In Loco Parentis

Norman and I are up at six o'clock in order that we can have breakfast and so that I can shower and dress, before assuming grandparent duties at Sarah's house at seven thirty. We arrive there by a quarter past seven, Louis is already up and about, with his sister Alice, supervising. I send her to get washed and dressed whilst I make a full English breakfast for them both. After breakfast, there is just time to give Louis a bath, before dressing him in his school uniform and walking him to school with Normy. It is a bright, clear, morning but the niggling cold wind still persists, Louis talk is all about football, the champions league games where German teams have scored convincing wins against their Spanish semi final opponents, and the weekend game between Barnsley and Hull City, which the Tigers need to win to secure promotion. He gives me a hug and runs into Saint Mary's primary school and I walk Norman back to North Bar, chatting to a neighbour, who lives across the road from Sarah. As I approach her house a text comes in from Alice, telling me that I have forgotten Louis' PE kit, I reply and say that I will drop it off en route to Cherry Burton. Which I do. The dogs and I walk round our usual route and I reverse the order of letting the terriers off the lead until Teddy gets used to the cattle again. Gradually the trees are regaining their leaves and the blackthorn is now blooming merrily, but it stills feels wintry on the open common on our way to Black Mill. We return to Two Riggs by eleven, drop Dolly and Teddy off and then drive to the leisure centre to arrange the time for my Swimathon. It transpires that the only time I can have a lane for the hour and ten minutes it will take me, is on Friday evening from a quarter to nine until ten O'clock, but I will have to hope that there aren't many other swimmers about, other than the Masters class, which takes up half the pool. I return to Tickton, where I resume spring cleaning. The afternoon is spent sorting out the kitchen, bathroom, hall and garden room, before packing an overnight bag and then collecting Louis from Hector's House, at five. The principal, Suzanne, tells me Louis has developed a really bad sore throat. He certainly sounds really croaky and hoarse and just a little subdued. We call at Tesco on our way home, where I buy some sugar free strepsils, strawberries and ice cream, as a remedy for his condition. When we arrive at North Bar, I make dinner for everyone, at Louis' request we have fusilli pasta, with Maggi seasoning and Parmesan cheese, with sausages. Louis decides he wants the strawberries, but not the ice cream, and then insists he is well enough to walk Norman round Seven Corners Lane with me before bedtime. Alice has found some Calpol and we give him a dose, before she takes him to bed at half past seven, whilst I wash up and unpack my slippers, pyjamas, and dressing gown. By nine thirty, the early start and busy day have caught up with me and Normy and I turn in. Sarah has a folding bed set up for me in the room on the ground floor under the bathroom, I fold up a throw and let Norman sleep on the end of the bed.