Sunday, March 29, 2009

Sowing and reaping

This Friday Charlie and I and three Mums from our NCT class went to the National Army Museum. Apart from the big guns out front for climbing on I couldn’t actually tell you what’s in there as we just made a beeline for the free play area and dug in for the morning.

After we'd stuffed our little wonders full of lunch however the move was on to go to Battersea Park, which is on the other side of the river. Personally, I was gunning to take the spud home for a nap but my rubber arm was twisted in the way that in a past life would end up with me getting very drunk and losing a shoe but these days means I end up walking until my son is rigid with the need to run and then touring public loos while he has a series of ever looser movements in his trousers.

I'm sure at one point I must have planned this change in my life but some days I am buggered to know why.

By the time I had cleaned him up with the last of my wipes and stuffed him into the last of his clean trousers I was desperate to go home however it turned out I was not only miles from the nearest tube station but also miles from the nearest bus home.

Despite being only a 20-minute drive it took me an hour and a half to get home. I walked most of the way, some of it in tears, all of it swearing and most of it, thankfully, with my little boy snoozing angelically in his stroller.

I relate this story primarily as an example of karmic come-uppance. The day before I had been talking to one of the Mums in our street who had a new stroller. Turns out she had binned the last one after a very long day in which, she had travelled to two separate towns outside of London and had a final obligation in Camden. She walked miles to the Victoria line only to find it was closed and then had to walk miles back, pushing her ever-tetchier toddler around and carrying heavy bags. She finally got to the nearest station to home only to have the front wheel of her pram snap off in the street. As she lifted her son out she discovered he had pooed all up his back and she had no clean clothes. Luckily she found an understanding taxi driver. I was naturally appalled at this story however not enough to stop myself thinking about what wonderful blog material it would make. I am certain therefore that whichever mischievous Godlet it is who watches over those of us here in the Great Land of Blog had heard me and granted my wish at the earliest opportunity.

Consider me penitent.

16 comments:

Helen + ilana = Hi said...

hence the saying....Be Careful What You Wish For, eh!

I once went to the mall with 2 sleepy boys in a double wide stroller in the snow ..... and lost a wheel just far enough away to start my waterworks.....

ah the things you remember and wish you could forget

Where's Alzheimer's when you really need it?

Michelle said...

Then I need not laugh too hard lest the karma wander on over in my direction!

Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings said...

Oh no! I have gotten myself caught this way too! Sometimes we just "ask for it" I guess.

I'm glad you were able to get home OK even with everything else.

I agree with Michelle...anyone of us could be next!

Anonymous said...

Gah! I hate those days! I poo my own pants on those days. Those days make me swear to never leave our burrough again.

cactus petunia said...

Thank Godlet for blogs, otherwise we'd be full up with all that karmic come-uppance, and no clean clothes, too!

lady macleod said...

Spud is a never ending source of good material no? I can't write until I stop laughing.. sorry... been there... oh my!

Anonymous said...

Ahh, been there too. It's exhausting! We've had some great days out in London but so much lre would get done without a child in tow, but then it wouldn't be quite the same, and there'd be nothing to blog about. At least they only go through the messy toileting stage once!

Jen said...

I am too afraid to comment.

cynthia said...

I've been stalking your blog in silence for a bit now. Every time I try to leave a comment, I get pulled away, so I'm making this quick: Love your stuff. Your spud chronicles make me almost pee my pants everytime I visit, including this post.

Maternal Tales said...

I feel for you. Am very impressed you had a change of clothes for Spud though - it could have been worse?!!

Rob Clack said...

I just love schadenfreude! Thank you for telling us about this!

Helen said...

There are days when I also wonder why the heck I planned to disrupt my easy peaceful life to have kids. And I'm just waiting for the wheels to snap off on my stroller next week when we visit the grandparents out in the middle of nowhere.

Hope you eventually recover!

Sparx said...

Helen... ohhh... so these things stay with you for years... so much for mummy brain forgetting things!

Michelle - best not!

Jonny's Mommy - now I feel guilty for posting this!

Jennie - exactly so... I don't want to go anywhere for ages now!

Cactus - yes indeed - if only my blog could do my laundry...

Lady M - he is indeed. Is that bad??

Rosie = oh I do hope so!

Jen - I'm sorry!

SAHM I am - thanks! I love your blog name, by the way. I think I said that before...

Maternal Tales - yes, learning curve on that one. I take practically everything he owns...

Rob - bless you... I worry about the stuff meself...

Helen - if they do, I heartily apologise...

Helen said...

LOL! Not your fault if the wheels on my stroller snap off. That's just how rough the ground is out there! Don't worry, you haven't passed on your curse ;)

Sparx said...

Helen - lordy, I hope not!!

DJ Kirkby said...

Oh dear...I would laugh if only I hadn't experienced this very same thing :( xo