Childless

I went over to see Sally Dawson this afternoon. Seamus had the day off work; he showed me into their garage and asked me if there was anything we needed, which there wasn't. "Oh sure you must have use for this lovely towel rail? Sally bought it, I've no idea why, you have more room than we do". Turns out Sally buys all manner of "fecking stuff" that Seamus has no use for. I relieved him of a chest of drawers, just to be sociable. He carried it over to the car, making a space next to it in the boot so he could continue to pursuade me that I had room to take the fecking towel rail. I left without it.

Niamh was at home today. Sally doesn't work Thursdays. Come to think of it, neither do I, though Ella was happily tucked away at nursery. It was almost like being childless again, visiting friends who have kids and leaving unaccompanied. I remarked on this, which set Sally off into dreaming aloud about her life before having Niamh, worldwide travel, lazing on beaches in Fiji, breakfasting in San Francisco. "I hear so many people who insist their life is better now they have kids" she said. "Actually, life with kids is great, but then again, life without them is pretty sweet too. Nobody ever admits that". I thought about it afterwards. She's right, of course, but on balance, I don't think I'd have it any other way.

Niamh woke from her afternoon nap just as I was about to leave. She'd put her hand into her nappy and smeared poo all over her bedsheets. I left Sally bathing her and Seamus changing the bed. I see her point about the breakfast in San Francisco.