The Dorset Family

No photographs of the Dorset Family! No opportunities, so here's a photograph of Arthur this morning, saying, 'It's about time we went out for a walk!'

On Tuesday evening I had a call from my eldest daughter, asking if it would be all right for her to visit the following day. She had been intending to descend on us without warning, but her elder daughter said, ‘Mum, haven’t you read Janice’s blog? She said that it's lovely to see people, but a little advance notice would be helpful.’

I was surprised at that. I didn’t know that Marnie read my blog. Anyway, Gillian took the advice to heart. On Wednesday, Gillian, her daughters, one son-in-law and all six of her grandchildren arrived. Their dogs remained in Dorset.

Five-month-old Hailey was passed to me and sat happily on my knee watching her cousins. The other three girls, Marnie’s daughter, Isla, who is twelve, Kiri’s daughter, Ariella, four, and Callum’s daughter Melia, two and a half, did what girls usually do. They settled down on the floor with paper and coloured pencils, then gravitated to construction toys with gears and cogs. It’s clear that they spend a lot of time together, giving, taking, and working cooperatively.

Fergus, who is nearly eleven, concentrated on playing with the dogs, particularly Gilbert. He is very much at ease with animals.

 Luca was busy pressing buttons and investigating the contents of cupboards and drawers. He will be three in October and is ‘into everything’ as the saying goes. He needs a dedicated full-time adult to monitor his actions, and prevent them if necessary possible. He found the cat litter tray especially interesting. The texture of the granules was pleasing as it poured through his fingers. Naturally, the more he was dissuaded from investigating it, the greater was the fascination. Fortunately, the tray only contained unused litter! The cats were prowling around, quite unaffected by the sudden influx of people, particularly small ones.

Gilbert and Arthur were intrigued by the baby and gently licked her toes, which she seemed to enjoy. Roxy, of course, is an old hand paw with little humans, and knew which ones to attend, principally Luca, who was waving his food around in a tantalising manner.

Barry took Marnie and Dean into the garden, to pick apples and plums, of which there are an abundance. All the children, apart from Hailey, had a turn around the garden – such a Regency phrase!

Our garden is no longer a children’s space, in the sense that they cannot play football, cricket, or tennis in it, or ride their bikes, but it is full of interest. We have tried to divide it into ‘rooms’ with a winding path and arches which support a variety of climbing plants. Actually, it’s more the case that the plants support the arches now.

Marnie was in seventh heaven. Her ambition is to have a self-sufficient garden. She already grows a few vegetables, but has plans for much more when she and Dean can acquire a house with a bigger garden.

She came back into the house laden with fruit, a branch (!) of bay leaves to dry, thyme, oregano, a number of different mint plants, which she can root on, and a great quantity of cobnuts. She and Paul, her father, have been engaged in creating chutneys and pies. The crab apples are not ripe, so she will have to make a return journey to pick those for crab apple jelly. I haven’t made that for some years now as somehow everything in sight gets covered in stickiness.

They had to leave early as Fergus had a football match near Blandford. He’s a tall boy and plays goalkeeper, like his sister, Isla, and just as his mother used to.

All too soon, the house was relatively empty again and peace descended. The dogs and cats slept well, Gilbert retiring to (our) bed shortly after his supper at 6:30.

Tonight, there will be more upheaval for Arthur when Susannah returns. He will be so excited. He’s a lovely little dog, very faithful and affectionate and we shall miss him when he returns to London with Susannah and her cats.

Steam fairs

 

Steam fairs

Today, the Glorious Twelfth, has felt like a Saturday all day long. It’s also hot.

We all have different interests and hobbies. Sometimes they overlap, perhaps the most obvious one being photography.

My eldest daughter and son-in-law spend many summer weekends at steam fairs across the country. It is a way for Gillian to ensure that Paul is released from the constant calls for him to sort out someone’s plumbing. He’s a reliable, hard-working plumber and has a reputation for charging fair rates. In fact, he doesn’t charge what he's worth, which is another reason his work is in demand. He has an abiding interest in military vehicles, not surprising, I suppose, since his father was in the army and Paul lived in army quarters for much of his young life.

