It has been a while!

Well not sure where to start here...

In keeping with my usual theme - let's do the weather!

The other week the winter arrived and we were freezing! Sounds ridiculous that living in a house without central heating that I should be cold...but the cold weather appeared with such a shock - we were not ready! The last vestige of normal heating is a storage heater we have in the bedroom which just knocks the worst off the night. Anyway, having spent the last 2 weeks going to bed almost fully clothed and under 3 layers each, Jeff discovered that at some point we had turn the lumpy old thing off at the fuse box. We have now spent the last week in the relative luxury of warmth! My god I was cold before!

The outside puddles have been frozen into ice pools for the past 2 weeks, but with the fire going (oh, ok and the storage heater turned back on) we are warm and very very cozy.

We have slipped very happily into our sunday lunch routine and have spent many a Sunday afternon lying on the sofa when guests and family have left having a lovely doze.

Living in our little shed and watching our roaring fire - it was unreal last weekend to discover that my cousin was caught up right in the middle of the Mumbai attack at the Taj. She is home and safe.

Boys are brilliant - everyday the excitement of opening an advent calendar remains. They even seem to like my chocolate free one, although cousin Karon came to their recuse with one full of Malteasers. We have a daily count down to Christmas presents and I have to say - I can't wait too!

Presents all over the house, hidden in full view...

Thieves (dogs!)

I went clubbing on Friday (oh, please don't laugh). I went with some mums from school to the town’s Premier (only) night club and had a ball. Disco goddesses us all...if I ever wanted a 25 year old husband...I know where to go...I think I shall do that again!

The weekend was filled with 4 cool kids - my two and the twins. A & B came to stay for the night. On waking from my night of teenage disco dancing I announced to J that I thought a campfire was in need, but only if we could have lights. At 2pm the ark lamp was ready to roll. It is getting dark at 4 ish now so we hoiked the children down to the campfire in the middle of the woods, began to try to light rather damp wood, poured the lemonade and then with a clever little switch from me in the kitchen - there was light!! The trees looked stupendously eerie lit up, but at least this time we could see what we were eating. Yet again the old bangers and beans and Planet Rock on the radio. I reckon a couple more goes and we will have cracked this. The kids had great fun playing hide and seek with light up teeth in their gobs. The only thing you could see from behind the trees was lit up fangs!

This has been an important week for me. I found an official letter last week and thought "oh no...What haven't I paid now?" But it transpires I am now the proud owner of Scouse citizenship (thank you outlaw - you know who you are...it has only taken 18 years...!) The boys are now allowed to say baaathe and paaath again.

Dad's anniversary was last week. It was a hard day, but better. Weirdly anniversaries are better than some normal days when without thinking I will go for the phone to tell him something I think would tickle him or make him proud and then have that millisecond of remembering he is not there.

Work has begun on the front drive again and J has put in the same iron railings that are down at the river along the driveway between us and the neighbour. It looks fab and very manorial. J has also developed a new skill...dry stonewalling with logs. We had so much wood from all of the tree lopping he has been up to that we had to find a way to stack it and we now have two walls between the turning circle bit and the garden which are made of wood, all ready to dry for next year. Just as well, as we have found out that the woodman is due to retire next year. We should be in time to burn our own.

On the fire front - roaring away everyday, and interestingly one on the few things I haven't named yet. If you were looking into my psyche what would that mean I wonder?

Henry and Dot are incredibly happy today - amazing what a whole join of Lamb can do for the mind and body. They can barely move from the front of the fire. J said when he told them off for nicking it he could swear Dot looked at him and thought 'well if that is the best you can do on the shouting front, lamb thievery is the way to go...'

All happy and dogs full of roast dinner!

Oh, and we have a Cuckoo Clock...

Pooped

Had a whirlwind of a weekend, and now glass in hand I am about to run a very big bath and have a soak...but before I do - what excitement here.

