As it is near impossible to get a daycare spot for a one year old, and as my husband’s work schedule is unpredictable, we’ve got someone who takes care of our daughter when we need her to. When she’s available.
When she’s not… there’s a neighbour who offers childcare but sometimes has to run to the city for various things or cut the day short for whatever reason. And there’s also this great neighbour that can step in for a short time if the day has to be cut short.
This Tuesday, it was the second scenario. But a friend was stuck waiting in Horseshoe Bay for a late ferry so I headed to Crippen Park to grab the bigger kid and her kid until she was able to make it back to Bowen.
I should also mention my car was in the shop, I had to work around the bus schedule in the morning to get the big kid to pre-school. If we missed the bus, I suppose we could’ve hitchhiked (as I am known to do) but that feels a little strange with my kid in tow.
After meeting them in Crippen park and walking back up to my office to grab my camera, the two four year-olds and I dawdled down Miller Road together so I could get a photo of Graham Ritchie and Co. at the land that will one day be duplexes and Snug Cove House. The kids enjoyed a close-up look at the machinery and I let them take pictures.
So, on the day I am supposed to get all of my copy in to the layout people, I hit the walls of inadequate childcare, the challenge of being car-less on a car-dependent island, and the perpetual unpredictability of ferries.
But it’s all fine as long as the kids are happy and the paper gets to press, which it always has before, so it will again. I only mention it so you know that I too, am living this Bowen dream.
And if you want some really good news, know this: Céline and Thierry from Rustique found a proper home to move into in May, and one they can actually afford.
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