But you could have been...

I swear I'm continuing my slow and gradual transformation into my mother. I had to go into work today and so left my sister, Claire. and niece, Brianna (who's 4 years old today), to their own devices, giving them as much advice as I could on how to get to the destinations they wanted to see (Hyde park, Harrods and The National Gallery). They already had my mobile number, but I gave them my work number just in case and told them to call me if they were having difficulties finding anything. For those of you who have ever questioned my sense of direction, I have to point out that Claire's is noticeably worse. On this basis you can understand my trepidation at sending them out to navigate the seething streets of London.

The morning ambled by, and as I hadn't heard anything from them, I thought I'd call and check how things were going. Except, when I called I got nothing more than a message telling me that the number was not available. The most likely explanation, I surmised, was that they were on the underground, somewhere out of the reach of mobile phones (this is normally a blessing, as I'm sure all those of you who have ever sat next to someone talking on a mobile phone will testify). I called back 15 minutes later and received the same message. And 15 minutes after that. In fact, at regular 15 minutes throughout the day I was informed that the number was unavailable. I knew that the most likely explanation for this was that the battery on Claire's phone was running low, and that she'd turned it off to conserve power for when she needed it, but I was struggling to prevent my imagination from running riot. My mother, for those of you who haven't met her, is something of a worrier. This most often manifested itself whenever anyone turned up late, particularly at night, by her uttering the now immortal phrase "You could have been dead in a ditch somewhere!". It's the sort of expression which eventually takes on unintended comedic value through overuse, and I'm sure we've gently mocked her about it over the years. Still, I knew exactly how she felt today.

I'd arranged to meet Claire back at my flat at 6pm, which I'd hoped would give us just about enough time quickly get something to eat before dashing onwards to the airport, where I could see them safely off. That left me with little recourse until, finally, the appointed hour came... with no Claire and Brianna in sight. Fortunately, just as my overactive imagination was about to kick into an even higher gear, I received a call from Claire, who had indeed turned her phone off (I knew it!), and who'd manage to find herself in Islington. Islington of all places! A borough noted for it's complete lack of proximity to my flat (North London as opposed to my cosy West corner). Claire was quite adamant that she was heading back to my flat when she found herself in Islington, but looking at the maps I really can't see how. I've never even been Islington, that's how far out of my way it is! Like I said, worse sense of direction than me :) But, we all finally managed to find ourselves in the same place at the same time, and began one final mad cap scamper to the airport, which, after a weekend of running around, was not the leisurely end to their break I'd anticipated. But safe they were and safely I saw them off. Mission accomplished. Take a deep breath. Count to 10. And... relax. Much better.

Siblings, who'd have them?