The most incredible day for the Watsons but.... (16th August 2012)

It was the day that the Watson family had been looking forward to for a very long time.  It was not only the day Georgina would receive her A level results and confirmation that she had in fact got her place at Cardiff University.  It was also the day she would start inter-railing around Europe with her friends.  Even more than this Joe would receive his A/S level results allowing Caroline and I to really gauge how far he had advanced.  A big day for the family.  We were looking forward to 16th August.



However, since Caroline's passing in July it was the first occasion that I anticipated with dread.  Even if everything turned out positive I knew it would there would be a feeling of bittersweet.  

Georgina was heading off across Europe at an early hour so I would be left to sort out exam results and confirmation of university place and accommodation. Caroline had been dealing with Georgina all the way through the UCAS process and all that mother daughter stuff that goes on without any knowledge on my part.  It was the next milestone in my journey of adaptation to being a single parent family and my domestication.



The day didn't start too well.  Georgina had missed her alarm for 3am and burst into my room at 4am "my alarm hasn't gone off, what am I going to do about my hair? I haven't got time!  What am I going to do?"


I couldn't help but think this would have never happened under Caroline's regime.
"What do you want to do?" I replied helpfully.


"I want to do my hair but I haven't got time" was the sharp riposte.

"Well actually you have quite a lot of time until the plane takes off at 7:10.  Just text your friends and let them know we're going to be 20 minutes later".


"20 minutes!  I need at least 30 minutes!".


What do I know about girls’ hair?  What do i know about hair?



Eventually we were on our way picking up her 3 friends en-route.  There was a lot of excitement in the car, I couldn't believe that these young women had grown up so much and were venturing so far.  It only seemed like yesterday when Caroline and I had taken them to Alfas, Spain and allowing them to buy drinks in some bars in Benidorm one evening.  Wow. How times were changing.  Georgina was additionally hyper as she was giving me instructions on how to log into the UCAS and Cardiff University websites.  She just couldn't wait to receive those exam results.

 

We reached Bristol Airport in plenty of time despite the earlier panics and last minute organisation.  They were flying to Nice to start their first leg of the expedition.  I felt excited for them, looking at Georgina she had matured so much in the past two years.  Caroline and i were, are, so proud of her.  I gave her a great big hug and waved her off.  As I drove off a wave of emotion surged over me.  I burst into tears.  I felt helpless.  I felt as though my family was breaking up in front of my eyes and there was nothing I could do.  



The alarm woke me at 7:30.  I had managed to grab a couple of hour’s kip since the airport run.  It was now time to make the short journey to the school.  When I arrived there was already a queue of nervously waiting students outside the sports hall, all of them chatting with anxiety and anticipation of what this all meant.  Some were getting notification from University of their places using their smartphones.  Tears and hugs were being dished out.  The doors finally opened and the excitement was  tangible.

  Very soon I was at the front of the queue.


"Georgina Watson" I said as I handed over my authorisation letter to the teacher.


I noticed briefly that Joe’s envelope was in the same box.  I was tempted to ask for his results, however, I was under strict instructions not to collect them as he wanted to do it privately.
  The teacher handed Georgina's results.  I opened the envelope.  I looked down.  
Maths B. Psychology A. Chemistry, the big one, A.  She had done it. 2As and a B.  She had met the entry requirements of Cardiff University to read Chemistry.  This was one of the most amazing moment in my family and here I was alone.

I sat in the car texting Georgina.  I could barely see the screen on my phone as tears had properly taken hold.  I was crying my heart out.

I managed to get home.  Joe then turned up in the kitchen to tell me he was off to make his way to the school to meet his mates. I wished him good luck and off he went. 

I sat in the living room looking out to the garden in a daze. I told myself "sort yourself out and to let others know of Georgina achievements".

  Once I had spoken to my mother and text close family and friends the phone rang.  It was Georgina. She was delighted with her results. She had also received a text from her cousin Charlotte informing her that she had done enough to get a place at Cardiff University too.  Double celebration!  



