Don’t you love it when an annoying situation turns out to lead you into something really good? I was running on time for a nurse’s appointment on Monday – on time, but no margin for error, and two children in tow. My plan to park in the 30-minute free spot did not work out as no spaces were free. I had no change for the parking metre in the main car park. You *can* pay by mobile phone, but the system takes for ever to work through. Oh no!
So Snow White and I sprinted to the nearest place that sold ANYTHING so we could get change, pay for a ticket and display it and still make it to the surgery on time (I feel so rude when I’m late for appointments!), pushing Bluebird in the buggy as he chanted “quiiiick, quiiiick!” The nearest place turned out to be a stall selling flowers – we got a whole bucket for £3, as that’s the way they do them. Of course, these flowers are old and tired and start dropping petals even as the guy wraps them up. I start thinking how absolutely annoying it is that I have not only had to buy something I didn’t want, but that it’s poor quality and of no use to me.
But then I realised that I could look on it as an opportunity. If I cut the stems down a bit and put the flowers out in Snow White’s mud kitchen, she could play florist. After all, how often does she get the chance to play with real flowers (rather than daisies and dandelions!) and it not matter what becomes of them? Our garden is a bit of a work in progress and flowers are never so abundant that I encourage picking.
So a few pots and bottles, a bucket of water, her little scissors, and she was away! As for Bluebird, just supply him with some water in the garden and he’s happy as can be – and so am I as long as I remember his waterproof dungarees and wellies!