He enjoys repairing vehicles and preparing them for exhibition. A few years ago, he acquired a 1956 Daf YA Dutch Army Weapons Carrier. He tinkered with it, found authentic spare parts, and eventually drove it to rallies. Then he painted a twin-axle caravan to match – olive drab! – and hauled that along, too.

Following that, he bought a Bombardier military motorcycle and a Hillman 12 RAF staff car. His daughters Marnie and Kiri take it in turns to drive the car. I’m not sure how the motorbike gets to the steam fairs – in the Daf, I suppose, along with the dogs.

Sometimes, Gillian and Paul go to rallies on their own. At other times, one or two of their children accompany them with their families, towing a more conventional-looking caravan – that is, not olive drab.

Luca, 2, and Ariella, 4, in camouflage outfits!

It’s a grand way to escape from the humdrum of daily life. The rallies are held in fairly remote locations in large fields, so there’s plenty of room for dogs and small children to play safely. Many connections are made, and much knowledge and experience are gained. Paul returns with ever more plans and Gillian smiles and leaves him to it. 

Visits

 

Visits

Push-up puppet. I love these little toys! He looks as if he has strange growths on his legs, but they're tree branches behind  him.

I had an ophthalmology appointment last Wednesday – just the usual annual check – but I postponed it as I’m still learning to walk without falling over (I jest!)

It was fortunate that I had, because our eldest daughter, Gillian, arrived unexpectedly with her younger daughter, and three of her grandchildren. Gillian has three children and six grandchildren, ranging in age from one month to twelve years. So, we had Ariella, a very competent four-year-old, and her brother Luca, who is two and a half, and their cousin, Melia, who is two. Melia had broken her arm in two places a few days previously, and had a half-cast on it, but it didn’t stop her doing everything she wanted to.

We had a delightful time with them. The children are all very accustomed to spending time with big dogs, so Roxy and Gilbert were simply accepted as part of the furniture. The cats were more of a novelty, but are unfazed by children, and can swiftly take to the heights if necessary.

They left for the homeward journey with Kiri’s car loaded with last Christmas’s presents and a selection of toys, books and bedding no longer needed in our house. We still have plenty left!

Blue Power Ranger. Apparently, he is autistic, I've just discovered! I think we have some different Power Rangers, too.

On Easter Sunday, Bethan and Robert came for lunch with Charlie and Jack. Barry had promised to cook a roast beef joint ‘sous vide.’

‘Sous vide is a cooking method where food is vacuum-sealedin a bag and then cooked in a precisely regulated water bath for a prolonged period at a low temperature.  This technique ensures even cooking, tender texture, and moisture retention in the food.'

The joint was ceremoniously placed in its water bath on Saturday morning, where it remained for twenty-four hours. While Barry went out for a walk with Bethan and family, and the dogs, I continued preparing vegetables. When they returned home, it was time for the moment of revelation.

 As Barry lifted the meat from the sous vide bath, the bag containing it split, and the beef ended up on the floor. I was so glad I wasn’t responsible for it and just cackled with laughter. It was swiftly picked up and run under the tap and patted dry, ready to be sealed in the frying pan. Roxy and Gilbert were delighted, and spent a long time licking up the juice, which otherwise would have supplemented the gravy. Barry will double-bag the meat next time!

 The meat was delicious, very tender, and moist. Bethan had made an apple and blackberry crumble, and I had made a fruit trifle, so we ‘filled our boots’ to capacity after the main course. We don’t usually eat much during the day. Barry has breakfast and supper, and I normally just have supper.

‘Sous vide’ requires forethought and planning, not something for which I am renowned. I’m more of a ‘look in the fridge and see what’s available’ cook.

Jack had made a collage for me, entitled, ‘The city and the sun’ and I’ve promised him that I’m going to mount and frame it. He also made me a birthday card, which made me laugh. 

Charlie made one, too, but he forgot to bring it with him. He said he'll bring it 'next time.'

Nearly everybody in our house slept very soundly last night. I had several bouts of cramp because I had been on my feet more than usual. It was a small price to pay for the privilege of spending quality time with family.

