February 1st, 2012 (evening)

Mary and Charles' home in Uppercross

Oh I am so exhausted. After finishing up at Kellynch (I avoided the Crofts by about five minutes), I headed up to Mary and Charles' home. Of course, being the charming hypochondriac that she is, I was pestered about arriving so late in the day (it wasn't even lunch time yet..) and why it had taken me so long to get here.

To be honest I'd much rather this overwhelming 'Anne I need you' than what I get with dad and Liz… plus the two little boys are quite cute and Mary's lessened her usual 'I'm so ill' tirade now that she's nearing her due date.

The two little boys are one (Mark) and two and a half (Ryan). Ryan is the most hyper child I have ever met, but since he's cute that make's it all okay. Mark is currently teething, and Mary handed him to me almost as soon as I walked in the door, telling me that he needed an ice lolly whilst she cleaned up a mess that Ryan had caused in the living room.

Mark looked at me as I cuddled him, his blue eyes tearing up because of the pain. Poor kid. But once he's given an ice lolly and had the tears wiped up, he's no longer quite as upset. Instead he chose to slam his little head into my shoulder and stay there.

It turned out that Ryan, in all his toddler glory had managed to open the pantry, find the container of flour, and spill it everywhere.

He was sitting on the couch whimpering because he had just been scolded by Mary. I saw how far the flour had been spread, that telling off was justified.

But now the kids have gone to bed, Charles has consoled his wife over the mess and the fact he wasn't there to help clean up (I was, however, and since Mary's baby bump won't allow her to reach, bend or squat an any way, I handed back Mark to her and cleaned it up myself)

The best thing about Mary is that no matter how foul a mood she's in, or how ill she thinks she is, I can always seem to make her better by just being around. It's the only thing I've ever really succeeded at with my family, makes me feel needed.

She keeps telling me I should move in with them and become the kids' nanny (NO.) and that I could end up home schooling them (NO.) because they love having me around and always behave better for me (okay this one may be true, but NO.)

See, despite the fact that I do love them all, Ryan, Mark, Charles and Mary.. Constantly around, all the time. Will drive me insane.

They're just this happy little unit of a family, greatly supported by Charles' parents (Mr and Mrs Musgrove) and sisters (Lucy and Hannah, twins and 21). They live just up the road from here, and are always over visiting, making a fuss over Mary and the boys. I do love being around them, but it's that 'happy family unit that is so darn perfect it makes single people want to cry' kind of issue that I have with prolonged visits.

Mary has all the things in life I really want, but was stupid enough to throw away when I had the chance.

The Musgrove's invited us for dinner tonight since it had been 'far too long' since they had seen me, and they wanted to hear the latest news from my side of the family… not that there was anything of value to tell…

But as it turns out (can't you just here my bad luck laughing at me?), Mr Musgrove was also once an engineer, and knows Adrian Croft from his days of being in the industry. AND is quite eager to be reacquainted with him, since he hasn't seen him in a few years since he retired.

So, by the looks of things, no matter how I try to avoid all contact with the family of the man whom I still love, they're going to find me anyways.

Screw you universe. Really, you suck!