• Peugeots, Plagues, and Pyrrhic Victories

    18th January 2007 We’ve spent the past few days trawling around what felt like every car dealership in the county. After much tyre-kicking and bonnet-lifting, Jamie has finally bagged himself a new set of wheels, thanks, rather conveniently, to our next-door neighbour! Ian, who works as a sales representative for the local Ford dealer, was… Continue Reading

  • Fireworks, Flu and a Field Road Fiasco

    8th January 2008The day before New Year’s Eve, I took my mother back to Yorkshire and returned to Harborough the same day. She’d found having a houseful of excited young uns rather tiring, understandably so. She’s used to nodding off in an armchair at will or reading the paper in blessed silence. But with eight… Continue Reading

  • Santa, Sickness and Strikes (Mostly Not Mine)

    27th December 2007Christmas Eve:Everyone arrived safely at Willow Bank, and the presents were all piled under the tree, clearly not hidden well enough, as some people (naming no names) couldn’t resist a cheeky prod or shake. Next year, we really must stash them out of sight until the big day. The weather was grim enough… Continue Reading

  • A Festive Week of Carols, Colds, and Christmas Chaos

    24th December 2007 Monday found the rest of the family mysteriously occupied in various corners of the house, study, dining room, and bedrooms, all engaged in their top-secret missions. There was the tell-tale rustle of wrapping paper, the unmistakable zip of Sellotape, and the furtive scribble of tags. I, on the other hand, had bought,… Continue Reading

  • Of Concerts, Chaos and a Very Civilised Toddler Rave

    9th December 2007  Monday night saw Sarah and me off to De Montfort Hall in Leicester for the ‘Chairman’s Concert’. Our school choir performed, and once again, they were brilliant. It’s just a shame they can’t see or hear themselves in action; if they could, they’d realise just how good they are. Sue, still nobly… Continue Reading

  • Crackers, Colts, and Christmas Chaos

    2nd December 2007Another thoroughly unremarkable week, livened only by the weather doing its best impression of a hormonal teenager, sunny one moment, sulking the next. Friday saw Sarah and me teaming up for the School Christmas Fayre, where we manned the Christmas hamper stall with all the charm and persuasion of market traders. Miraculously, we… Continue Reading

  • Highley, Steam Trains, Sore Feet and Nail Extensions

    26th November 2007The Palmer family had a fairly uneventful week, all things considered, the usual relentless grind for all of us. Sue clocked up yet another full week, Sarah was run ragged at school, Jamie was juggling college and the carpentry workshop, and I made it my mission to fell half a forest in the… Continue Reading

  • From Hospital Beds to the Royal Albert Hall

    18th November 2007 Poor little Lucas ended up in the hospital this week with a nasty urinary infection. He was put on a drip and kept in overnight; he must’ve been feeling truly rotten. Charlotte stayed with him, of course, but understandably didn’t get much shut-eye. She and Lucas had originally planned to stay the… Continue Reading