Day 98 Week 13

I blame Bernard Cornwall. Ever since he was a small child C was obsessed with Sharpe. Sharpe this, Sharpe that, Sharpe the other. It's no coincidence that Richard Sharpe was a Rifleman and so is C. My little boy took every one of the ripping yarns as God's own truth, never once being aware of the concept of poetic licence. C was oblivious to the practicalities of chronology and the fact that it was physically impossible for Sharpe to have attended all the battles and skirmishes he was credited with, he even found himself with Nelson at Trafalgar for goodness sake. Let alone the miraculous developments in nineteenth century medicine which meant Sharpe survived all his near fatal injuries. No, as far as C was concerned, Sharpe was the real deal and now my own little Rifleman is running around in conditions which closely resemble the era and geography of the Peninsular War. Please keep him safe Lord.

Still the dreaded snow and more on its way.

A friend just rang and she's popping up later for a glass of wine and she's good company so am really looking forward to that. Then another good friend did a load of shopping for me earlier on so have enough basic supplies to last a few days at least. Then another couple of friend's rang from work to see how I was coping and yet again am reminded of the kindness and compassion of human nature at its best. Wish everyone in the world was as altruistic then most of the problems and discord would evaporate overnight.

There's a new strand of psychology which developed at the end of the last century called 'positive psychology'. Basically it means instead at looking at what is wrong with your lot and what you desperately want to change or improve, you constantly remind yourself of the good you've done, what is really to be cherished and how lucky you are to be in that position. An exercise to reinforce this sense of well-being is at the end of each day, recall three things which promote happiness and contentment. Must give it a go. I suppose it means instead of thinking 'oh my God C's in constant danger and there are scores of people running around trying to kill him and he may be horrifically injured at any moment', I have to focus on 'C's done really well, he's worked so hard and he's doing the only thing he's ever wanted to do and who knows with the Grace of God he could be as lucky as Richard Sharpe'. Not convinced it's worked yet but will continue to persevere.

Fellow soldier's mum on the mend and looking forward to her boy's leave. R administering TLC to a close friend with a broken heart. H loving Dartmouth and I'm going to have a lovely, lazy, deep bath because my backside is so bruised that's all I can face.

Speak soon. A soldier's Mum x