Random Driving

I've got the knack of being a mum now. I knew Ella was about to fall asleep in the car, so I removed her shoes and socks. If I forget to do this, the spends a good ten minutes screaming and trying to do it herself and it's impossible to help her when you're driving.

She was asleep within five minutes. We had to head home, I was wearing a white linen shirt which was now covered, literally top to bottom in chocolate ice lolly. I looked such a mess that people were staring at me in the car park. It's not just Ella that needs to carry a change of clothes.

Ten minutes later we arrived home but we couldn't get out because in the time it would take me to get into the flat and fiddle with all the keys, she'd be awake, and I mean awake until bedtime, awake, crying, moaning and demanding. I backed out of the carpark instead and went "random driving", which invariably leads me in the direction of the airport.

The thing is, it's such a miserable situation to be in. You're tired because you've been awake since 5am. You could do with a nap or a sit down with a drink at the very least. You just need a break, but instead you find yourself driving round the city in a sort of zombie state (which leads to inattention at traffic lights - I wonder how many minor accidents are caused by despairing mothers?), worrying that she'll wake up if the car slows down or stops (which she usually does). Every speed hump brings new anxiety, every traffic light fingers crossed. The airport run is great, but only if you happen to turn up at the same time as a plane because you can't actually stop and wait for one. I spotted one today, a 737 taking off, which I managed to watch for about ten seconds before an articulated lorry pulled up alongside and spoiled the view. "That just about sums up my day" I thought.

Eventually we drove round the entire circuit at Centennial Park, which was a mistake because the speed limit is 30km/hour. I now know, to my cost, that Ella's price for sleep is a speed higher than 30. And strictly no stopping.