Page 11 - link magazine

11
DAY IN THE LIFE
Jan Bates is a busy women, which vivid imagination and be able to
is an understatement. Apart from work on his/her own initiative.
keeping house and two young kids Must not mind being embarrassed
happy she runs a toy business with frequently in public or mopping

another mum, Chris Mayes. Here, up sick. Varied duties: clown,
she finds time to write for The teacher, cleaner, laundry person,
Link. gardener, nurse, walking encyc-
3.00 am: Distant wails of des- lopaedia. Salary: none, regardless
peration from 13 month old of qualifications or aptitude."
Anneliese's room. Groan. . . I Joke over, wipe away tears of
suppose she wants a breast feed. mirth, back to work. Will the

Console myself with thought that books ever balance?
Chris is probably doing the same 10.25 pm: Finished at last!
with Amy, also 13 months.
Discuss following day's sched-
5.00 am: Resounding 'thud'! Sit ule - toy party 1.00 pm, Kristian
up in bed, heart pounding furi- We decide to leave at 12.30 pm rounds in a mud wrestling con- and Sophie to birthday party 4.00
ously. "What on earth was that after the babies' lunch (cauli- test. Just have time to admire his pm, Chris to playgroup com-
darling?" An incomprehensible flower dessert), arrange for 'abstract' painting and ask how mittee meeting early evening.
series of grunts and snorts are Kristian to be collected from his day was before rustling up tea Oh yes - mustn't forget the cata-
emitted from hubby, Steve, as he school '.as we don't envisage for the children. logues, chopping boards, my
rolls over encasing himself in the returning home before 3.00 pm. 6.15 pm: Steve arrives home. ante-natal check-up and writing
entire duvet like a cocoon. Back to the morning's tasks. Over dinner our topics of con- that article for 'The Link'.
It's only 5 year old Kristian We both have 21/2 hours in which versation include who Kristian bit
falling out of bed. He carries on to fit in 4 hours worth of house-
we're having Spaghetti Bolognese SWIMMING
sleeping undisturbed on his bed- work, 2 hours of ironing, an or strangled at school and why
room floor. hour's gardening and an hour of for the third time this week.
6.00 am: Human alarm call from amusing the offspring - not to CLASSES
7.00 pm: Leave Steve to cope
Anneliese's room as she shakes mention the catalogues which
with the children's bed time while Asian Women who have not al-
her cot against the wall. Kick need pricing and the chopping
I go round to do book-keeping ready heard about the series of
hubby out of bed. boards to engrave for customers.
Kristian saunters into the bath- 9.30 am: Down to the awesome with Chris. swimming lessons at the New
room to say "Good morning" to task of cleaning the post-family 9.00 pm: Time for reviving drink. College Pool can still come along
me. bathroom which involves irritat- Jokingly invent a job description to any of the last four lessons on
"Ugh!" he says, wrinkling up ing little things like rubbing for a housewife/mother: 'Nanny/ Thursday afternoons in August.
his nose. "You look reeeeally toothpaste spots off the mirror child psychologist on a one-to-one Ring Sudha Avasthy on 641051
horrible without your makeup (why do men always grin at them- basii Experience not essential, for details of transport and
on mummy!" Children are so selves when they're cleaning their but the ideal candidate should creche.
honest - it does wonders for teeth?) have endless patience, energy, a
one's self-esteem. Anneliese awakes whilst I'm
8.00 am: Blow-dry Steve's hair attacking our bedroom. She de-
and wonder why he's wearing cides to 'help'. AFFORDABLE ELEGANCE
that awful shirt which has gone By 12.30 pm, 2 machine-loads
hard and 'crunchy' under the of washing are complete, house TO ENHANCE YOUR HOME
armpits. is immaculate, ironing basket HAND FINISHED
Steve leaves for work. Kristian almost empty and Anneliese fed
standing on head, totally naked. and content. Chris has achieved REPRODUCTON FURNITURE
8.50 am: Anneliese in pushchair the same in terms of quantity,
and trying to climb out. Kristian including scratching the 'black
still not dressed. stuf from the corners of the
8.55am: Leave for school. Georgian windows.
"Don't run! Take your finger Our hectic afternoon was not
out of there! Did you remember unlike trying to complete a 20
your books! Oh no! What have mile obstacle course in record
you trodden in now?. . time. During the car journey,
9.15 am: Back home. Time for Sophie had a mega-tantrum when l
Anneliese's sleep and to find out Anneliese invaded her piece of
what's on agenda. Must ring the seat and Amy was sick. The
Chris. leaflets we ordered 3 weeks
"Hi, it's only me" (we both earlier were still not ready and We have a large selection of quality
know who 'only me' is now). the new designs presented prob- Reproduction Furniture in Mahogany, Yew,
"Hang on, Jan - Sophie's tor- lems we hadn't anticipated. How- Walnut & Oak finishes, specialising in Solid
menting Amy". . . blood-curdling ever, the visit to the agent was Oak& Mahogany.
screams in background. Sound successful, so too was that to the
of 4 year old Sophie stomping supplier. Local Stockists for:
upstairs in disgrace. It can be soul-destroying - Reprodux, Strongbow, Jaycee, Old Charm,
We discuss whether to collect wearing a different 'hat' every Luptons, Pridry, Locks, You ngers, Wade,
our order from the supplier before hour of the day without constant Bridgecraft, Carleton, Grant & Bradley.
or after product-training a new pats on the back for achievement,
agent. Should we wait until after but today we both feela sense of
Kristian finishes school to deliver self-satisfaction in what we've
this month's goods to hostesses? accomplished. 52, Devizes Road, (Old Town), Swindon
And when can we fit in a trip to
Tel: 35658
the printer to collect our leaflets 4.30 pm: Collect Kristian from Swindon's Leading Reproduction Furniture Specialist
neighbours. Wonder why he
and brief him on the latest sta-
tionery designs? looks as though he's gone 10