Last Friday, it was barbecue time at my house for Pete & Dawn, Alison & Peter and Sally & Leigh. The occasion was a celebration of Alison’s few-weeks-past 70th birthday, and Dawn’s three-days-away birthday. Although tired, I was looking forward to it and it all turned out very nicely. The sun shone and company was lovely. What I hadn’t bargained for though, was a bit of a wobble.
I’d had one or two barbecues in recent weeks with the family when Paul did the cooking, so I thought I was all set. However, as I put out all the chairs, cushions and tables, then set up the barbecue itself, it dawned on me that I’d be doing John’s job – overseeing the burning of the meat! Hmm…… “Do you want a hug?” asked Alison, when she arrived. “Yes, please.” I replied. That helped, along with the fact the Peter Sharkey took over the cooking, so the wobble was over.
It was a very warm day last Friday, so we took ourselves to all the shady areas of the garden to try and keep cool. The parasols made a little bit of a difference at the patio table but, while most of us enjoyed the warmth and the sunshine, it didn’t suit Dawn awfully well. After the dessert, Dawn went home to rest in the cool of her house – after which I belatedly remembered to take photos of everyone. Ah well, next time I’ll get everyone in……
I spent the weekend resting, watching lots of the Olympics and generally fighting off the wobbles, which threatened to overwhelm. I was still in fight mode when I woke up on Monday morning and was just contemplating how to face the day when a phone call came in. It was Paul – all the way from Australia. Oh, my goodness! What a lovely boost to me that was. We spent nearly an hour nattering and saying hello to the family. Freddie, being addicted to digging in the sand, waved and shouted, “Hello Grandma!” from the depths of the beach. “Digging to England this time, instead of Australia?” I giggled. Yep – he absolutely loves it.
Everyone was well, although still a touch tired after all their antics and they had had a good few days with Graham and Gail. They look like they are having fun!
Pete and Dawn came round on Monday for a bit of cake and a glass of wine to toast Dawn’s birthday, so that rounded off the boost very nicely!
Tuesday and Wednesday were babysitting days, which were lovely once again, except that I had succumbed to a bit of a cold over the weekend. A Covid test was done, just to make sure that I wasn’t going to pass that particular dreaded lurgy on, but it was negative, so babysitting could go ahead.
We set up Andrew’s two-man tent in the garden for the children to play in and they had a whale of a time nipping in and out, in between pleas for an episode of Paw Patrol/Octonauts/Grizzly and the Lemmings…….
Meanwhile, I also nipped in and out to get drinks/toys/food/cushions etc and promptly managed to trip up the patio step and splat on my face. Argh!! I now have a lovely fat lip (very pretty) and a scratched lens in my glasses – oh, and a hefty bill for a new pair of those……… that’ll teach me to watch where I’m going!!