To you…..To me….

See? This is the problem when I only do a Blog every so often. Can’t remember what we’ve been doing………

Anyway, I’ll have a go.

Saturday: There had been a plan to go open water swimming in the morning, but….. of course, I’d enjoyed some lovely bubbly Prosecco on Friday night, hadn’t I? Thought it best not to go swimming early on Saturday just in case. So I didn’t. And that then set the tone for the day. Not doing much at all! Drifted through the day…… John managed a lot of snoozing in his chair. I managed a bit of tinkering round the house. Andrew kept us company.

Sunday: “D’ya wanna come for food” we asked the Kenilworth Newbies, “and eat in our new dining room?” They said ‘Yes’. Regrettably for us but fortunately for them, whichever way you want to look at it, the Kenilworth Originals were still on their holidays on the other side of the world, so they weren’t going to make it. They were still enjoying themselves and trying out new skills…..

Trying to ignore the thrills on the other side of the world, Andrew and I went to Oakes’ to buy some lovely food. Andrew then banished me from the kitchen to set about magicking up the most flavoursome beef roast. Oh, wow! I’d love to be able to cook like that. I mean, this isn’t ordinary food; this is Andrew’s food. So good, that I can’t even describe it…..it was absolutely delicious!!! D’you know what? I reckon that boy could make a career out of cooking! Hehehe!

After we’d eaten, I allowed myself to be commandeered by the children. I love it. “C’mon, Grandma! Let’s go to the space ship!” exclaimed William. “C’mon! Let’s go!” re-iterated Thomas in less intelligible terms. So we mounted the wooden hill and made our way to what-I-call-The-Harry-Potter-Cupboard, which is now ‘The Space Ship’.

We fiddled with a few buttons, pressed a few knobs and swooshed into orbit, right across Mars (the landing) into the other space ship (in the main guest bedroom), where we giggled ourselves into position. “Get in, Grandma!” said Thomas. “Quick!” said William, “The Aliens are coming!” (That would be Mummy, who loomed large at the window and grinned at the boys enjoying themselves.) Oh, gosh. We so enjoyed ourselves that William didn’t want to go home. Note to self: must learn to wind us all down at the end of the day….. having far too much fun!

Monday: Oh, crikey! It’s a while since I dropped in to see how Mum is getting on. I thought I ought to see her, so drove over today. Ha! She is, naturally, on top form. She even recognised family members in the photo-show.

“Now, I remember him from his auburn hair!” she proudly proclaimed. Wasn’t sure of his name, or relationship, but knew she knew him! That’d be Paul, then? “Ahhhh…..” she cooed, on seeing a photo of John, “Now, I know him!” Not sure of the name….or who he belongs to, but: “He looks nice, doesn’t he?” I had to agree. He is my husband, after all.

And then we sat silent, as Mum sipped her tea and nibbled her biscuits. She, with her thoughts; and me, with mine. Hers soon led her to hum ‘Que sera, sera’; mine led me to days gone by, remembering when she was a force to be reckoned with. Now, we were just two close relatives, comfortable in each other’s company and no words needed. Gone were the tussles, slights and affronts. Gone were the criticisms, said and unsaid. Just a grateful acceptance of companionship. Praise the Lord.

Once home, I remembered that John had offered to help move Michael’s shed. Other proposed times having come and gone, today had been allocated. “We’re going round to Michael’s about 3,” said Andrew. Yes, John confirmed. So muscles and brains had been booked and ready to help shift the shed.

It was marvellous. John mostly provided the brains; Michael and Andrew mostly provided the muscles. But boy! It was fun! There was a lot of: ‘To you….to me…..no, this a-way!…no, that a-way!… watch out!… mind your toes….’ Even the children joined in ‘moving’ their own shed. And I haven’t seen John so happy for a while.

Family life, eh? Love it! And can’t wait to see the Kenilworth Originals now that they are back home!

Take care everyone. God bless.

And, in case you were wondering…… Susie Dent’s Word of the Day is: ‘Zugzwang‘ [tzoog-tzwung]: a situation in chess (and life) in which a move must be made, but each possible one will make the situation worse.

Boom! What is she talking about?