Within minutes I received a text minute from my son Joe.  It read as follows "got an A in Media Studies. This is awesome.  I got Ds in the others which are passes so don't kill me".


Kill him?  It couldn't be further from what I was feeling, I was so proud.  I couldn't help thinking "where is his mother?". She would be so pleased and proud and would be crying her eyes out - I would have to be the strong one.  Instead I was a mess.  Just so proud but missing Caroline so much.  

I called Joe.

"Joe I am so proud well done mate".
"Really? ". He was obviously surprised by my reaction. 
"Of course the results are brilliant.  The A is phenomenal and in the right subject for University.  And I know you have it in you to turn those Ds into Bs and Cs. Brilliant.  A good day for the Watson’s".


"Cheers Dad.  I'm off with my mates now. See you later".


"Ok son. Love you".


"Love you too Dad".



Wow what a day and it was not even 10 o'clock.  Better make some calls and send more texts to let everyone know how Joe had done.  Also call Teri to give my congratulations on cousin’s Charlotte’s results.  Teri had offered to take Georgina to Ikea to do their university shopping.

  Teri and I were in bits. Both crying down the phone agreeing on how Caroline would have loved today.

It was just a constant thought that would not go away.  

I tried to enter the Cardiff University page but it was under extreme pressure using the opportunity for another well-timed cup of Earl Grey.  I took a moment to chill for a minute, sort myself out and read the congratulatory text message replies I had received.  I was so proud but so frustrated.   There was quite a backlog.

  As I worked through them I couldn't help but notice one from Amanda P.  I hadn't expected it but she was always asking how the kids were doing as she had had a similar experience to them in her own early age. 

Her text read  
"We've [the lottery syndicate] have won £13000 each x".
  My head exploded.  I couldn't help but think back to the time our numbers had come up 12 years ago but we didn't do it on Wednesday!  I needed more information


"Mandy its Paul.  What do you mean we won the lottery?  Have you typed in too many naughts?"


"No"


"If you tell me we still don't do it on a Wednesday or it's a wind up I will kill you"


"It's true. Have you seen Viv's email?"


"No! I will call you back"


As much as I trusted Mandy I had to be sure.
I logged into Hotmail. Sure enough I had received an email from Viv which had a as subject "WIN!!!

It went on to instruct you to open the attachment.  I duly carried out these instructions to find the online notification from Camelot that we had 4 numbers on one line winning £77 and 5 numbers and the bonus on another winning £133,617


"Fuck me it was true". I was just dancing around the house. £13000.  Fuck me!  Again I couldn't help but think that Caroline would be bursting by this point.  This was the best and worst day of my life.  Caroline was the eternal optimist.  She liked getting a Lucky Dip from time to time because "you have to be init to win it Paul".
  All the time we were together she would do "spot the ball", the Grand National".  Where was she? This world is so cruel. One more month and she would have experienced all of this.



I called Mandy, I could hardly talk.  She was crying.  Mandy absolutely adored Caroline. I had to cut the call short. This was an amazing day. I emailed Viv telling her well done. By this time the other syndicate members were sending their own expletives.  Incredible. This was the "Finance Team" lottery syndicate and it couldn't have happened to nicer people

.  I quickly made my mind up that I would take the people who had supported Caroline, me and the kids over the past 18 months out for dinner as a "thank you". I then began to call them individually to let them know the news.

The first one to get the news was Georgina who by now had settled nicely in Nice.


"Hi Dad"


"George are you sat down?",


"Yes. What's up?"


"Well I want you to take your friends out tonight into Nice.  Buy them a really nice meal and have some drinks. I will pay"

"Why?" she asked inquisitively,


"Cos I have gone and won the bloody lottery"


“Oh my god” Georgina screamed down the phone. Georgina went mental. “I love you dad, I love you!"



After letting everyone know my good fortune I was emotionally drained. I couldn't stop crying.  The kids had made me a really proud parent and I won the bloody lottery. Today would have been the best day ever but how could it be?  Caroline wasn't here to share the Watson's good fortune.  Perhaps she was "upstairs" pulling the strings and pressing the buttons.  I am sure Caroline is looking after us!