Tonight, we’re having cold meat and bubble and squeak, followed by fruit crumble and/or trifle. Then we’re returning to our usual light meals. It’s fun to have a blow-out now and then, though.

Cosies

 

Cosies

Knitted tea cosy

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Before the advent of thermal teapots, in the days of the Brown Betty or other ceramic teapots, and even in the early metal teapots, one way to keep the tea hot for longer was to use a tea cosy. This would usually be knitted or made of some quilted, padded material to insulate the pot. I didn’t use tea cosies but one day decided I would. I can’t remember how I came by it – it may have been a gift.

I was in the kitchen with my son-in-law, my late mother-in-law Dorothy, and my granddaughter, Kiri, who was then about two and a half years old. I made the tea and we all chatted as we waited for the tea to brew. None of us noticed that Kiri was pulling the teapot towards her until she screamed as the boiling liquid spilt onto her leg.  My stomach turns over even now, more than twenty years later, as I recall that tender flesh being scalded.

Kiri with her oldest boy cousin, Elliot. She is now married with two small children and he is 6'5" and breaking hearts.

Quickly, we dumped her into tepid water and tried to comfort her, while waiting for an ambulance, which came mercifully quickly and whipped her off to hospital. She returned later that day, skipping along, high on painkillers and then went down with a fever that evening, quite unrelated to the incident, along with her brother and sister. No serious damage had been done and the scar eventually healed and faded.

I don’t know why I used a tea cosy that day – I never had before and I certainly have never used one since. I didn't even use table cloths, knowing that they could be pulled off.  Without the cosy, Kiri would simply have felt the heat of the teapot on her fingertips and pulled back.

Knitted egg cosies

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

 Sometimes, egg cosies are used to keep boiled eggs warm.

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Happy Birthday

 

Happy Birthday

This week there are two birthdays in my family. My second grandson, Elliot, will be 25 on Saturday. My second great-grandson, Luca, is one year old today. Elliot and Luca are cousins, not quite first cousins as Luca’s mother, Kiri, is Elliot’s first cousin. She is three years older than him

                        Elliot and Kiri, just over twenty years ago

Celebrating birthdays was not always a commonly held tradition. It is only in the last century and a half that it has become customary for everyone to celebrate their birthdays. Before that only notable, important figures like rulers, Pharaohs for example, were celebrated.

However, Pharaohs did not celebrate their birthdays on the date they were born but on the day they were crowned. Pharaohs became gods at their coronation and so were reborn.

In Ancient Rome only men were allowed to acknowledge birthdays.

The song traditionally sung on birthdays started as a greeting song to be sung in classrooms.  ‘Good morning to all’ was written in the late nineteenth century and the melody was adopted by ‘Happy birthday to you.’

During the 18^th century German bakers started making cakes to celebrate children’s birthdays but it was the Ancient Greeks who are credited with putting candles on cakes. They made moon cakes as offerings to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and put candles on them. The crescent moon is a symbol associated with Artemis.

                    Luca on the beach this summer with his sister Ariella 

I think the celebrations for Luca and Elliot will be very different but I hope they both enjoy their days.    

Elliot at another cousin's wedding last year

The Nineteenth Blog of Augustus Lazarus Cooke (Gus)

Hello everyone!

It has been ages since I blogged. I told you last time that we had all gone to stay with Tia and Foxy and Buster for a day and how our people went out and left us with Dean. Well, we went to spend another day with them and this time we stayed with Kiri while everyone else went out and again everyone was happier when ‘it’ was over.* Kiri had two babies to look after ‘cos Susannah had taken Frankie down the night before ‘it’ but she was quite happy to stay at home and Frodo behaved himself – he knows Kiri very well. We got home very late that night and the kittens were pleased to see us.

The kittens are really big now – well, that’s what the Humans say. Course, they’re never going to be as big as us dogs. Just as well, I think, when I look at their sharp teeth and claws.

Mr H went off the other day to spend some time with some men he knew years and years ago. They all passed out together, he said – strange, I thought, but Mrs H explained that meant they were all remissioned on the same day (editor’s note: they were commissioned . . . )

Then, just after that Mrs H went to stay with Susannah and Frankie. 

