Busman's Holiday - St. Tropez

Relaxing with the hot sun on my back I was looking forward to the glass of cold, crisp, white wine I had just ordered.  Below me the bustling trendy bars in between the sandstone buildings of St. Tropez are in full swing, the rich and famous mingling and making new connections.  My yacht is large, luxurious and imposing and was receiving envious looks of curiosity from the tourists as they passed below on the quayside - the feeling of power and success was good.  I see my awaited glass coming within my grasp but it's too late the bubble is burst by my Tiddles who is screeching, bringing me back to reality and I return to being the curious tourist and a mother once again.

Screeching dealt with I push my envy and dreams of sitting enjoying peaceful cocktails to the back of my mind and we walk together along the harbour to a small beach cove throwing a few pebbles into the crashing waves on our way.

Don't get me wrong I love them dearly, they are my world - but sometimes my world is just too small, noisy and demanding and I need an escape - just like the yacht owners.

Looking across at my darling children silhouetted by the evening sun as they dare each other to venture nearer to the waves, knowing that it's only a matter of time before one of them misjudges the speed of the tide,  I realise I have three little 'yachts' and I may never be rich, famous or powerful but to them I am their anchor, lighthouse and glass of wine helping them to steer their course.

Justifying my earlier daydream I decide that if I didn't have dreams they wouldn't be here at my feet -happy, healthy and as predicted WET!

Spreading my Wings

Too many years ago than I care to remember a teacher gave me some good advice. She was encouraging me to try something new which felt to me like a huge wall to climb. Needless to say I did it and her advice of trying something once makes the second, third and subsequent times a 'doddle' have held me in good stead in all but one case - flying!

Aeroplanes and I don't mix and with my 13th flight booked (now wishing I hadn't worked that out!) I was determined to apply her principal one more time and break my fear. It's time to "grow up" I told myself as the impending flight grew nearer and the irrational fear in my stomach grew.  This time I HAVE to be brave as I will have to show my three darling children that it's a perfectly safe way to travel and they just have a neurotic mother - which they probably already know!

I'm now feeling rather proud of myself having remained calm throughout the airport procedures and boarding, only succumbing to a tiny amount of panic and a few silent tears on take off and landing. During the flight my nerves were calmed by Tiddles on her first ever flight albeit a seasoned rail traveller who asked "Are we stopping at the first station Mummy?" and made light of the emergency procedures commenting that the slide off the plane "looked great fun" I think she was somewhat disappointed that it wasn't deployed on our arrival at Geneva. Oh and the bacon sandwich helped too.

I'm writing this now outside our caravan in a hot and sunny South of France not having endured our usual 16+ hour car drive with three bickering darling children, so 'spreading my wings' has it's benefits - and I'm trying not to remember that I still have to fly home - but providing my Tiddles doesn't get her wish of whizzing down the slide I'll have overcome my fear - well until next time anyway!

Letter to Mr Cameron

Dear Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne

In light of current Government policy proposals I feel the need to write to you on behalf of all the other people in a similar position to me as I feel we are being completely ignored by yourself and your government.  So here goes my story:

I am writing this letter during a brief coffee break at work. The time is now 11am and I’ve been working for four hours already today.  If I look around my surroundings I can see a backlog building up for my attention and the mental list in my head is growing by the minute and will continue to grow even in the small hours while I lie in bed trying to get some much needed sleep.

I took on my current position (within a partnership) in 1999 with great expectations but little training and with each day, month and year that has gone by I have learnt more and more, gaining in confidence with every challenge I overcame.  In 2003 my work load was doubled bringing longer hours, more challenges but also new opportunities and fulfilment.  I attended some training in 2006 gaining some more qualifications and this enabled me to take on more responsibility later that year.

As we expanded and moved to bigger premises in 2007 the recession hit meaning we had to make some sacrifices and be more careful in order for me to maintain my job and this has not been an easy time for me and many others in a similar position.  We have weathered the storms working together and meeting each problem as it has come along and believe me at times it has seemed it would be easier to give up and hope we could pick up the pieces and move on.

Whilst doing my job I have helped for many hours within my local community on a voluntary basis as my way of ‘putting something back’ and in following with your ‘working together as a community’ policy mentioned some time ago.

Getting away from it all and having any spare time to myself or my colleague is a rarity – the workload just increases and follows along too. Busman’s holiday!

Job satisfaction is hard to find in this climate – no job is secure, there are many others to fill your shoes, pay rises are low or non-existent, commuting is expensive – I could go on!  However, there is no-one waiting to take on my job it is down to me and my partner or it will fall apart and in turn this will have a knock on effect to others.  With this in mind I have written below a possible job description.

Required Domestic Engineer

Hours - 24/7 52 weeks per annum (long and unsociable)
Pay -  NIL
Pension - State (?!)

Skills Required

Ability to think on your feet and work on your own initiative with a preferable knowledge of health and safety matters and first aid procedures.  Food preparation experience advantageous. Good time management skills and budgeting experience necessary.  The ability to multi task, show empathy but also to be able to lead a team whilst giving support where needed.  Sense of humour and happy personality. Practical skills a must. Flexible approach with a willingness to take on any extra duties as required.  Hard worker.

Has the penny dropped yet?

I would be very surprised if it has because you seem to be ignoring me and others like me – I am invisible to you because I cost you little and yet I am giving you so much in return.  I may not be earning a wage but I am putting back into our society in many ways by doing the most important and demanding job that exists.  For you to accuse me of ‘not working hard and getting on’ is an insult and disgrace to you and your government – contrary to your belief stay at home mothers are not sitting watching TV they are working hard to keep the many values that maintain the basis of life – The Family. Due to your constant battering of people like me with the removal of child benefit, married persons tax allowance, everybody else’s childcare costs you are demoralising the traditional family whilst promoting divorce, childcare and thus creating many more problems for our future generations to deal with.

If you would like to spend a day ‘working hard to get on’ then feel free to arrange a visit with myself and I will gladly give you some training!

Yours faithfully


Lisa Eadie (Mrs)

P.S. Bring at least one change of clothes!