26th February 2007
Massive decisions hang in the air today. We are so very worried about our son and his school. Do we go and pick him up? Do we watch and wait? Last night's powerful drama (BBC 1 Recovery) starring David Tennant was a timely reminder of the implications of brain abnormality - and how easy it is to misunderstand or even demonise the person who has different mental processes. We are deciding, but we haven't made a final decision yet. We agree about what we don't want to happen. We just can't yet see how to work things through fully. Whatever. The decision will be emotionally costly for us all. My husband will talk to the professionals and see if between them they can reframe; discover some way through our son's difficulties; some way forward that we can have confidence in.
I have had some brilliant news from one of the publishers I sent a manuscript to a while back. It was a sample section from a novel I have begun to work up. The publisher was incredibly encouraging. She was positive, even if she can't publish. I am following up her leads - and suddenly feel hopeful about one day realising the dream of seeing a full length creative piece published.
We have been doing some of the practical preparations for a busier time later in the Spring when The Sanctuary will become more actively used. I have been painting the cloakroom. I am not brilliant at DIY - but I find painting and decorating quite relaxing. My mind seems to calm and find a more relaxed rhythm when there's a wall to cover. I love seeing a room transform - even if it is the loo (now changed from a very pale blue to burgundy). The next job will be to take out the Utility Room units and redecorate this space. This will tidy up an area which tends to suffer quite a lot of 'abuse' with a house full of dogs, mud and recently a leak! I haven't tiled for years - so my next test will be to see if I can tile without resorting to some language unbecoming a Clerk in Holy Orders.
I am reading for the spirituality and children with psychiatric difficulties manuscript I am working on at present. I'm ploughing my way through a heavy tome about Promoting Emotional Well-being. It raises some fascinating issues about how health and social work professionals prevent mental ill health.
For fun, I am learning new songs for Lent. Old songs - but new to me - from The Courage to Say No - created by John Bell and Graham Maule from the Iona Community. I love them. They speak to the realities of our life at the moment - certainly.
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