There are some days when moving away from most of the family suddenly hits home. We’re not really that far away, but particular days do make me realise that the potential for help is not always right on my doorstep.

We’ve never really relied that much on support of others for child care. When the children were very little they went to nursery, and with the job being flexible, on days when they were ill or bad weather kept us at home, then I could usually adjust my plans and work at home or take them on some visits. When there was not a possibility for that to happen then granny would appear. It’s not so easy for granny to appear here and given the weather today I don’t think she will be making a journey to help out.

The panic has been rising this morning as I have a funeral that has me leave town to go elsewhere for the burial, and I’ve been watching out the window and watching Twitter, just in case we suddenly get a call to say school is closing. The forecast is for snow flurries for much of the day, and once I leave the house that’s it, I will no longer be able to answer the phone or organise something to happen should the youngest need to come home. Some days (at the moment it seems like most of them) just aren’t as flexible as they once were.