Busy Day

Up and dressed early and took Josh to school.  Phill was asleep after an all nighter and of course Em was still in bed.  I decided to drive up to Young and see if BigW had one of the games Joshua wants for his birthday.  I could have rung them but I wanted to get him a case for his new DS3d that we're giving him, and I needed some time alone and driving relaxes me.  They didn't have the game, but I got him a nice little case that has a battery in it so he won't run out of charge if he's out and about.  Loved the drive, it was a beautiful day.  While I was there Phill rang to say that both the police and the school had rung.  I never got back onto the cops, that will have to wait till tomorrow but we had to go to the school to meet with the Board of Studies woman who oversees the important exams.  The good news is that Emily has permission to do her exams away from the other kids which is what we wanted.  The BOS woman was really sweet with Emily (so they're not all condescending pricks like the bloke who came to assess whether I was suitable to homeschool the kids, pity nobody assesses the bloody schools to see if they're suitable to educate our kids).  But I digress.  I had to bite my tongue a couple of times but in the end we got what we wanted and hopefully by this time next week it will all be over.  Emily's school life will end, and not in the way I always envisaged but end it will and thank God. 
My head and neck ached all day.  I finally went to the chemist for some painkillers and got the third degree again.  I must look like a fucking drug dealer or something, they never question Phill when he goes to get them.  Why sell the things over the counter if they're so dangerous anyway.  I rubbed some of the cream I am using for my arthritis on my neck and shoulders and it helped a little.  I hurt my neck in a car accident on my 17th birthday and had trouble with it for years on and off, at one point was told I could  have an operation to repair the damage but I could be left a cripple so I declined,  but I haven't had any for a long time.  I really believe it's a stress reaction. 
Raced to get some groceries while Em was at her therapy appointment then to the school then up to group which was good today.  I gripe about going every week but I think I'll miss it when it's over in December.
Josh came home in good spirits after feeling he did well in his first exams today.  I can't believe another year is almost over and he will be in year nine next year.  He told me about his woodwork exam that was so bad in its grammar and punctuation that even the teacher had trouble deciphering it.  And they're demanding more money!  I'd love to know who wrote the exam, and when we get it back I'll be looking into it.
I quickly mixed up a meatloaf laced with puree broccoli and some finely grated carrot so I was able to whack that in the oven when I got home from group.  We had that with mash and vegies/salad and I made Em some quick ravioli with a creamy cheese sauce and crispy proscuitto, with a side salad.  We would normally get pizza on Thursday but I knew I had to get some reasonably healthy food into the kids, and us for that matter.
Emily actually went out for a bike ride this afternoon, in group we had talked about exercise helping with depression and with sleep problems.  I was worried she might run into one of the bullies but she wasn't, she had her phone and a quick getaway method.  I was proud of her and told her so.  She rode to the little lake out on the Junee road and said it was beautiful there. 
So I'm sitting here with my neck massager on with heat and hoping it feels a bit better tomorrow.  We're not going to Wagga now as Phill is working again tonight, and we've decided to try to get Josh's game in Canberra when we go on the weekend so the pressure is off there.  He's such a good kid and never asks for much so I really try to get him what he wants for his birthdays and Christmas. 
Tomorrow Em and I have planned to clean the fridge and pantry and organise them, she's very good at that sort of thing and it will give her something to do to take her mind off worrying about her exams next week.  I told her that all she can do is her best with what she has.  We can't change the past, but we can look to the future and hope for better days.  Sometimes I wonder what the fuck I worried about before I had that child.