She was looking after Frankie while Susannah went to work. Mr H had to learn how to work the washing machine and he even hung the washing out on the line. It was funny watching him – he puts the clothes out differently to Mrs H, not nearly as neat and tidy.

Now Tia and Foxy and Buster have come to stay for their summer holiday. It’s fun going for walks all together. T, F and B really enjoy the ponds in the forest – there’s not much water where they live. Yesterday we went out for ages. Buster is funny. He sits in the pond with the water up to his collar waiting for Mrs H to throw the Kong. He’s just as much of a cheat as Jenna and Bertie gets quite upset so Mrs H tricks Buster and pretends to throw the Kong in one direction but changes it at the last second. She has to do the same with Jenna so that I get a chance to retrieve the ball. Tia’s a good girl – she watches like I do and then races off. Foxy doesn’t bother. She likes retrieving biscuits but Mr and Mrs H aren’t doing that with her ‘cos she’s rather rounder than she should be and it’s not good for her joints.

It’s quite warm today so we’ll probably go to Simons Wood where there’s lots of shade but only one pond. 

It’s a big pond, more of a lake really, with ducks and geese and dabchicks and the water’s clear so we don’t come home carrying lots of mud in our coats. I hope we go soon . . . I like our walks.

Be good.

Hwyl fawr am nawr! (That’s Welsh for ‘Goodbye for now!’)

*’it’ was Trevor’s funeral. Trevor is Mr H’s brother.

Graduation Day

Friday 2^nd November was a day we had been looking forward to. It was Gillian’s graduation ceremony at Guildford Cathedral.

The day dawned bright and sunny, with a brisk wind. Gillian and Paul left early to collect Gillian’s gown and cap. I left later to drive Marnie, Kiri and Callum to Guildford. Barry stayed at home with the seven dogs and Winston. Sitting on a hard seat for several hours was not an option with his wonky knees and latterly aggravated hips.

Guildford Cathedral celebrated its half-century in 2011. Construction was started before the beginning of WWII then halted during the war. Building work was delayed for some years after the end of the war, lack of money being the prime reason. Indeed, people were encouraged to ‘buy a brick’ to help the completion.

In subsequent years etched glass and stone sculptures have been added to what is a very plain brick structure, somewhat utilitarian in appearance. The interior is rather different. It is a building full of light and space and has an extraordinarily peaceful atmosphere. There is very little in the way of stained glass, a circular window above the high altar and arched windows at the opposite end of the nave, above the West Front, and a couple of other small works. The vaulted ceiling soars overhead with inset lights.

Above the High Altar

 The vaulted ceiling above the Nave

Windows above the West Front

As the gowned dignitaries of the university prepared to process I was suddenly aware of a problem. I told Callum, ‘I need to find a loo’ and quickly exited the cathedral, heaving and hoping I wasn’t going to create work for the cleaners. Concerned helpers escorted me outside and alerted the Red Cross volunteers. All I wanted was to be left alone in the cold, fresh air, but these kind folks asked me questions, took my blood pressure, checked my pulse. I knew what was wrong. Before leaving home I had gulped some Gaviscon (a heartburn/indigestion antacid liquid). This is something I do if I am feeling queasy – I have a ‘nervous’ stomach. Unfortunately, in a hurry, I grabbed the wrong bottle, shook it vigorously and took a swig. As soon as it hit my mouth I realised it was calamine lotion. I looked at the label: Warning. For external use only. Well, I knew that but really I was checking instructions. They didn't say anything about seeking immediate medical advice so I was reassured. Plans need not be changed. I rinsed my mouth with mouthwash, swallowed some Gaviscon, got the children in the car and proceeded to Guildford.

Now, I haven’t a nervous disposition, I’m not easily disturbed, but even so, I don’t think the second Red Cross man’s opening remark to me was particularly diplomatic. ‘I hear you’ve been trying to commit suicide,’ he said. I laughed, rather grimly, it’s true, but I laughed.

