Living at my Mum’s

It’s strange to be saying that at almost 50 I have moved back to stay with my Mum.

But here I am – a fully functioning adult, with a 2 bedroom house, multiple vehicles and dogs – hiding out in my mums spare bedroom in the village I went to school in.

Its been amazing to spend more time with Mum and I will be forever grateful for her looking after me at a time that I wasn’t looking after myself. She has listened and picked up the pieces when I’ve gone to pieces. We have laughed and cried (OK I cried) and we have got drunk on several occasion’s (maybe her more than me 😉 )

Mum has spent more time than me helping me look, first for a new home for me, then for a sofa to fill it with (These are the things that are important to her and so I am happy for her to keep looking) We are not there with either yet but it is her eternal optimism that keeps me going!!

There have been some quirks to moving back in with mum, all of which have made me smile….

Mum gets up incredibly early. (usually before 6am) and drinks have a routine for her….

She has Tea in the morning, then a mid morning Coffee, then an afternoon tea. NEVER out of order.

Drinkies happen no earlier than 4.30pm (although Im trying to subtly move that to 5pm) and usually start with one glass of Prosecco with a dash of brandy, followed by a couple of glasses of wine and then a small baileys to round off the evening. (an evening which usually involves bed at about 8.30pm

Mum uses a salad spinner to wash the bagged salad she buys. She also washes all the fruit she buys too. When I checked if this was Covid related she looked at me like I was mad for never washing fruit.

Tia – my mums doggie really rules the roost. She is 14 and knows exactly what she wants and when she wants it. Similar to my mums routine she is fed – then has a treat, then has a walk, then sleeps, various wee’s and then a final quick walk before bed with mum – to a military schedule.

Mum washes EVERYTHING – even if I have only had an item on for a couple of hours and would in reality have really given it another go. She also lays out my PJs on the bed whenever she thinks I’m not looking (which is super sweet)

She also Irons. Now I cannot remember the last time I ironed anything. It had become a joke in our house that I only ever dusted the ironing board and wouldn’t know where the iron was if I needed it.

Mum is still an amazing cook. Its been so long since Ive thought about what I would like to eat and in an earlier post I mentioned that I didn’t even know what I liked anymore – but mum keeps trying and coming up with wonderful meals. I have to make sure I do some of the cooking as I’m sure she would try and do it all. Ive had steaks, seafood pasta, amazing fish pies, duck stir fry and lots of fabulous healthy food since I moved in.

Mum loves Magnums!! So whilst there are lots of healthy options she knows how to have a treat!! I keep buying them whenever I’m out as I never want her to run out again!!

The village Im staying in has equally interesting quirks. ..

The village shop stocks almost EVERYTHING and Im always enchanted by walking into this Aladdin’s cave of food and drink. I was shocked to find Sourdough, Halloumi and even Sesame oil in the tiny shop this week.

The newsagents runs out of the Daily Mail !! (I cant believe I’m staying in a village where this is the primary newspaper) I know this because the lady in the queue in front of me was complaining about it (which is such a daily mail reader thing to do)

Most of the shops are now actually cafes or restaurants. The village has arrived when it comes to gastronomy and thats a nice things to see but it does mean I can get everything from an organic grass fed burgers to Thai food and oodles of locally produced ice cream but have to travel further to get the basics (including Frazzles which I’m living on)

There is one bus per hour and the last one to leave is at 5.30pm (Its almost the same if I want to get one back) so getting to and from the village involves a cab as I don’t drive. I tried walking and there is no pavement so thats a no go

EVERYONE wishes you good morning or afternoon – and lots of the mums friends know why Im here – which is another weirdness that Im still not used to. It is lovely how many of them care – especially as in some instances Ive only really met them a couple of times in 30 years.

The village is SOOOO quiet with lots of local walks as we are by the sea. This has been a balm as my mind is anything but quiet right now.

So I am eternally grateful to my wonderful Mum and the village she lives in for making me feel safe and welcome at a time that I really need it. I truly hope I can repay the favour soon xxx