Well first news is about the house and J's new skills - buying things off eBay. For a while now J has been a complete Luddite when it comes to all things computer. He has however become rather a dab hand at bidding for things and after a conversation about how it would be good to have a squashy leather beaten up old settee we now have one all the way from Kent and for the bargain price of 25 English pounds! It is quite a cool settee and yes incredibly comfy. Every action has a reaction and so the consequence of the pristine purchase is that the hot water tank (which used to be in the little room I'm in now), is now housed in its own little shed attached to the Shed. This means we have a full wall against which to rest the sofa (oooh - shall I name it!!? she looks like a Stella the sofa to me) and a proper little second sitting room. There is a weird bit of wallpaper we have found - just above the skirting board about 2 foot square - sea shells circa 1960...just this little perfect piece amongst walls of plaster...odd.

Following the action/reaction theme - the bath water has been running brownish for the past few days as the tank had been disturbed - but a girl can't have everything.

J and I spent the day on Friday shutting Bella the van down for the winter. It was so beautiful and sunny down there, but she scrubbed up well until next March. But you never know what will be lurking when we return.

Today has been a day of 3 parties - hence the need for a good old soak. This morning the boys were off at Ollie's Pirate party. J and I drove to pick them up and change them into their suits (!) We then had lunch with all of the family for mum's birthday. For a while it had felt as if my family had shrunk a bit, but today there appeared to be hordes of us again. 4 generations of us with Great Great Auntie Lois as matriarch - all of the babies and all of us in between. Even J in his squire’s outfit - check shirt, hacking jacket (you get the picture). We had a wonderful time and I am stuffed. Home for a quick change back into mucky gear and to the neighbours for their childrens firework display. My heart was in my mouth a few times when the rockets appeared to be heading for my rather flimsy felt roof - but Shed is still standing. The boys had a ball but I think I shouted loudest!

I may have found somewhere to have my 30th birthday party - got to see my decade out in style.

Jeff is looking up cuckoo clocks on eBay - I live in fear!

Happy, full, tired, worried about chirping clock and about to fall into Stella.

007

Boys are back to school tomorrow, everything is ironed(just let Alf tackle his own shirts...slightly nerve wracking but we got there)all PE kit appears to be ready to pass muster and we have had an attempt at homework...

but all of this holds no fear for the couple of spies I know live with...

The in house cinema has been back at full pelt with this weeks showings of Goldfinger and Dr No. Chas particularly likes the dancing women on the DVD intro. Guns have been blazing and J does a good impersonation of any evil character the boys want to make mincemeat of. There is a slight variation on the game where Alf is a spy and Charlie a small dog who follows him everywhere and mends his gun wounds through the use of magic medicine...this may be a hangover from meeting Kevin the dog in spain as charlie dog is definatley a pointer too.

We had an attempt at some Halloween fun when Alf and I hung cobwebs up in the bedroom - fake ones from tesco - it was all a bit superfulous though when I looked up and realised the shed has plenty of the natural kind of spider work to offer. Hoover came out and I spent a good hour or so hoovering every ceiling and wall. Shed is still standing without it's internal framework of dust and cobwebs which is good news.

Today the end of the half term was celebrated in quite some style. The men of the family went to the real cinema to see the latest Bond movie with their great little friend Jack and his Dad. Alfie is already planning when he can see it again it is SOOO brilliant. Alf and Chas think Jack is fantastic and have been nattering away about him all the way to bed. I apparently have to find a way where they can all have tea together at least once a week to play spies and fighting. The boys were all as good as gold when we all went as families to the local Italian and now full of pasta and dreams of saving England from all those pesky baddies are fast asleep already.

another day..another mission

Sun and Spain

Just back from the most wonderful five days in Spain staying at the best B & B you will ever see...www.cortijodelsevillano.com

We took the boys back to Spain to have a family break in the middle of the half term and my goodness you would have thought we had won the parenting lottery. The B and B is run by Gail and Mick who the boys now consider their bestest new mates. Nothing to do with age here, more the ability to connect with little boy’s sense of adventure. Having arrived at 11 in the morning the lads were straight in the pool - freezing or not - once you have swam in the Mole a pool at the end of October holds no barrier to excitement. And all this before they had even met Kevin.

Kevin - well where do you start.