‘You’ll have to go to A and E (Accident and Emergency)’  I groaned.  He said I could drive there. The only problem was that my car was in a city car park, not outside the cathedral. The children and I had taken a shuttle bus from it to the cathedral and I had no idea how to get back to it. So, he phoned the ambulance service. Eventually, two impossibly young and very charming paramedics arrived, took me through all the questions again and deposited me at the hospital, where I waited and waited and waited. 

The department was very quiet – I’ve never seen an A&E department so empty. Finally, a doctor saw me, asked the same questions and told me not to worry. (I wasn't worried, just fed up with myself.)

‘It’s inert,’ he said of the calamine. ‘Your body will get rid of it. You could have taken a glass of water or milk to neutralise it.’

Meanwhile, back at the cathedral, Gillian and Paul were wondering what was going on. As I was about to phone Paul, he phoned me. I told him not to worry, I was perfectly all right, and he and Gillian and the children were to go on to the reception. I would find my way back to the car and go home. At this point I wasn’t quite sure how I would achieve this but I’m quite a positive person. I knew the name of the road!

The cathedral stands on a hill, a noticeable landmark. With that in view, I set off in what I hoped was the right direction. I soon found myself walking along a dual carriageway so retraced my steps, found an out-of-town supermarket and phoned for a taxi that took me to the station. The car park was near a railway line but it was not the station car park. Hey ho! As I tramped along the road a vehicle sounded its horn behind me. Lo and behold, it was Paul. I thanked him but I was cross with him, too. He took me to the car park where Gillian was waiting, still in cap and gown.

Her first words were, ‘I was worried sick.’ Then she said, ‘The only good thing is that Dad doesn’t know anything about this.’ 

Barry has a tendency to go into Superman mode, moving heaven and earth and anything in his way to achieve his ends. This usually results in many people rushing round like crazed ants to do his bidding.

Later she said, ‘You could have been mugged.’

Marnie said, ‘She had the SatNav in her bag; she could have used that.’

I would have found the car park – I was on the right road – but I am an idiot . . .

I missed Gillian's graduation . . .

The Graduates walk along the Nave after graduation

Outside Guildford Cathedral - the traditional 'caps in the air' ceremony

Gillian, B.A. (Hons) 

Of dogs and children . . .

There’s nothing preferential in the order of subjects in the title – it just trips off the tongue better that way.

You may have registered my absence from the blog world, apart from a few comments here and there. I have taken up bed and breakfast duties - at least that’s what it has felt like for a few days.

It’s half-term in UK, a time when teachers sigh wearily with relief at the thought of a few days away from the demands of their students. The schools close for a week and the streets and shops are thronged with happy children and their sometimes fraught parents.

Gareth was scheduled to go to New York on business and as the trip fell in half-term Nina seized the opportunity to accompany him and visit friends in the city. Accordingly they asked if their children might come and stay with us for a few days. Naturally, we were delighted and so I drove to Buckinghamshire to collect them last Thursday. The car was filled with excited chatter as we returned to Berkshire, a lot of it being speculation about how much Bertie would have grown since they last saw him.

The dogs, Gus in particular, were delighted to see the children and made a big fuss of them. In their turn they greeted the dogs and were amazed at Bertie’s size.

On Friday, Eve and I went to the garden centre where she chose violas and cyclamens for our tubs. We intended to plant them but just didn’t find the time. Elliot and I went to the bottle bank to deposit glass bottles and jars.

In the evening Gillian and her children arrived. Paul was still working on their central heating – it’s an intricate affair with what seems like miles of copper pipes, comprising a solid fuel burner with a back boiler to provide hot water, heated radiators and under floor heating in their conservatory. It’s complicated and time-consuming simply because Paul can only work on it when he’s finished his day job working on other people’s replacement kitchens, bathrooms, boilers. It’s a busman’s holiday for him, poor man!

The cousins were very happy to see each other. The last time they were all together was in August when we went camping.  The boys slept together and Kiri and Eve shared a bed. Marnie found their giggling too much and invaded Gillian’s bed.

The next three days passed in a blur of children of varying shapes and sizes and dogs of different ages with Winston alternately cuddled by young humans or chased by puppies. The children swam in the pool – sometimes twice a day - and we walked in the forest each day. 

