Well things are getting emotionally interesting. Not only am I shortly leaving a job I’ve had for 7 years at a workplace I love, but my eldest is currently 4,453 miles away from me in India – both things are, as you can imagine, very calming for the heart and mind.

Since she left it’s been raining pretty much constantly as a perpetual reminder of how wet she might get since it’s monsoon season over there.The house is quiet -there’s no guitar playing and a lot less singing. P has been out at drama and with her friends most of the weekend. It’s been a bit eerily quiet.

Thank god for Whatsapp is all I can say. We are in regular touch across the ocean, discussing what new food she’s tried (Indian ice cream is popular), how we packed the wrong clothes (and too many clothes in general), and an ongoing list of worries (hers not mine as I don’t think she needs to worry about me what with everything else she is handling). She’s met lovely young people from all around the world – Indonesia, Egypt, Ireland, Hungary and the USA – and we’ve had a video of her and a photo of her beautiful smiling face with a flower garland and a bindi. So it’s going ok. Plus it’s not as hot in India as it is in Europe so that’s a surprise.

I’ve got to knuckle down while she’s not here. Finish this sodding 100 days of exercise with a bang rather than a whimper (7 days to go), throw myself at work so I don’t leave too much chaos behind me, keep home ticking over including very dull housework and admin, and once the Summer holidays start enjoy every second of a week off with P. I guess she’ll be back before I know it, but the first few days have been a slog.

I miss her. Time to distract myself again I think.