Kev is an English Pointer and hotel dog by profession. His hobbies include pointing at his ball (but always with his backside as opposed to his nose), walking around permanently with a ball in his chops, hanging around in the general area of small excited little lads at all times, wagging his tail in the most excited of welcomes and of course lying in the lap of comfort as the whole lot of us cuddle and snuggle up to his beautiful comedy face. I can quite believe he has his own fan club as if he doesn't Alf and Chas are about to start one.

Mick made the boys holiday by taking them for their first ever camp fire - men only and complete with ACDC on the stereo. I can’t believe we have never done burning sticks in our own garden, rectified now!

Food.

Food needs its own paragraph here.

Gail is now the new love of my husband’s life. One mention of Steak and Kidney Pudding (diamonds and pearls to J) and it was presented. I think the right statement here is 'now you're talking'. I have never eaten like it. Alfie took himself down to breakfast most mornings to partake of the choice on offer - cornflakes, and some small Spanish honey covered stars - and anything else his heart desires. Quite honestly there is a cookbook or gastro tour ready to explode in this place1

We came home chilled out and on landing at Gatwick, chilled through. We made straight for the end of the garden, built a campfire and cooked sausages. The UK version needs a bit of fine tuning - we could not see what we were eating and it was bonkers cold but - from sun to snow... all happy here

Where did that summer go...?

As you can see this blogging took a back seat as fun and sun took hold over the summer...

I don't even know where to start. So some simple highlights:

A scorching hot holiday in Spain
Every weekend at the Caravan, suspending the reality of work by leaving at 6am on a Monday to get to town in time
Feeling shattered but happy at work until a sausage sandwich took hold
Saying goodbye to best friends as they emigrated to Oz
Both sets of Canadian Outlaws visiting and playing
Stu swimming in the freezing cold sea with Charlie
Drinking a little too much wine in the Ship
Watching Brendan learn to ride his bike
Henry's tonsillectomy! (J has told the boys that the vet got the wrong end...hence Henry is Henrietta)
Crabbing and then making the car smell of squid
J setting up a football club
Chas and Alf learning to swim on holiday
The dogs discovering Plum and her chums
Alf staying up until 2am listening to bad Spanish rock on the beach
Swimming in the Mole after work
Deciding that I can get to Chichester from town after work

Then summer ends...

But, no worries here in the shed as the winter plans take over...

The cinema is back - watching films as soon as it is dark. Friday night after school is now cinema club time. We have had to do Pokémon a few times which is not the height of Oscar award winning class, but with little faces watching their giant silver screen in the comfort of the shed...worth every moment.

The football club is now Saturday mornings; I have even found myself rather happily making the tea. Afternoons are spent running around our newly flattened garden or those of our friends, and the fire is bristling away (maybe soon even able to use our own wood!). The seats are out down by the river and hide and seek begins in the wood.

warm and cosy, and about to eat roast chicken

The car movie club

We have a new mantlepiece! It is wonderful, made of wood with 2 bookcases slash toy boxes either side. Pride of place is given to a small DVD/TV player, a sitting Buddha and a fruitbowl - green and white striped and full of bananas and chocolate biscuits. Above the mantlpiece hangs a new clock - not just a time teller - but also a baraometer and a thermometer. Air pressure and centigrade are now part of our language.

The only slightly odd thing about my new piece of furniture is that it is in the back of Big Blue John the Second - the car!

J turned the bank of three seats around the other way and as well as placing normal homely fair on the wooden wall decoration also carpeted the back wall in fetching grey cast off carpet. All precious items are held on with blue tack against the rock and roll of the car as we drive along and the dogs sit calmly at the boys feet as if in a moving sitting room. I thought the added touch of a fake fireplace, a vase of plastic flowers, and a mini bar, may finish the motif rather well.

I have begun lobbying for BBJ II to be renamed Lenny the Lounge, not getting anywhere though. You have to love J and his imagination - we took the boys down to Bella the van for the weekend and the journey was exactly timed for them to watch the transformers cartoon movie from start to end. Lenny the lounge, ok BBJ II, came through with flying colours this Saturday... 7 children in the back - doors to the 'car movie club' firmly closed to adults and an adventure from 7 til 9 - you really cannot buy that type of fun.

