My youngest daughter has just returned to work full time after having her baby. So now I have become a full time baby sitter which so far I am enjoying every minute. It is so different now then when I was at home bringing up my three daughters. My daughter brings little Joe in the early morning and the day starts even though I have got my doggies they mustn't be neglected so I take two doggies plus baby in pram for all their walks all kinds of people stop us on our travels and they look into the pram and pass the time of day which has never happened before when I have taken doggies for walks. I went to baby clinic yesterday for the first time to have Joe weighed I open the door of the clinic thinking that I was going to see a ring of chairs with mums sitting around chatting to one another happily and the weighing machine in the middle of the room. But what a surprise was in store for me there was three mums with their babies sitting on chairs that was just put carelessly around the room and I had to pick a card with a number on it from the desk the weighing machine was put at the side of the room and the walls were just plain no pictures of famous nursery rhymes it just did not look like a babies clinic The atmosphere was very cold not like the days when sitting in a circle you could chat to the other mums and pass on advice to one another I used to always enjoy baby clinic day once a week where all my friends would meet up with me. There was always a photographer there out side the clinic in Albany Rd taking photos of new babies entering the clinic. (The building is now being used for Age Concern) At the moment all little Joe wants to do is sleep, enjoys his feeds and leaves me a few dirty nappies. But to see that lovely little smile he has started to give me makes it all seem that worthwhile. First thing in the morning is my special time before baby arrivals for the day and when little Joe goes home in the late afternoon this is my quiet hour. When I came across these two poems in a book the other day I just thought how true they are especially to me and to anyone that I imagine leads a busy life.

The Special Hours, this quite hour
I love the early morning, daytime draws towards its close
When everything is still, shadows steal across the sky;
When every hour belongs to me, dusk now gathers in its cloak
And I do as I will, soft, lilac mists and night owls cry.
A fragrance lingers in the air,
These special hours are precious, enhanced by breezes on their way;
For they are just for me and in our thoughts to God we add
To take and use them for myself, our thanks for such a perfect day.
To create and be free.

The waking day surrounds me,
and folds me in calm wings,
and gives me all the strength I need,
To face what each day brings.

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Last Updated: 6th NOVEMBER 2005

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