Unexpected
Melia, 20 months old
Mooching around on Saturday, doing nothing in particular as usual, we received a ‘phone call from our eldest grandson. He was headed in our direction, and would we be about for a visit?
Momentary panic as I looked around the sitting room. We hadn’t got five hours to clear up! On the other hand, we hadn’t seen him and his little family for a long time. Of course, we would be delighted to see them. After all, they were coming to see us, not conduct an inventory of the house and a critique of our home management.
Callum knows us well, and lived in the caravan on our drive for a year while he did his gap year near GCHQ. (The rest of the house was full with Susannah and her little boy.)
When they arrived, their little girl, Melia, had just woken from a nap and was clinging to Kat, unwilling to engage with strangers, and quite right, too.
She is used to dogs and cats. There are two of each in her house, and all her Dorset cousins are knee deep in dogs, mostly working Labradors like ours. Nonetheless, we gated our dogs in the kitchen so that they could adjust to the excitement of visitors.
As Melia roused, she relaxed and showed her lovely smile, until Barry or I looked at her, when the shutters immediately came down. When we released the dogs, who went straight to Callum, she was entranced by them and life suddenly seemed more familiar to her.
Gilbert, our young boy, is not accustomed to toddlers, so he skirted around Melia, sniffing her surreptitiously, not yet realising that little children are sticky and good to lick. Roxy, having grown up with Frankie, is wise to the ways of infants and paid close attention as Melia munched a selection of sandwiches and satsumas.
The cats prowled around, as cats do, and Melia stroked them. Then she got into one of the empty dog beds, a big, fluffy doughnut of an affair, and was very happy. She is a very capable little girl and will be a loving big sister next March, when she will be two years old.
All too soon, it was time for them to leave. It was such a lovely surprise to see them and made our day.
The dogs were exhausted, as they always are with any change in routine, and slept soundly for the rest of the evening.
Surprise visits are the best!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely!
DeleteOh, what a lovely thing. Gorgeous little girl. I love the look on Gilbert's face!
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely.
DeleteAnyone surprising me with a visit has to be prepared for dusty floors and surfaces. Melia is a cutie and I'm glad the dogs and cats got to say hello too.
ReplyDeleteMelia is very sweet and a real Daddy's girl. She was so relaxed around the animals, which is always so good to see in children.
DeleteMelia is such an adorable toddler. I'm sure she enjoyed her visit.
ReplyDeleteShe was just beginning to realise we weren't ogres by the time they left. That's children for you.
DeleteHi Janice - sounds like a lovely day ... I'm so pleased for you all ... great fun and now with good memories all round ... I expect the dogs and cats too ... funny how everyone adjusts and life settles - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThe happiness lasts for days when something nice happens as we remember little bits and pieces.
DeleteEven if you know your animals are totally trustworthy, there is still a need to carefully protect the newly arrived relatives, nod. Especially the toddlers.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Animal and human body language are different and even the gentlest dog can get it wrong.
DeleteAwww..so very sweet. What a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteIt was very nice.
DeleteWhilst it's always great to see grand and great grandchildren, it's so lovely to have a quiet house again. I love your photo of Melia and Gilbert, both had their expressions in their eye.
ReplyDeleteI love beautiful eyes, the windows of the soul.
ReplyDeleteIn front of my mother, we her children used often carry out inventories of her possessions. We can get ten bucks for this. That chair must be worth fifty. That will look nice on your table.
ReplyDeleteSo nice that you had a good family catch up.
That's funny. I can just imagine the conversations. Yes, it was good to catch up.
DeleteIt was a good visit for all in the end.
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteWhat a beauty.
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
Thank you.
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ReplyDeleteClearly, Melia has not yet learnt that grandparents are generally benign, harmless creatures - like haggises.
ReplyDelete. . . and just as tasty!
DeleteThat was a nice surprise ! and the little one looks like a doll ! I can imagine that it was quite a show for you to see the dogs, cats and little Melia playing together ! I always clean AFTER visitors, I just tidy up a bit, cleaning I do, when they are gone, otherwise you have to clean twice and that's not my cup of tea !
ReplyDeleteVery wise, Ingrid. Cleaning twice is not fun.
DeleteUnexpected visits are the best, and surely there should be no need for clearing up where family is concerned. Melia is gorgeous and Gilbert's face made me smile! xxx
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely visit.
DeleteMelia is adorable & delightful - look at that sweet face! And then look at Gilberts face - equally adorable💙💙
ReplyDeleteWe are very lucky to have such loveliness in our lives. It helps to balance some of the unpleasant things we've had to experience this year.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely surprise visit.
ReplyDeleteMelia looks adorable, what lovely eyes she has.
Lovely photographs of both her and Gilbert.
All the best Jan
It was so nice to see them all.
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