That was always a protracted affair with several people and dogs but the weather was beautiful, with warm sun and clear skies.

On Sunday evening we had a birthday supper for Marnie as it was to be her eighteenth birthday on Tuesday and she was going home on Monday. Despite Gillian’s best endeavours to leave early it was evening by the time they set off, having walked and swum and eaten together once more. We gave Marnie her present – a satnav to ensure she need never get lost in her car - and she used it in tandem with Gillian’s device on their journey back to Dorset.

After Gillian and her family had left, the house felt strangely quiet, although there were still two adults, three children, three dogs, one puppy and a cat. The dogs felt it, too. Bertie seemed quite bereft, having spent all his time with Buster, even sleeping with him at night in the puppy pen in our room. He made up for it by chasing Winston even more exuberantly than ever. Gus had missed playing with Bertie who had been completely absorbed in frolicking with Buster, so he was happy to have his playmate back.

On Tuesday, we walked to the village and played ‘guide dogs’ on the way. This game involves one person pretending to be blind and being guided by the others. I was amazed by the children’s wholehearted participation.  Louis was the first to play blind, and he shut his eyes and trusted his safety completely to his siblings. Elliot and Eve were the same in their turn.

After lunch the children and I took the dogs out. We left Bertie at home as he was very tired after the weekend’s exertions. The sun was shining in a blue sky when we began our afternoon walk but soon the heavens opened and we felt the full force of Nature’s power shower. Eve and Louis had hoods on their tops so were partially protected. Elliot and I had no head covering and were soon drenched. Fortunately there was no wind or we would have been chilled very quickly. We all had hot showers and a change of clothes when we got home.

The children knew that Nina was due to land on Wednesday and were up and packed very early in the morning. In the way that children approach these things they had forgotten about the clothes I had washed! They were so pleased to see their mum again and to be back in their own surroundings. Nina had had a wonderful time catching up with old friends but she had missed her children just as they had missed her. I know they enjoyed staying with us and spending a lot of time with the animals and we loved having them but there really is no place like home. 

Gareth flies into UK on the 'red eye' on Saturday and I know he will be relieved to be home once more.

I had forgotten just how much time is spent preparing food, clearing up after meals, washing, tidying, overseeing children. To think I used to do it automatically and go out to work full-time! Now my daughter and daughter-in-law execute the same tasks without even thinking about them. 

So now it’s just Barry and me and the animals again. Our house never feels completely empty but it was lovely to have young ones with us again for a while. Children fill a home in a way that no other beings can J 

I Saw Sunday #54 The weekend

This weekend Gillian and Kiri and Callum came for the weekend. Paul was working on the central heating in their house and thought Gillian would prefer to be somewhere where hot and cold running water were still available! Marnie stayed at home to make sure her father was supplied with refreshments at regular intervals (also her boy-friend is going away for a couple of weeks and they wanted to spend some time together.)

The puppies were delighted to see each other and all the adult dogs greeted each other with pleasure, in Gus’ case, rather too much so. He really seems to be in love with Foxy who is far too soft to tell him off when he gets overly familiar. He became rather possessive and had to be rebuked. He’s a very intelligent dog and learns quickly what is acceptable and what is not.

On Saturday morning Buster, Bertie’s brother, was exploring the garden and went behind the holly tree to find himself on the far side of the pond. I have been working on the pond recently, dragging out rampant water plants. This just ensured that the duck weed had more room to spread itself. To inexperienced puppy eyes the bright green blanket looks quite solid and Buster stepped onto it and through it into the cold water below. He then swam from one end of the pond to the other and managed to haul himself out. Gillian roared with laughter when he went back into the house, dripping wet and with a fetching nasal decoration of duck weed. He was none the worse for the experience and was quickly rubbed dry. So now both the puppies have discovered that they can swim.

We took all the dogs walking in the forest later and the puppies watched closely as their larger friends and relations retrieved tirelessly. Bertie and Buster chased where they could but were both quite careful at the edges of the large pond.

Frodo was very ataxic – some days he’s more affected than others – and stumbled and pulled a muscle in his hind leg. He had to be helped along with a sling but went into the water as he always does. 

