Friends & family

So this weekend was smashing with friends and family. Yesterday, we got up early and by ten o’clock had readied ourselves for a walk at Draycote Water in Dunchurch with Dave & Chris, and George & Sue. John was wearing his ‘Mr Determined’ coat, and drove us there. When we arrived the others were already there and waiting for us.

John has a new wheelchair and decided it would be a good location in which to try it out. And, in theory, it was but……. more of that later.

“What shall we do first?” we asked each other. “Walk? Coffee?” Ha! Ha! As if we needed to ask!! Coffee, of course. So we toddled into the café and settled down for a jolly good chat.

About an hour or so later, we thought that, as we’d come for a walk, we’d better actually go for a walk, so we set off. Oh, my goodness! The terrain for the wheelchair was perfect; the company, too, was perfect; the weather was fine; and the scenery appealing. But the midges!!! Crikey, the air was black with the blighters!!

We walked, wafting our arms about, as the midges landed on and in our hair and clothing, in our mouths as we talked, and nearly up our noses. It was foul!! It must have been an amusing scene though, as everybody was waving their arms about and shaking their heads.

As we walked along, people returning from their walk grinned at us (or did they grimace?) and greeted us with the words, “It gets worse the further you go!” Great! What Job’s Comforters. In the end, I think we only walked about 200 metres before we bottled it and decided to go back.

We milled about a bit near the café, resting on the wall, wondering whether to go straight for lunch or to try a path a bit away from the reservoir. In the end, we chose a different path. “It’s a bit of a grassy hill, John,” I said, having reccied the route. We thought we’d try it anyway, to put the wheelchair through its paces. At that point, George fancied a go in the new wheelchair and he gamely tried to steer it up the hill. On the slippery grass, the wheelchair was having none of it – but it made us all giggle as it slithered about.

We had a lovely walk along by the children’s play area though, and the wheelchair did make it up the road hill, so we were pleased with that. John had a hairy moment or two coming down the hill though as it careered out of control……. but it made us giggle – well, once we were confident John was OK, anyway!

Here is everyone, having a bit of fun!!

We had lunch after we’d taken our walk and, as had happened when we went out for lunch with Dave and Chris and Rob and Kaye recently, we were soon nattering nineteen to the dozen and had to be kicked out at four o’clock! Eeeh, we know how to enjoy ourselves!

In the evening, we sat down to watch Britain’s Got Talent on TV. Why? Because Michelle, Dave and Chris’s daughter, featured in one of the acts – The Big Sing! What a joyous sing it was, too! Just fancy! Someone you know being on the TV! How exciting!

Michael and Danielle came home from London about nine o’clock and, rather than allowing Chester to bark and wake the baby up when they got in, I walked him up the road to meet them. Made me laugh…. I could hear William chattering away to his Mummy all the way from the island!! Anyway, Chester was thrilled to see his family, and the ‘no barking’ plan nearly worked……

After we’d put the children to bed, we stayed up a bit later than normal so that we could hear all about the trip. It sounds like they walked miles and miles but had an absolutely wonderful time – as they are already planning their next trip!

And today? Well, of course, it was an early start because the children snuggled into bed with me this morning, which was lovely. And the day rolled on delightfully, playing, chatting, baking, eating, drinking, resting.

I was delighted that Michael and Danielle prepped the Sunday Roast – what a treat. We were all sat down in the dining room and had nearly finished our main course, when the front door opened…… and who should be coming in? Andrew! Great excitement! We hadn’t been expecting him, so it was a wonderful surprise. Ah…….

And that’s it! A great weekend of family and friends – although just to add that John hasn’t really felt so good. He is feeling a bit helpless as he watches everyone busy around him, so we might be making an appointment at the doctor’s this week. Positive vibes, or prayers if you are that way inclined, would be helpful.

Take care everyone. God bless.