I nearly exploded with pride this week as Wednesday night both boys polished to the nines and Chas with clean (and blowdried!) hair were presented with their prizes at school. Chas raised his hands for a hug from the person presenting them only to have his hand then held in a grown up hand shake (the row behind us let out a collective ahhhh) and Alfo busily making sure his blazer was done up just so before he made it onto the stage. Not only have the boys found this school a wonderful place to go - especially after A's first school- but J and I found ourselves biting back tears on Friday (their last day for the summmer) as we had to give a fond farewell to Charlie's form teacher. All gone a bit soft haven't we. Finding the fees is all worthwhile when you see how far they have come and how happy and confident they are there. There you are I said it!!

So the beginning of 6 weeks adventure begins...

This time of year for the past 3 has meant that I am now home alone whilst the boys and J enjoy fun at Bella, but Celine (my car - I have only just realise writing this that I name everything no matter how mechanical?! - to keep you in the loop she is Celine because she is French with a big nose)...

Anyway, Celine's back brake went for a burton this weekend. Alf, Charlie and me were beside the road for 2 hours waiting for the rescue wagon. Never have I been so charmed by Ninetendo! They played like little cherubs on their DS' Lites til we were finally delivered home again. I think they think that I had the time planned as time with mum as they were totally unfazed - I on the other hand needed a very large glass of wine. The good news is they are here at home with me to ferry me back and forth from the station. Good girl Celine!

Finally my weekend injury...Alfie and I were playing football on the beach today. He tripped his foot over the ball and landed flat on his bum, I laughed went to kick the ball in glory - tripped my foot over the ball and landed with a thud on my own backside. I fall from slightly higher than him and with a bit more ballast behind me so my left hand derriere is now a different shade of black and blue.

All happy and living in luxury (!!)

catch

Just come back from attempting to light the fire! I seem to be getting a bit better at it and can really get the kindling into a rampant flame now. All goes horribly wrong as I try to put real wood on there - need for J to step in as the 'man of the house' and get it going for real. I am sure I will crack this one day. Fire is on as it is rather gloomy tonight and as soon as it starts licking against the glass again I remember how much of a heart to the shed it is.

Had a busy old week. Only one week left now before the boys break up and they are absolutely exhausted - all this education takes it out of them. Soon a six week holiday to recharge their batteries and brains. We went to the school fun day this weekend and then back to our old road to visit with our old neighbour. It felt so weird being back there looking at the outside of the old house, but not living there any more. You realise what having close neighbours is like. Standing outside we had about 4 conversations with people as they walked by. Good to see them again, but strange to think that here we can go days without seeing our nearest and dearest.

J has begun clearing the front garden here and has thinned out some of the vegetation. My previous list of things I could see (moped, caravn etc) has now dwindled to nothing as the rag and bone man has come to take anything of any metal value away. J is also beginning the metal fencing along the front path which makes the driveway in more obvious and clear. I suppose you could say we are getting there with the land, but there is still a long way to go.

The newest craze in this house for boy number one is tennis. I have had about 8 games over the weekend, and every now and again I test his throwing and catching skills too. For those of you that don't know I pride myself on my near championshhip level thowing ability (trust me - I am great at it!) I am pleased to announce that number one son has the same superhuman skills. I threw a tennis ball as high as I could manage and calm as you like A stood underneath it - reached out - and held on. Dad would have burst with pride as my inherent ability at this fine old sport - catch - comes straight from him. Son number two will soon be put through his paces!

happy, warm and chucking balls

The day I nearly caught a deer by Henry the dog

well not quite, but by the look of Henry's face it was an experience that will live with him for a while. I was sat outside in the last few rays of sun, when out of the corner of my eye I saw the white flash of Henry hurtling up the garden. As I turned to look I realised that there was a young male deer running straight for me with the dog in hot pursuit. Quite beautifully, the deer took a right hand turn and galloped away from me. He leapt over the fence into next door's garden, but not before Henry had actually put on the accelerator and was catching him up. Henry sat stoically at the fence knowing when he was beaten. He then sat right in the middle of the garden looking first at where the deer had come from and yearningly towards where it had gone. If there was a thought bubble above his head I am sure it would say 'bloody hell, nearly caught that!'

