Yesterday was a lovely day - warm, sunny, a cool breeze. Today was the same so Simon and I went for a walk in Hyde Park. We weren't the only ones with this idea - there were plenty of other people around, walking their dogs, playing frisbee, sunbathing, juggling, playing football and so on. We sat down and watched all the pretty people pass us by, wearing limited amounts of clothes. I took some pictures of the park, and of the flowers which are growing, The lavender is in bloom now, so no doubt the bluebells will follow soon, if they're not already out elsewhere. There's still plenty of daffodils to be seen, I thought they would have all died off by now. The tulips are also out, and the willow trees are displaying their leaves, though very few other trees have leaves yet. I must make an effort to spend lots of time in the park this summer, it's a great place, and there's plenty of eye candy!
We walked down through the Leeds uni campus. Simon showed me around a bit, as he knows the campus quite well due to having fit blinds in most of the buildings. We were sitting by
a waterfall with a traffic cone in it when my mum rang. She was at my house and wanted to know why I wasn't there. She'd decided to pay me a surprise visit on her way into Leeds. I arranged to meet her in town, as time was getting on and Simon would be wanting to go home soon. He did leave fairly soon after that and I eventually met up with her in Alders. We shopped around for a while, she bought a skirt and silk scarf in Jigsaw, and I got told off for photographing in there. I couldn't help it, their building is just so gorgeous. As we were walking around she was telling me about how she's getting more and more frustrated with her marriage, how my dad always seems to check up on her and demand to know where she always is, and how she's determined to not put up with it for much longer. She said she's going to go see her solicitor tomorrow, to discuss what she would have financially if she was to leave my dad. It came as a bit of a shock. I know things aren't all wonderful between them, and that my mum has left and come back a few times. But for it to be a reality, to be tangible, it's not something I've experienced before. I can understand her reasons for wanting to leave, and I thoroughly back her in it. I have previously suggested to her trying to slowly change my dad's habits, but she says he's too old and stuck in his ways for that to work. I believe she's planning on moving into her mother's house. She said she was going to give the tenants a month's notice tomorrow. I can't see my dad taking this very well. He says he feels lonely as it is, but my mum says he's brought it on himself. I expect him to try and buy my favour somehow, and demand affection, and then to get annoyed when I refuse to play along. That's how things have always gone. Somewhat selfishly, I know, I asked my mum how this would all affect her promise to help me financially through university and she says she'll still help me. She's not planning on giving up work, apparently, and also, between her and my dad, they own three houses and a business, so money shouldn't be an issue. I just don't know how to take all this. I suspect things are going to be rather strange for a while.
17:17
