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brrrrr!
good news he got accepted. Hope he gets to be in the group he wants.
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