2020, then...

Happy New Year. May it bring you a 12-month period of spiritual prosperity, intellectual growth and family togetherness. In reality, of course, a change in the numbers on the calendar has no actual effect on us whatsoever, but it’s nice to pass on good wishes, I guess.

Philippa goes back to work this week, after a year of maternity leave. She’s very nervous, but also looking forward to a bit of ‘real life’ again. She works at a GP surgery, of course, so unfortunately, she won’t be getting a soft landing; it’ll be full-on from the word Go. One of the senior partners was a bit pissed off last year when she fell pregnant so soon after they hired her, but everyone else has been really supportive throughout and they seem genuinely delighted that she’s going back.

I shall talk to you sometime about the joys of finding childcare provisions, and the horrible guilt you feel when you convince yourself you’re putting work stuff before your child by committing them to spending time with a third party. It’s been worse for Philippa, obviously, and I know she’ll find it tough at first, but I also know it’s the right decision – for her, as much as for our family as a whole – and I know she’ll get through it and get used to it and flourish again.

She is very insistent that I don’t reveal too much about her thoughts and feelings in this blog, so I’ll leave that one there and just wish you a very pleasant day, and a very pleasant 2020.

RC 4-1-20