I Ran Away from Home

But I came home.  I ended up driving up to Sydney and staying in a motel overnight.  For some reason I felt a need to visit Sarah's grave and did so.  Other stuff happened that I won't go into here but things are better and I think Phill has had a reality check.  He was very nice to me all day and it made a huge difference.  My sister told me that high blood pressure can cause anger outbursts, I'd never heard that before.  And he certainly has  high blood pressure, always has had.  He knows he needs to go back to the doctor and get some serious medication.
In the small wins department, the school finally changed Emily from woodwork to cooking.  Phill and I went up there and talked to the acting DP again.  I so love our principal, he didn't have to come into the DP's office but  he did.  He went to school with some of Phill's younger uncles in Gunnedah and he's always taken a bit of a special interest in us.  Emily hates woodwork with a passion, she's the only girl in the class and her teacher doesn't like her much (she is very nice to Joshua).  She's good at woodwork, and enjoyed it at Junee High.  I treasure the few things she has made me, but cooking is going to be more enjoyable for her, and more useful as well.  So they're both doing that this year, and Josh is also doing Agriculture which I think he'll enjoy.  We had our "back to school" party today as the week was a bit disrupted (to say the least) and we three sat and had a really nice talk.  Just about school stuff, and plans for Em's birthday.  She told me she doesn't want any presents, but just money to go shopping for a new phone and clothes.  Kate did something similar the year she turned 13 and really enjoyed it.  I will give her a small gift on her actual birthday and then we'll all drive to Wagga.  The boys can go off and see a movie, and she and I will go shopping.   She really loves to spend time with me, just the two of us.  Then we can have lunch somewhere nice and come home.
So the kids are full of party pies, chips, LOL (a drink) and jerky (their latest craze).  So I said I won't bother cooking tonight, it's so bloody hot here.  We can order some pizza later if they get hungry and Phill can have that before he goes to work late tonight, he's sleeping now.
Both my fuschias are flowering!  Hanging them under the bottlebrush was a good move.  One of them, is gorgeous, pink and fuschia colour (duh!) and there are masses of little buds on it.  The other one isn't as advanced and has one pale pink bloom.  And the hoya has a little cluster of perfect, beautifully fragrant flowers.  I tried to take a photo but it started raining.
So while this week has been a bit of a write off I have high hopes for next week with a more settled family and a more peaceful home.  I made a start on Em's room, scrubbed the carpet and just took every item of clothing to wash it.  I wasn't going to check to see what was dirty and what wasn't.  She seemed in good spirits when she came home from school.  She is the most wonderful girl when she's okay, I love them both so much and need to work at being a better mother to them and taking care of my own mental and emotional health so I can do that.
And in other great news I am back in touch with my Katy.  I sent her a text the other night that just said "Love You".  She texted back asking who I was!  I wrote "Your mother".  She rang me straight away and we had the best talk.  She has really grown up and totally understood why I was upset with her and hadn't wanted to talk to her.  In the old days she would get defensive and screechy.  She's had another promotion back to the city store and is doing well in her uni course.  In fact she used what she is learning about dealing with staff on me and we had a good laugh about it.  And she hinted at a return to NSW at some stage in the future, saying she has a "plan".  God I hope so, I need her in my life.
Little Lucky went to a good home who have a couple of kids which is good, he socialised more with humans rather than cats.
Josh's game chip thingy that I bought him, against my better judgement from China, works after all after much research so he's happy.
Em is actually looking forward to her 15th birthday where she wasn't before.
So for now, it's all good.  And it's Friday!!