This week we have had the fantastic news that both the boys have won class prizes. I am so glad that we moved them to this school and obviously it has paid off and they love it there. They both had book tokens to buy a precious book with (to be inscribed and presented to them at prize giving no less!!) We spent Saturday morning in a great bookshop choosing the right class of book...A has gone for 'Our Island History' a heavyweight tome following the history of Britain from Romans to Victoria - and Charlie...he has the Enclylopedia of Mr Men! As my Dad would have said ' well done, well done!'

Today Alf had a birthday party which was a circus workshop with a guy eating fire and lying on nails. He thought it was wonderful and definately heard the 'dont try this at home' message loud and clear. I took Chas to the new park - a brilliant Childrens dream of swings, slides, pirate ship and water...we met the world and their wife there - my cousin, 3 members of his class and even my friend's little girls out for a day with their gran and grandad. Home for the footie though and whilst both boys are up late cheering for Spain, I thought I would take advantage and write this. I will learn to like it!!!

Henry is now zonked out next to me, dreaming of the one that got away...

another day, another deer

Toof

Alf has spent all day in front of the bathroom mirror quietly wobbling his tooth. I could not bear to watch as it was swinging around in his mouth and then finally at 5pm his perseverance paid off and out it came! A lovely big front tooth to match the one on the bottom he had already lost. Chas is beside himself that he may have over 720 days til he too can lose some teeth...but consoles himself with the fact that the very next one Alf loses he will be allowed to put under the pillow for the fairy. So proud we have taught them to share so well!

Our twin guests came yesterday for a sleepover, now aged 6 they were run ragged by me. First the massive indoor climbing frame for 2 hours, then my mum's to play on the swings and finally and hour and a half in the park playing on the new ship and swings before returning home for Doctor Who. My mission paid off and by 8.30pm there was not a peep from them! J and I had to sleep on the sofa bed - oh my god the word bed should not be allowed under trade description...more like a sofa plank. Rather tired this morning!

J took the children for a spin in Jack's bucket. Poor old Jack has been out of action for a few weeks, but has had a complete health check and repair by the wonderful Colin. A finer gentleman you could not meet. He has everything known to man to do with tractors in his little red van and spends hours lovingly getting the old boys going again. He used to work at the factory that once upon a time made Jack, he was there when Jack was sent out into the world for the first time and so I think he may feel that they are friends of old.

When we began the process of buying here - about a year ago now - Alf had been learning about Monet at school. The shed became known as 'Monet's Garden' by the boys as when we visited, bringing the lads with us for the first time, the river was full of massive lily pads. About a week ago they finally floated to the top of the river for this year and Monet is back...

Have I told you we have curtains in the bedroom!!! No more waking up with the sun and rather taken with the ability to sleep in the dark....how novel...

All tuckered out.

reclaiming my story

Have come home to discover the impossible has happened...the interweb is working once more and i can finally scribble again...

so apolgies that blogging today is a bit like buses, but writing all this down has become a slight OCD for me.

what can i tell you..

Alf has been presented with 2 trophies footie today - one for playing a full season and one for most improved player. My sister once won a cup from a man called Percy Verance so maybe the winning streak carries on with my boy. Bless his heart he had them in bed for me to see when I came home and once shown ceremonially kissed them before placing them by his bed for him to see as soon as he wakes up.

Another thing that tickled my fancy today is what Chinese star signs we all are...I am delighted to announce I am a Monkey, J appears as a horse, and the lads are Snake and Sheep...fancy looking www.holymtn.com/astrology/year.htm - another way to see the dynamic of the family C...

Happy horoscopes....

Bella beckoned!

and broadband broke...alliteration at the beginning - not bad eh must be feeling the wordsmith.

The sun finally arrived just in time for the boys' half term holiday and we headed down to the caravan for rest, relaxation and RAIN! We had the most wonderful 10 days, especially when it poured down and Jeff got 8 little boys all dressed in wetsuits to play rugby on the field in the rain. They had a ball sliding around the place.

