Prizes for Louis

Norman wakes early and wants to be let out, so I slide my feet Into my slippers, open the garden room doors and let him out into the predawn cold. There are still stars shining in a clear sky and to the southeast the day is just about to break. He sprints back up the path and straight into the kitchen for breakfast, but I have other ideas, the central heating has just switched on and I retreat back under my duvet until a quarter past seven. I have smoked salmon on cream cheese and rye toast for breakfast with coffee and Normy has to make do with dry dog food, although he does get just a taste of salmon, which he obviously likes. We leave the house at a quarter past eight as I take Louis to school on Friday, because his mum has an early start. We are loaded up today, in addition to his haversack with his packed lunch, and his book bag, he also has a parcel of toys for "children in need". We share the load, I carry the haversack and book bag and he the parcel and then the three of us cross the road and walk down New Walk to Bleach Yard and then to school. It is a lovely morning, the sun has just risen above the arch of North Bar and is shining straight down our path, the wind has died to a gentle breeze and the sky is a clear cobalt blue. Louis tells me that there is a prize giving assembly at a quarter to three and that he has won an award, so I promise that I will come. He gives me a hug and a kiss at the school gates, collects his bags and then runs happily into school. Norman and I retrace our steps and when we get back to Sarah's house, I change my shoes for walking boots, before driving to Cherry to collect the terriers. Today is a gift of a fine day between two storms, the weather is forecast to turn windy and wet again later tomorrow, so we make the most of this present. As usual we progress via Black Mill to Burton Bushes but do this by a path that brings us into the woods from the southeastern corner. The southern edge of the wood is a mixture of oak, elm and lots of holly, I can't see any berries in here and wonder whether some entrepreneur has been harvesting natures bounty. Underfoot it is very, very, boggy and as a consequence we have the woods to ourselves, as we make our way towards the little gate that opens facing the racecourse, we pass a den of sticks that the kids assembled last weekend, it takes me back to my childhood, we were always building dens and campfires. After dropping the terriers back at Two Riggs, we make our way to Tickton and after giving Norman fresh water and some biscuits, I grab my swimming gear and drive to the leisure centre. A class of children are just finishing their lesson as I enter the pool at midday, and so I take over their free lane and then repeat Tuesday's 2,500m session. The four two hundred metre medleys go especially well, as I am now able to complete the first two lengths butterfly without needing to recover on the backstroke leg. Afterwards I drink tea and eat a few oaties in the cafe before driving to Saturday Market to deposit a cheque at Lloyds bank. There is just time to drive and park at Tesco, before walking the half mile to Saint Mary's primary school for Louis' assembly. Us parents and grandparents are seated on two rows of chairs at the back of the hall, while the children file in, starting with reception, the youngest class and then working up to the oldest. The children sing a nice hymn and then the prize giving begins, there are prizes for lots of things and the children troop up onto the stage to collect their certificates and then stand shyly in line facing the audience, all except Louis, who has spotted me and waves wildly before performing a victory shuffle, despite being only five last June, he is head and shoulders taller than his other classmates and looks at least seven. His teacher gently tries to calm his exuberance and succeeds temporarily, before the winners all leave the stage. The head teacher then presents more certificates for those achieving the most house points for work and conduct, Louis is called up again and goes completely over the top waving his certificates in the air, modesty, it seems, is not part of his make up. It is all over by a quarter past three and the children file back to their classrooms before being dismissed for the week. Louis' teacher brings him to see me before he goes, he thinks I am collecting him, but Sarah has arranged for him to go to the after school club, so he has to make do with a well done and a hug. Afterwards I make my way back to Tesco, do a little shopping and then return home to make dinner. Nothing complicated, frozen haddock filets, oven chips, garden peas and tea with fresh bread and butter. Poor Normy has a tin of dog food, but I save him a piece of haddock as well. After dinner I read for a while and then take Norman for his evening walk. It is a clear, starry night with a bright moon, just past the half full, and not too cold, we walk through the village to the post office, depositing treasure in the waste bin outside and then make our way down Carr Lane, where there are no street lights. Fortunately the moonlight is bright enough for us to see our way and once we are through the snickett onto Green Lane, I let Normy off his lead and play "praise and pat" all the way home. Leslie had three different district nurses dressing the lesion on his leg when I called, before Louis' assembly, so he called back as I walked back to Tesco, the cardiologist came to the startling conclusion that Leslie was old, but otherwise found nothing wrong with him, nevertheless Leslie found it reassuring. I have promised to visit after church on Sunday.