Under Pressure

What is it with all the pressure?

I have been attached to my significant other for almost 8 years now. It was a whirl wind romance and we moved into a shabby love nest together after only a few weeks of ....I'll be polite and use the "dating". People told us it would never last. We were too young. Too volatile. Too impetuous.

In 2003 we bought or first home together. People started to come around.

Since 2003 we have been bombarded with the pressure.

So "when do I get to buy a new hat?" my Grandmother will say. "Hello Daughter" as Darren's dad addresses me - "When do we get a day out?". Where's my grandchild?" my mother demands to know.

My three younger sisters have it all planned out. They know who will be chief bridesmaid, who will be God Mother and who our first child will be named after. I think they may even have a venue booked.

My sister B was discussing the issue of Aunty-hood with work colleagues recently and regaled me with her conversation.

B's Colleague: So, I became an uncle at the weekend. B do you have any nephews or nieces?
B: No, my older sister is too mean to have a baby.

I would resent that comment if it weren't true.