02 June 09 PM

[Ring ring]
Me: *sigh* Hello Mum
Mum: Hello lovie, is this a bad time?
(Yes she calls me lovie, and she ALWAYS says "is this a bad time". And even if it is she carries on talking anyway)
Me: No, it's fine. I'm just walking home from work.
[Taxi honks to prove my point. Mum probably thinks I'm lying and just hanging out in the BBC sound Effects Dept]
Mum: Oh right. Did you get my message earlier?
(She called twice during working hours - once before lunch, and once after)
Me: No, we've been really busy at work.
(Plus I had to go out at lunch and buy shoes for tomorrow night. AND I was given a bollocking yesterday after being caught on the 'net - reading on the Guardian site about BNP nominees, nonetheless, but still on the 'net. So have been on super-best behaviour in our open plan office. Grrr, open plan offices.)
Mum: It's just that I've been trying to get hold of you
(Yes, yes, Dad's picking me up at 7 on Thursday. We have already discussed this several times)
Me: Yeah. Sorry. What's up?
Mum: It's just your Grandad's been taking into hospital. He fell over, we think he might have been unconscious for a couple of days..."

Sometimes where you are and what's going on around you don't seem so important.