I knew the big blue would pass. Thank you all for your kind words, it really makes a difference.
My girls have gone to Canberra for the weekend. I dropped them at the airport early and I don't quite know what to do with myself so I decided to re-read Persuasion as solace for the wounded heart. One likes to think that there are second chances.
Melbourne was better than expected. I arrived with no coat. My Somalian taxi driver looked dubious and advised me to go and buy an umbrella. We also had a confusing conversation about why there was no King of England. I am sure I did a very poor job of explaining the laws of succession. I ended up buying a blue velvet coat in a second hand shop near the office. Actually, it looks pretty stunning though I'm not sure of the next occasion for wearing it.
We had a dinner before the games opening and I sat close to Daley Thompson who was a fine figure of a man. The champagne was ok and I was glad of my coat in the stands. I thought the opening was charming without being spectacular - it could have had more music but the fireworks were fabulous and the inclusion of all the people down the Yarra worked really well. My girls were very jealous of me seeing the Cat Empire but rolled their eyes at the Delta finale. I had a great hotel room in the Grand (fabulous bed) but worked out it was about $80 and hour for all the time I got to stay in it (all hotels across Melbourne were at rack rate but I reckon it was still cheaper than the hotel I stayed in in Bangalore).
In the middle of it all, I talked to A on the phone about her devastating loss. I'm still trying to process it but it has shaken everyone it has touched.
The next morning I had an important client meeting which was the real reason I was there. It went way better than expected so that lifted my mood. It was helped with two new working colleagues who both supported me in different ways. It makes such a difference to work with people you like and trust.
My ex had taken my youngest daughter to an open day at the high school she plans on attending (same as her sister). She had a ball and was so happy to have her dad do something with her so all worked out well. I didn't see him at all - came after I left, left before I arrived home - but we had a civil telephone conversation that was about the girls which was positive.
Last night my dad called. My elderly aunt (well, his aunt by marriage) died on Sunday. She was 87 and had been a poor state since a stroke six months ago, fed by tube since her throat muscles had been damaged by the stroke. She is the last of his generation in the family so it is even more of a sad passing. The funeral isn't until next week and I commented on the long period but he seemed to think that was quite normal.
On brighter news, my friend PP called and we talked about her 40th birthday next year. She's decided she wants to celebrate it at home in Cape Town so I immediately volunteered to attend.
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