note to self...

dear me,

next time you go overseas for six months and consequently miss your mothers birthday AND christmas... do not work all day on mothers day once returned!
failing that, do not under any circumstances allow mother to find out that you were not ORIGINALLY rostered on said day and happened to be working because you AGREED to do someone else a favour.

oh, and if you ask her 'what's wrong' and the reply is 'i just feel a bit down', it may not be the wisest thing to say 'go play with your new vacuum cleaner'... it will not unleash the excitement you thought it would - even if it was her eagerly awaited gift of choice.

yours faithfully
the part of you that should have known better - but clearly didn't.