The shed remains much as we left it, although it has been spring cleaned. We were worried that by removing some of the dust and mud we may have removed what was keeping the structure standing, but he is obviously made of stronger stuff than we imagined.

We are waiting for the diggers to come back to finish the last 1/4 of the garden, they have been held at bay for the past couple of weeks while we have been away, but hope to return next week to polish it off. Already the garden looks better and the good news is that we have not flooded no matter what the season has thrown at us.

Big Blue John the car finally gave up the ghost and we have had to retire him...but never one to miss an opportunity to make something - I came home from work to discover that Jeff has cut the roof off the back of the car (a Renault espace) and turned him into a truck! The boys jumped into the back held on like the 'A Team' and were driven around the land laughing and joking... We have a new half van/half car and in true family fashion he has been named. I am afraid the name calling was not massively inventive as once again Charlie won the day and he is called 'big blue john - the second'. I suppose if it is not broken you don't need to fix it!

Finally, very exciting news - the basin has been plumbed in the bathroom! No more brushing my teeth at the ktchen sink or watching people stare at the basin as the water they have turned on puddles onto the bathroom floor. Little things...

All happy and harmonious

Balance

In the interests of this not appearing a totally idyllic story I have put some thought into what is not right about living here. Having read other blogs recently I considered steering clear of the trusty list. But, I have to say this is obviously the easiest way to describe what you think - so apologies - but this is what is in my head:

What is troublesome:

1. Greenfly come in through the bath room window and die in their thousands on the loo floor
2. My car exhaust has a massive hole in it from driving up and down the badly kept lane to our home.
3. There has been mud EVERYWHERE!
4. People ask if they should take off their shoes when they visit us.
5. We are all in one bedroom and we have no curtains...I wake up every day at sunrise
6. My clothes hang on a half made wardrobe or piled on the side and seem to grow in front of me
7. I keep shopping in Tesco! I disappear for a chicken and come home eighty pounds lighter. Clever people!

The big dig finally began this week with the top soil removed at a pace of knots. The first machine that arrived was not much bigger than Jack, and the poor sod kept having his front bucket come off. Either which way though, Matt, the chap that is making all of the difference, did a fantastic job and within one day had cleared about a quarter of the land. Alf announced that Matt was the best person he had ever met as he had made us a tennis court and a footie pitch in one swift move.

Day two a big mean machine arrived and off they went. It looks amazing and our 'bund' is great against the neighbour’s boundary. The boys run up and down it, the dogs think it is the best for smells and Jeff and I stand on top and survey our land! In a week we have to work out how to grass the whole garden...

The big dig continues this week and by Wednesday the whole site should be cleared. The guy in charge got out of his cab the other day and shocked me as he is even taller than J. About 6 and a half foot of niceness...

All happy and about to be awakened to the joys of grass seed...

Dip

I can now speak with experience.

On Thursday I came home from work early to pick the boys up from school. It was absolutely scorching. We came home and did the usual mucking about, eating tea, getting into pj's and finally getting them into bed. I then went for a wander - you guessed it - straight down to the river. I sat with my feet almost dangling in, deciding that the 6 foot drop from my vantage point could not be where the boys and Jeff had gone in. Then I upped sticks and walked around to the river bend and the mass of garlic. To say I was underdressed for my lonely adventure would be an understatement. I became completely surrounded by stingers and decided there was only one way to my goal. I began to shout for Jeff!

Finally, I think he may have decided that I had fallen in and hot footed down to the river to find me standing stock still amongst my bed of nettles. Always the gentleman he made a clear path and helped me through - but only once he realised I was trying to get into the river and not just being a princess. Anyway, kit off down to brass-ear and knicks and I bravely ventured forth. Your feet sink in right to the tops of your ankles at the river bend and I did do a lot of screeching. Jeff jumped in and offered me his arm and off I eventually launched. The boys are right - as soon as you round the bend the floor becomes gravel and hard underfoot and the water is just delicious - cool and tinglely. I finally climbed up through one of the trees roots and was back on dry bank.

