Visiting Cousins

There is no particular rush on a Monday morning, so Norman and I take our time over breakfast, and leave the house to collect Dolly and Teddy around a quarter to ten. It has rained overnight, but the skies are clearing and the westerly breeze is mild. The main problem on the Westwood this morning is one of mud, mud everywhere, as the ground is thoroughly soddened. Normy's coat, which he has worn every day since he got it, is beginning to get grimy, despite me carrying him over the worst bits. The mud is my concern, particularly in the car, which is protected by a blanket on the back seat, but it is impossible to restrict dogs to just this spot. At the end of the week, I will need to give the Chrysler a full valet before Xmas begins. Of course none of this bothers the dogs, who are as happy in the mud as anywhere else, the skies clear, the low winter sun shines and the common, is uncommonly beautiful. Today the colours are muted by residual ground mist, lending the landscape a gentle watercolour aspect, we stay out for a couple of hours, because it is just too pleasant to be indoors. After dropping the terriers back at Cherry Burton, Norman and I drive to Walkington Grange Farm shop and buy a dozen fresh eggs, before driving back to Tickton for half past twelve. After all the exercise, Normy is starving, but I make him wait whilst I make our roast beef lunch. The beef and gravy just need warming through and it only takes twenty minutes to peel the potatoes and vegetables and pressure cook them. Dinner is served at one, roast beef, mashed potatoes, carrot and swede mash and cabbage with chopped leaks, we both clear our plates, and still there is enough beef left for another meal. Norman will have it for dinner, as it can't be saved beyond today, without a health hazard. I am collecting Louis this afternoon, so I chill out for an hour before driving to Copandale Road and parking outside Sam's house. I am taking Louis to visit his cousins after school for an hour, until it is time for his swimming lesson and it is only a short walk from Sam's to Saint Mary's Primary school. She asks if I can also collect Laura from Molescroft Primary on our way back. Unusually the two schools are less than half a mile apart and it takes only ten minutes to walk from one to the other. Louis emerges at a quarter past three in his shirtsleeves, carrying his coat and without his bag, which contains his swimming costume. We have to go back to his classroom, but fail to find his school jumper, but recover his swimming gear. His class have P.E. on a Monday afternoon, and as he is only five, it is a bit of a lottery which clothes he ends up with. Mrs. Wildbore will sort it out in the morning. We arrive at Molescroft Primary in the nick of time, just as Laura is emerging from her class, she is delighted to see me, but less enthusiastic regarding Louis, seven year old girls are not quite on the same wavelength as super hero obsessed little boys. We walk back to Laura's house together and Louis behaves himself. What he really likes is playing with the girl's toys and this keeps him amused for the hour. Laura's big sister, Rebecca, is off school with tooth ache. She is twelve and suffers from a rare genetic disorder, called Tuberous Sclerosis, which afflicts her with epilepsy, which is controlled with drugs and moderate autism, which isn't. Her toothache, is caused by the last of her baby teeth coming loose, which in a normal child, is no big deal, but Rebecca will only eat an extremely limited range of foods and because of her toothache, she hasn't eaten for two days. She is also entering puberty and growing rapidly, already she is about five feet six, but painfully thin. She sits on the settee with me and has a cuddle for ten minutes and then goes into the play room with Louis and Laura, to play on her Nintendo DS. The tooth will eventually drop out, just let it be soon! Louis and I leave at a quarter to five, we have arranged for all my Grandchildren, except Clement, who will be in London, to visit the Panto on the first Saturday in January. Louis is duly delivered for his swimming lesson at five and I watch through the window and drink my usual hot chocolate. It is not a good lesson, the kids try, but the instructor is weak and they don't make much progress, although they seem to enjoy themselves nonetheless. I deliver Louis back to Alice for six o'clock and then drive home, where I feed Norman on the last of the beef and gravy, before taking him for his walk round the village, he doesn't want to go beyond the end of our cul de sac, but with a bellyful of roast dinner, he needs the exercise and the toiletting, and is persuaded to complete the tour. I have a light meal of bread, butter, apricot conserve and tea and then wrestle with a puzzle until it is time for bed. The ironing carried forward another day!