FFWD

An AWFUL lot has happened between me being broken in 2003, and the present day in 2017.  Almost all of it good, too!

I am remarried to the most incredible woman anyone could possibly have. She is my best best friend, soulmate and confidante.  We have a 9 year old son and he is an utter joy to be around. He adores his older (half) brothers and sisters and they feel the same way about him, too. I still get to see my older children (who now live a 3 hour round trip away) in between working.

Ok, so almost all of it was good, that is true. Let me explain a bit more. I have worked for the same firm for almost 24 years. For the last 18 months, the big "R" has been looming.  Redundancy.  As is the case in a lot of areas, our jobs are going to India, for it is deemed that they can do them cheaper and more efficiently.  Cheaper - undoubtedly, more efficiently - utter bollocks.  They are marvellous at following a set process - who isn't? But once that process deviates from the "norm", they're screwed.  In the last 6 months, several attempts have been made to permanently remove our positions and set them sail for India. It IS happening soon - it's just a question of when.

For several years, I've been a School Governor, most recently being elected to serve as Vice Chair of Governors, which is something I am very proud of.  About a month ago, our Chair of Governors had to step down for personal reasons. Given that I am Vice Chair, the natural process is that I am, albeit on an interim basis, the Chair of Governors.  Now that position is not one that I seek to have. I have specifically excluded myself from being nominated over the last few years - despite pleas from my peers.  That weighs very heavy on my shoulders. Very heavy.

Closer to the current day, yet further, and I was chatting with my eldest daughter who is now 20.  She mentioned in passing that she was pregnant.  Pregnant! My little girl - pregnant.  It is no exaggeration to say that my world almost stopped spinning. Everything went in to slow motion and became blurry.  

Now that I've typed those words, I've just realised - that was the beginning.