A minor rantette

Alicia has been on holiday for a week. When her mother told me they were going, I asked when they would be coming back.

"Probably on the Saturday of your birthday, but we should be able to drop her off on the way back"

Fast forward to yesterday. I had a text from Alicia wishing me a happy birthday and I sent one back saying I was looking forward to seeing her and that we were ordering from Pizza Hut for my birthday treat. A few minutes later Alicia called having had a massive row with her mother and her mother's boyfriend Matt about when she was being dropped off with the upshot that they weren't going to drop her off.

Hmmm. You do know I can't drive at the moment? Anyway, it's not a problem because Alicia can get the bus or Jan can pick her up. Why the need for a row rather than just saying that Matt didn't feel like driving over to our house ?

Anyway, later on we've been out to Meadowhall spending some money and at four o'clock Alicia calls to say that she's back and can we pick her up? It's a bit out of our way, but not a major problem. When we get there, Alicia's mum is obviously in a bad mood and starts to have a go at me about taking Alicia to the dentist on Monday. Not, "Happy Birthday" or "How's your leg?" but how I only like the nice side of parenting. I didn't feel like arguing, but she forgets that I've got Jamie to look after as well, I was the one who ferried Alicia back and forth for six years before they got a car, and actually I took Alicia to the dental hospital for her last appointment and took time off work to do it as well.

She really does make a profession out of being spiteful for the sake of it.