Back from the Smoke

Yesterday evening I had an adventure … well … when I set out it felt as if I was heading out to climb Everest having had no sleep & only a pair of ballet shoes to climb in. After 2 months in Cambridge and most of it spent in the safe confines of mother’s house living a cosy, peaceful existence, the very thought of London seemed massive and more than a little daunting. Being pregnant and doing something out of the routine is scary – and I can’t believe I’m saying that but it’s true.

This morning I feel wide awake, I feel confident, I slept wonderfully, I had a really positive evening. Work and play made me a very happy girl and my small #unbornbaby (as it has become known on Twitter) The Spaniard (as it’s known to everyone else) seems content too.

Several observations from my epic voyage:

1 – being pregnant on the train does feel odd … The Spaniard bounces in a very different way on the train … in a way that makes me have to stand up and walk around.

2 – the feeling of being cautious and protective when in a crowd has got stronger … I felt quite nervous getting off the train in Kings Cross and stood to the side glaring at the hurried souls dashing by with their wheely suitcases.

3 – St Pancras station is THE most beautiful building in London, especially on a clear blue frosty sort of evening

4 – taxi queues are chaos but such a treat to sit high up and look out at the hustle and bustle of the city

5 – as long as you’re moving around alot, standing is a good thing when pregnant …

6 – someone said, “in your condition” last night which really made me chuckle

7 – people are so lovely to pregnant people, and somehow the being touched thing has become ok … before all this people would come over and kiss me on the cheek, now they head over, rub or pat The Spaniard and then acknowledge me!!!

8 – sitting with a group of drunk people when you are sober is odd, and a little dull, and funny!!

9 – commuters in general look miserable, but when you have a phone with Twitter on it you can chuckle all the journey away

10 – sometimes when you plan it well (she says proudly) the old adage, “A change is as good as a rest” is true.

11 – wearing surgical stockings all day and all evening while working really is a chore!! and I do need to repaint my toenails.

Back to normal today, taken mother breakfast in bed, poor thing her ribs still so painful, had my cup of hot goats milk and piece of barley bread with home-made lemon and pear jam, done a bit of work and now heading out for a walk.

I’m seeing the consultants later – Obstetrician and Rheumatologist … and perhaps hearing when they plan the unzipping ceremony or to see if they’ve changed their minds and decided I should have The Spaniard naturally… which is unlikely.

I’m nervous – I always am before I go in there.. “will there be blood in my urine?”, “will everything be ok?”, “will we hear the heartbeat?”, “have I been doing everything right?” … and I know that it will end up taking the whole afternoon and I’ll come away feeling hospitally .. but in the meantime I feel refreshed and happy from having an adventure, and in a funny sort of way, reconnecting with myself again. NOTE TO SELF … once (please God) The Spaniard is born I must always remember to have (if possible) or even to make some ‘old me’ time .. I can see now how easy it is to get swamped.

Having work colleagues you adore really is a special thing … being self-employed means I spend all too much time alone, but last night really was a tonic especially being able to spend it with quite the most handsome, funny & talented photographer in London @Paul_Clarke http://paulclarke.com who makes me blush every time I talk to him, someone who has been a social media guru and mentor to me for years @DavidWilcox and one of my favourite people in the whole world, long time partner in crime and passionate believer in local @justingriggs and then to gossip in the taxi back to the station with the very glam red shoe’d, red blouse’d and red lippy’d @victoriapymm.

Right then – off for a walk before the floods that seem to be sweeping Blighty reach Cambridge.

If you really are interested in what I was up to in London last night and the event I helped organise, this great blog from David sums it up well.

Also here are some wonderful photos from gorgeous Paul Clarke.
http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615

 

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