An unexpected encounter

Without thinking it through, we invited Michael and Danielle over for lunch today, imagining that it would be a lovely way for them to relax. Being ‘Pooh Bears of Very Little Brain’, we had forgotten that Danielle’s parents were on their way over from Jersey and would be landing on the Kenilworth Newbies doorstep at any time on Sunday.

However, Danielle thought they’d be able to get over for brunch before they met her parents for a Sunday Roast, so how about we do that? Naturally, we were game for that!! So, to our delight, the family visited today……

This is the best I could do, photo-wise. Michael wondered if I had a photo showing his full face? Erm… sorry, no. Or one with Danielle’s eyes open? Nope. Or one of William smiling? No….. Or one without Thomas’s finger in front of his face? No, this was it! I thought it captured the moment perfectly. At least Oliver is looking good, that’s what counts, isn’t it? Hehehe…..

We had a really nice time, even though the visit was shorter and perhaps not so restful as we thought it might be. While Michael was out collecting some bits and pieces on his way over to our house with William and Thomas, I nipped over to collect Danielle and Oliver. John cooked the brunch. Wonderful.

“Come through to eat your breakfast, William,” I said, to which he replied, “It’s brunch, Grandma!!” Silly me….. I do love to be corrected by a four year-old.

I am not sure what we did with the rest of our Sunday. We watched a bit of telly; I took Mac for a good long walk; John tinkered a bit on the car; and then we had a ‘cream tea’ consisting of tiny salmon sandwiches and a scone, laden with jam and clotted cream. Oh, and Prosecco. Nice.

With other things going on, I have failed to mentioned that we are currently dog-sitting Mac again for a few days. Paul had to go to Malta on business so he thought he’d take the family out there with him over the Bank Holiday weekend. With no-one available at short notice to take Mac, I had a phone call which went something like, “Do you want to come for tea? Oh, can you have Mac over the weekend, please?” Well, how could I say ‘no’?

Anyway, on my walk with Mac today I had a very exciting time. I thought we’d take the path where I knew there to be badger setts. My thinking being that we might spend an early evening camped out for an hour at dusk in the hope of seeing them. Well, I needn’t do that now……

Just as we neared the setts, storming out of the rapeseed fields charged two badgers, hurtling towards safety. They took both me and Mac by surprise. Me, so much so, that I squealed before I realised what it was. Mac was also slow on the uptake, only realising that there was something to nip at after the larger badger had bolted between his legs and scuttled into the sett. Too late, as well, for him to do anything about the junior badger careering across his path and rushing into the sett by the back door.

I know badgers aren’t everybody’s cup of tea but, honestly, I was thrilled. I think it was a mother and her offspring, the larger badger being too small to be a male but too big to be a youngster. I have no idea why the badgers would be out in broad daylight nor why they’d be thundering back home as if their lives depended upon it. Maybe it was us who had disturbed them…… but it was very exciting and very unexpected!!

Take care everyone. God bless. Hope your weekend is turning out to be a happy one.