Pets, pirates, pancakes.
It goes without saying that we've had a good week or two. Once we stopped humming "So lung, farewell.." that is. We are not looking forward to the next bout of treatment, however. A week today we'll be back in Manchester. I know it's the last lot, but somehow that isn't helping. It gets worse each time and last time was already very bad.
Meanwhile, we have been enjoying the sunshine. Having come back from Manchester on Tuesday, we went sailing for the day on Thursday, with Robin, Gill and Helen Taunt. What a wonderful day. Rain was forecast and there was certainly plenty of wind, but the weather was impeccable as we bounced across the waves. On Friday, we went to Devon to spend the Bank Holiday with Ros (Quent's sister) and Ian. Again, we had good weather. Again, we had great fun. It was a tiring week, with a lot of driving, but every trip was worth it.
Oakley is a bundle of laughs at the moment. He gave me an appraisal the other morning at 7.30am. Out of the blue. "Mummy, can you try to be a little bit more like Camilla?" Camilla is slim, blond and Scandinavian and has long been a object of Oakley's affection, but apparently it was her pancake-making which put her on the pedestal this time. I am sure that Camilla (being perfect) would have been more gracious than I was about such honest feedback. As I told Oakley at the time, we are all different - and all lovely in our way.
This weekend, we went to the Scout Summer Fair. The Odyssey team had taken the BMW and the Jag down and were doing a fundraising "Guess the number of balloons in the cars". Oakley, who is increasingly becoming Quent's "mini me", was bold, decisive - and wildly over optimistic. "One million", he said. I asked him if he thought a few hundred might be a better guess (it was my fiver, after all). "No", he said emphatically. Sadly, he didn't win.
He's not totally like Quent yet, though. When I heard Quent asking Oakley if he wanted to climb on the roof* with him this afternoon, I was relieved that Oakley had said no, before I vetoed it. "Quent, he's four. That's a ridiculous idea", I shouted up the stairs. "I agwee, Mummy", came the only other voice of reason in the house at the time. I have spent (quite a large!) part of this week completing a risk assessment for a school tug of war. Goodness knows what Adam from Hounslow Council would have made of Quent's idea.
Instead, we pruned the pirate counter (pyracantha). It seemed quite tame in comparison. Oakley has had pirates on the brain since the May Fair, when he won a cutless, hook and eyepatch - all of which are in bed with him now.
We have also finally given in to Oakley's requests for a pet. We have got him no fewer than 18 .... ants! This afternoon, we transferred them from the front path to their NASA style ant farm. No mean feat. One goes in, one escapes - and one gets squashed as Quent slams the lid on. Anyway, hours later we seem to have 18 survivors. They are very prone to "meetings"- or maybe they are risk assessing their new environment. Every now and then, they leave the huddle and burrow into the gel for a while. It's very exciting.
* Yes, our roof! Quent was adjusting the DAB aerial
Meanwhile, we have been enjoying the sunshine. Having come back from Manchester on Tuesday, we went sailing for the day on Thursday, with Robin, Gill and Helen Taunt. What a wonderful day. Rain was forecast and there was certainly plenty of wind, but the weather was impeccable as we bounced across the waves. On Friday, we went to Devon to spend the Bank Holiday with Ros (Quent's sister) and Ian. Again, we had good weather. Again, we had great fun. It was a tiring week, with a lot of driving, but every trip was worth it.
Oakley is a bundle of laughs at the moment. He gave me an appraisal the other morning at 7.30am. Out of the blue. "Mummy, can you try to be a little bit more like Camilla?" Camilla is slim, blond and Scandinavian and has long been a object of Oakley's affection, but apparently it was her pancake-making which put her on the pedestal this time. I am sure that Camilla (being perfect) would have been more gracious than I was about such honest feedback. As I told Oakley at the time, we are all different - and all lovely in our way.
This weekend, we went to the Scout Summer Fair. The Odyssey team had taken the BMW and the Jag down and were doing a fundraising "Guess the number of balloons in the cars". Oakley, who is increasingly becoming Quent's "mini me", was bold, decisive - and wildly over optimistic. "One million", he said. I asked him if he thought a few hundred might be a better guess (it was my fiver, after all). "No", he said emphatically. Sadly, he didn't win.
He's not totally like Quent yet, though. When I heard Quent asking Oakley if he wanted to climb on the roof* with him this afternoon, I was relieved that Oakley had said no, before I vetoed it. "Quent, he's four. That's a ridiculous idea", I shouted up the stairs. "I agwee, Mummy", came the only other voice of reason in the house at the time. I have spent (quite a large!) part of this week completing a risk assessment for a school tug of war. Goodness knows what Adam from Hounslow Council would have made of Quent's idea.
Instead, we pruned the pirate counter (pyracantha). It seemed quite tame in comparison. Oakley has had pirates on the brain since the May Fair, when he won a cutless, hook and eyepatch - all of which are in bed with him now.
We have also finally given in to Oakley's requests for a pet. We have got him no fewer than 18 .... ants! This afternoon, we transferred them from the front path to their NASA style ant farm. No mean feat. One goes in, one escapes - and one gets squashed as Quent slams the lid on. Anyway, hours later we seem to have 18 survivors. They are very prone to "meetings"- or maybe they are risk assessing their new environment. Every now and then, they leave the huddle and burrow into the gel for a while. It's very exciting.
* Yes, our roof! Quent was adjusting the DAB aerial
posted by Helen at 5/12/2008 12:15:00 am
2 Comments:
Hi
I've just caught up on the news and I think the lady behind the till story is unbelievable and just wonderful.
I am sure the choc muffin will never be eaten, will it?! What a touching gesture!!!
Much love Yas xx
I've just caught up on all your news, as haven't read the blog or indeed seen you my dear neighbours for a while. BLOODY FANTASTIC NEWS. Well done. Nobody could deserve it more. We should certainly raise a glass - maybe a barbie soon once the last treatment is over and Q feels good? J xxx
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