Our daughter started back at school last week ... and her dad and I played hookie; mitched; played truant – whatever you like to call it when you really ought to be at work or school but decide to go off piste.
It
was a date. And all the better for being a little bit naughty and
unexpected. Since her very first day at her very first school, “Dad”
has taken the morning off work to walk the daughter in to school - a
family ritual to start the school year. He holds her hand all the way,
gives her sound advice, a big kiss and sends her off. This year, as she
is 16, he compromised on the hand-holding bit and let go at the
corner. She scooted in before the kiss but ran back out again, a sucker
for tradition, and grumpily proffered her cheek when no one was
looking.
And there we were.All dressed up at 8.30 am with nowhere to be in a hurry. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. So off we scooted to breakfast at St. Paul’s while harried city folk rushed into overheated offices. We sauntered over the bridge to Tate Modern, caught a couple of exhibitions early, beating all the crowds and, as a really special treat, took the River Bus Tate-to-Tate, to catch the Lowry at Tate Britain.
We were all done by lunchtime, the husband set off to meetings feeling virtuous, cultured, daring and relaxed. I totally recommend it. The date part and the boat along the river which allows you to avoid all that messy business on the underground until you have to rejoin the real world and really get back to work. Have a look at the current FOCUS magazine for many more ways to travel by river.
In fact, it was such a success that I am considering starting a new tradition in our family. A monthly date. I might have to work on getting the daughter to agree to the hand-holding into school though. She will be 17 in November...
Written by Jan Winter
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