I feel a bit like an oil-rig worker at the moment. Except that I have never been on an oil rig. I am literally hardly ever in one place for more than two weeks at a time.
At the moment I am enjoying an unusual stint on the oil-rig (that is, life in Abu Dhabi) before I head back to London to see the children, talk at one of their career fairs and go to the Christmas market. A couple of weeks ago I was in our house in France for half term.
It is odd, being in a constant state of motion. Almost always arriving back from one place or preparing to go to another. While either side of me my husband is here and the children are there. But I’m not sure it’s such a bad state to be in. For example, I never now run out of Bendick’s Bittermints. And I am also never exposed to the English or French winter for longer than I can stand. There is also something quite lovely about arriving in three places you’re very happy in, there are people to see, things to eat and shops to be visited. The most exciting part of course is seeing the children, and if boarding school has done anything it has made us all appreciate seeing each other much more.
We have a lovely period ahead of us culminating with the children all coming back to Abu Dhabi for the first time since they went to boarding school. It will be fascinating to see what they think of it having been away for almost ten months. I can’t decide whether I want them to like it or not, because of course if they love it, I will wonder if it has all been worth it.
One effect of living in different places is that you are constantly weighing up one against the other, and trying to make sure you made the right decision. Which I guess is one thing you can never be sure of, even if at times you think you are.