Valley view walk

Last day of the summer playscheme today. I was sad to leave my new friends (staff, not children) though I will see some again soon.Mostly they are thirty to forty years younger than me, but we all work well as a team.

I won't deny that today was difficult and stressful, with challenging behaviour exhibited, but we got the site cleared and the kitchen cleaned. No children were harmed during the making of the chocolate brownies, the bubble cups or the water bombs, and the 'smores were very 'smoreish.

Back in Stroud, I met a friend at Waitrose. We ate our posh chocolates ( gift from from grateful parents) and drank our free coffee outside, and were joined by another acquaintance, and I had another coffee...got home and I was buzzing with all the caffeine. Steve was asleep.

Eventually he woke up and the me he'd been for his first drive today. To, guess where?
Yes, Waitrose!
We hadn't bought the same things.

I went for a long walk to get rid of the caffeine jitters (physical, not mental). My route took me through the cemetery and up to the top of the Bisley road, and back through the Mason Road estate. I wondered why I was going that way, until I saw the name of one of the roads, and realised that one of my old friends once lived there. She took her own life in August 2004, 15 years ago. RIP, Lisa.

Back in the golden light, through the cemetery once more, and home to a meal prepared by Steve.

What will I do now? Ah yes, I offered to work at one of the youth clubs on Saturday. I was told I wasn't needed, but apparently the situation has changed. Stroud or Tewkesbury?We shall see.