19th May 2009

I’m getting thoroughly fed up with the weather. The wind and rain seem to be on a rota, with the “weather witches” hurling heavy downpours and gales our way on a near-daily basis. The poor plants, which by now should be basking in open-air beds, are still cowering behind greenhouse glass. Watering them has become something of a ballet, tiptoe here, duck under that, squeeze past this, because there’s barely room to breathe in there, let alone water anything.

On the rare days when the rain takes a breather, Jamie and I have managed to deck the balcony outside our bedroom. He measured everything with professional precision, and despite my initial suspicion that he’d wildly over-ordered the timber, it turned out to be spot on. Three years of training and he’s finally emerging as a fully-fledged joiner! Naturally, I made use of the offcuts, fashioning a table, two planters, and a rather rustic pot-holder. Now all I need is a bit of decent weather to sit out there with a morning coffee and pretend I’m on the Amalfi Coast (rather than ducking flying plant pots in a Leicestershire gale).

In a moment of madness, or perhaps delusion, I agreed to a 26-mile bike ride on Sunday with New Zealand friend Peter. Uphill. In the wind. And, naturally, in the rain. Four and a half hours of pedalling, during which we were forced (ahem) to take shelter in a pub. By the time I got home and inhaled a well-earned lunch, I promptly fell asleep mid-afternoon. My legs are still negotiating terms for future outings.

A triumph on the fungi front! Philippa gave me a mushroom-growing kit for Christmas, and having tried and failed several times in the past to grow anything remotely edible, I didn’t hold out much hope. But lo and behold, yesterday morning I breakfasted on mushrooms I grew myself! Plump, earthy, and rather delicious. There are more on the way, too. It seems West Country mushroom kits are made of sterner stuff than their northern cousins.

Jamie is currently behind the wheel of a Matiz, a courtesy car from the insurance company of the taxi driver who ploughed into the back of him. I once drove a Matiz in Kefalonia and recall that it had a deep-seated aversion to corners, which is unfortunate on an island made almost entirely of bends and cliffs. Jamie isn’t overly impressed either, but it’s got an ‘08’ plate, and that’s enough to keep his mates suitably envious for now.

Sue recently went to the theatre to see Gervase Phinn, former OFSTED inspector turned raconteur. Given that OFSTED inspectors rank only slightly below traffic wardens in terms of public affection, I was pleasantly surprised to hear he was very entertaining. He mostly worked in Yorkshire, where I imagine the headteachers gave as good as they got. Sue wisely didn’t invite me; he probably gets enough grumbling Yorkshiremen without importing them from Leicestershire.

On Friday, Sue also took Sarah to see The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in Harborough. I was originally slated to go, but Sarah expressed interest, and, as ever, I was easily ousted. I consoled myself by spending the evening fixing a friend’s computer. Rock and roll.

Back at HQ, Jamie has finished building all the components for Nan’s new walk-in wardrobe. Said components are now artistically arranged (i.e. scattered) all over my study. He’s eager to drive to South Yorkshire and install it, but since he lacks a vehicle capable of carrying more than a shoebox, I’m the designated driver and transporter. Unfortunately, Nan is supposed to be going to a wedding in Wales this weekend, so the installation may need to wait…

On a far sadder note, I received an email from my stepbrother David, who lives with his wife Genya in Bulgaria. While they were out for the day, their home was burgled. Among the stolen items were their laptops, which tragically contained all of Genya’s writing, three years’ worth of stories she’d hoped to publish, as well as their wedding and holiday photos. No backups. It’s a heartbreaking loss. Still, they’re remarkably stoic and have turned their energy to other projects around the house and garden. Resilience in action.

Sarah, meanwhile, is slap-bang in the middle of her exams. She’s focused, calm, and quietly determined. We’re all rooting for her; she’s worked so hard, and if there’s any justice, she’ll get the results she deserves.