The rest of this weekend we have been on holiday. We did not leave the shed, but with the sun shining and the Jeff-made barbeque, if has felt as if we are in another country. My sis and her new little family came on saturday and we chilled in the garden eating, drinking and just having a wonderful relaxed time. We were all presented with Massey Ferguson caps , thoughtfully discovered by Simon - so we really look the part driving Jack now!

When they left on Saturday night the family C hit the river. All four of us - Chas in swimmies and wellies and Alf in swimmies and Crocs - jumped in to cool off the day's fun.

I lost my shoes in the mud but became a very cool mum as I went for a proper swim whilst Jeff just did a walk up and down. I have a sneaking suspicion that Jeffers did not swim just to make me look better and braver for my boys...I will take the glory anyway.

Alf has developed championship level tennis on the car parking bit of tarmac - amazingly he takes on anyone and still wins - but some of the rules remain rather difficult to follow. Old fart that I am, I have today written to Radio 4 offering Alfie and Charlie's services as guerila reporter on all things Transformer. Having seen them decide to put their 8 week old cousin through a master class in Bumblebee and Optimus Prime I have decided that they are ready for the nation! Not sure if the life on Cybertron is up to the Radio 4 standards, but you never know.

If you are of a sensitive disposition, please look away now...

One of the aspects of baking hot sunshine in our household is that Henry develops his 'summer balls' I know this is not really the kind of things that you may want to read about - but it really makes me laugh. This big white dog poddeling along everywhere with the biggest, pinkest set of you-know-whats! My mum has always said I should knit him some knickers and with the heat as high as it has been this weekend - I think she may be right.

Still no sign of the big dig...maybe monday? you never know...I may yet get to tell you about the big pile of mud if they eventually ever get here.

Happy and very red!

Swim

Did not have to be Sherlock Holmes tonight to realise that there had been some fun and games at the Shed without me!

I walked in after a hot old day in London, to find two little sets of wet swimmies lying on the living room floor...aha I thought, Jeffers' little river plan has come into action and sure enough cuddled up in bed were two rather excited little boys. You will have to forgive me if this is wrong in translation, but I have heard of the adventure second hand...(shame)

Having come home from school the River Mole took over. Jeff and the lads wandered down to the river bank in fetching swimming trunks and took the plunge. When Jeff had to jump in after the Henry about 4 months ago the river was freezing and right up to his chest. Tonight apparently it was cool and now only as high as the top of Alf's tum. They tried to walk around the bend but came across a very muddy riverbed and a slight sinking feeling. Once they moved back on to the straight bit the floor is gravelly and hard under foot. Alf walked through the water to the opposite riverbank and climbed out to run around on the field facing us which he delights in the fact is 'public' and, therefore, he can charge around at will.

They were beyond excitement. I think I am going to have to warm up to joining in as I am still not quite there on 'swimming with the fishes'.

I learnt something yesterday that has quite caught my imagination. Desire lines.

A definition for you:

Desire lines (or natural desire lines, as they're also called) are those well-worn ribbons of dirt that you see cutting across a patch of grass, often with nearby sidewalks — particularly those that offer a less direct route — ignored. In winter, desire lines appear spontaneously as tramped down paths in the snow. I love that these paths are never perfectly straight. Instead, like a river, they meander this way and that, as if to prove that desire itself isn't linear and (literally, in this case) straightforward.

We have created our own set of desire lines in the garden and the most marked one is the one that leads straight to the woods and river and then across the top of the river bank and through the bluebells. It is wonderful how your feet show your true feelings about a place! (goodness me that was deep - maybe I am a bit tired!)

Amazingly the big digger boys may be here tomorrow...it has not rained and the weather forecast is good so everything crossed work on the earth may begin this week - mud here we come. Interestingly the onset of big big machines and diggers seems to have caught the interest of every man I have told. Must be something to do with men and machines or even boys with their toys. I do hope they come as I can't wait to see what the land looks like completely clear and flat.

Oh, by the way, I may have changed my mind a bit about wild garlic - my god - in the heat it hums! Maybe we shall have just a small area from now on - I can feel a bit of ultra gardening coming on.

All happy and hopeful.