10th June 2007
Since Sarah and Jamie have their own MySpace pages, I thought it only right that I jump on the bandwagon and create a Blog. After all, why should the younger generation have all the fun? I was rather taken with Simon’s (nephew) travel blogs last year, a brilliant way to keep in touch as he gallivanted around the globe. His entries inspired me to have a go myself. I doubt mine will be quite as entertaining or exotic (unless Aldi counts as a foreign adventure), but I shall do my best!
The beginning:
This weekend didn’t quite go to plan. I’d intended to visit Charlotte, Suraj and young Lucas, but Lucas caught a stomach bug from nursery and generously shared it with Suraj, who promptly took to his bed with a heroic amount of moaning, groaning, and a roll of toilet paper clutched to his chest like a comfort blanket. According to Charlotte, he doesn’t do illness particularly well. Sensibly, we postponed the visit; no need for the bug to work its way through the extended family like a bad curry.
On the brighter side, I finalised our summer holiday plans on Saturday: we’re off to China in July (watch your back, Paul Merton), and then Thailand in August. That should leave us about five days at home to recover and catch up before heading back to work. Sue has already started wondering when she’s going to find time to do all the laundry, I can tell by the slightly panicked glint in her eye.
Yesterday, under the blazing sun, I thinned out the carrots and gave the ‘thinnings’ to Chocolate and Honey (the guinea pigs, not dessert items). A friend, Roger, came by, and we went for a walk along the Jurassic Way, which conveniently passes just past our house. We managed three hours of strolling, during which we stumbled across the remnants of a lost medieval village and what we think might be a hill fort, all without venturing more than two miles from the front door. Not bad, eh?
On a less cheerful note, my favourite sloe bushes are looking pitiful this year. A poor crop is bad news for the autumn sloe gin, a tragedy of national significance, in my view.
I had grand plans for a dip in the pool upon our return, but the heat was so stifling that we all ended up flopped about like beached seals. I gave in and had a kip instead. Priorities.
Tomorrow, at school, the Year 6s are off to York for the week, which leaves yours truly holding the fort, as our Head is going with them. It’s good practice for next year when she takes early retirement and flies off to Italy, leaving me as Acting Head until someone more permanent (and hopefully not completely bonkers) is appointed. She was meant to retire with me, but alas, plans change. I’ve forgiven her for now… but let’s see how I feel come November!
Sarah has been a star this weekend, helping Sue prepare her lessons (as she’s teaching every day next week), yet still managing to bag a personal best at Saturday night’s swimming gala. I vaguely remember having that kind of energy once… in a previous life.
To celebrate her achievements (she also received a Principal’s award for outstanding English), Sue made Sarah’s favourite meal on Sunday. I probably ought to ask Sarah to check over this blog for grammar and typos before I post it, I wouldn’t want to lose my credibility with the family’s resident English whizz.
Jamie, meanwhile, has his driving test looming, Friday the 13th of July, no less. That probably explains why there were so many appointment slots available on that particular date. He’s a good driver, though Sue and Charlotte think he’s too fast and forgets to check his mirrors. (Repeat endlessly.) Personally, I think he’s quite careful, sometimes overly so, especially compared to the two ladies doing all the complaining. Fingers crossed he passes the first time!
Palmer Family 
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