Family

Oh the joy of family* gatherings! Repeating the same story of what you have been up to, explaining why your husband could not make it and of course drinking too much alcohol. You would have been fine had it not been for those last 2 glasses of wine (evil wine) and the lack of food that day. Then the next day paranoia wondering if you are getting stares of recrimination, looks followed by a "tut, tut". Desperately trying to fill in those small patches of blank from the night before, to ensure that you had not said or done anything too awful.

Alcohol is bad around family, your tongue becomes too loose and when you have lost time, you just hope your mixed up speech and sudden confidence doesn't lead you astray.


Then there is the 9.30am call for a family photo the next day, you feel sick but still drag yourself out of bed (which is a really bad idea) to stand rather shaken under the heat of the sun. Half way through you realise this was a really bad idea and worry that the contents of the night before may end up on some unsuspecting cousin thus exasserbating the situation. You feel light headed and make a dash for the bushes - even more paranoia - is there further recrimination. Won't someone please send me home or rewind the clock.

Alas no.

And now you sit on a plane replaying the weekend, head in hand and sigh wondering if you can go ten years without seeing them again and hope that that is enough time for them all to have forgot.



*family being immediate and extended.