Unfortunately, getting out was quite a problem for him and by the time he had managed it, with a good deal of assistance from me, he was no longer a sparkling white Dalmatian with clear, black spots but a strange amalgam of Dalmatian and mud.

Back home he had to have a cold shower in the garden before he could be allowed indoors. He never complains – I really think I could do just about anything to him and he wouldn’t turn a hair. Not unnaturally the shower made him shiver but I gave him warm milk with an egg and a little sugar and he soon warmed up. Then I put one of the Ruffwear harnesses on him, which made me a little sad. It’s not even a year since Buddy was wearing these, but he was nearly fifteen when he died and had rear end weakness. Frodo is not ten until December. Today, though, he was a different dog, prancing along beside me.

Yesterday afternoon we took Bertie to London to see Bethan and Robert in their new house. Bertie was delighted to have another lap to snooze on and thoroughly enjoyed bumbling around their pretty garden.

Today all the dogs were tired, the puppies particularly, but they all enjoyed another romp in the forest. Gillian has gone home to Dorset and the house seems strangely quieter now with just its customary inhabitants.

I am linking to I Saw Sunday here

Planks and Planking

Calling someone ‘a plank’ is not complimentary. I suppose it’s a contraction of ‘as thick as two short planks’, the derivation of which can be found here.

Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase & Fable states, “As thick as two short planks. Very obtuse. Two short planks laid together are twice as thick as one long one.”

Siblings are wont to call each other planks in a jocular way. Some of my grandchildren have taken to imitating planks and enjoy planking all over the place. The images are rather blurred, I'm afraid. Perhaps the person taking the photos was laughing too hard!! 

Kiri and Callum planking on the London Eye

Callum planks on a car

Kiri planks on a gangplank

Callum planking in wet weather gear - appropriate for washing machines!

Kiri planks on the furled sail

Planking is sometimes called the ‘lying down game’ and is fun when practised safely.

I think it has given rise to a new form or social interaction:-

“Do you plank here often?”

“Shall we plank?”

“I’ll plank if you will.”

“I want to plank with you forever.”

Perhaps there will be new ditties! This one, to be sung to the tune of ‘Are you lonesome tonight?’ could be a hit!

“Are you planking tonight?

Do you miss me tonight?

Are you glad that we planked so much time?

Do you sometimes recall that you once made me fall

From the wall that I planked on in slime?

Are the places we planked still attractive and fair,

Do you wish we could plank ourselves over some chairs?

Are you looking for fun, shall I be the one,

Darling, please, are you planking tonight?”

There will be variations, of course.

“Be my little chipboard and I‘ll be your nail.”

“Two by four and four by two – we’re made for each other.”

“You’re a splinter in my heart and you hurt me so.”

“He’s as false as a laminate board.”

“They’ve been floorboarded – the bank won’t make them a loan.”

“He’s fibreglass – light, smart, hasn’t got the values of the old hearts of oak.”

You can plank anywhere!

I don’t think I’ll go planking! 

The Seventh Family Birthday of the Year

Kiri at 4

Kiri is my eldest daughter’s younger daughter and she is sixteen today. She should not have made her way into the world until September, 1995, but she was in a hurry. Consequently, she has always been among the very youngest in her year but has held her own.

This summer Kiri left school and intends to go on to sixth form studies at college. Her aim is to become a paediatric nurse and she certainly has the right attributes for that. She is kind and caring and gentle with her younger cousins and her friends’ smaller siblings without allowing them to take advantage of her. She enjoys all the family pets - hers and ours - and from an early age has never baulked at looking after them and clearing up when necessary.

Kiri is an excellent swimmer and a capable wind-surfer. She excels at any sport she attempts and although she is very slender and looks fragile she has an inner core of strength. 

She is not talkative with adults, except on a one-to-one basis, but much goes on behind her beautiful blue eyes and she is funny and blunt with her peers. Her friends value her loyalty and level-headedness. Her family appreciates her love and affection and sense of humour. She is a quiet beauty with a determination and character uniquely hers.

Happy Birthday, Kiri – stay as sweet as you areJ

Kiri sailing in August this year