co-incidence or ............?

Somewhere on a list of fave books on a blog profile is the title 'Driving Over Lemons' - it was a title that appealed, and last week scrummaging around a bookstall - there it was. By Saturday night it had practically burnt a hole in the bedside table I was that desperate to start it.......

I was not to be disappointed! I absolutely loved it but..... did I have a surprise.........anybody who has read this lovely book will undoubtedly remember Chloe's christening undertaken by the botanist/retired vicar - Richard Blakeway Phillips who was in Andalucia with his wife Eleanor - I sort of squawked/shrieked waking up sleeping husband 'I know them' - you can imagine husband's response -'well I don't - so SHUT UP!' 'But you DO...' I persisted at my peril....

Anybody who lives or has lived in Clun would know them - I have no idea where they are now, but it was so strange finding them popping up in a book about living in Spain written by a former Genesis drummer. How weird is that?

Today we were on our way to take the lawnmower to be serviced and stopped at the garage - a frantically waving woman in a car got my attention - big hugs and much squealing later - we had been friends since primary school, all through secondary school but then our paths had gone in totally different directions. Not any more - we have re-converged! Look Out WORLD - we have already been on the phone non stop - the e mail traffic has started!

After delivering lawn mower it was on to the road to Welshpool to Coed Y Dinas to find the shepherd some new boots, Coed Y Dinas was SHUT! Unbelievable! A power cut did the damage apparently - so on we went to Newtown which despite a new Tesco feels as though its dying on its feet - more empty shops than ever, market stalls thin on the ground - then I got another surprise as somebody shouted my name - a neighbour who had moved away a few years ago came from behind a display of ethnic scarves - more hugging and squeaking, shepherd was included this time. Thank goodness.

Meanwhile on with the task - no boots in Newtown - back to Welshpool - success - thank you Mr Gwythyr - mind you if we had gone up to Bishops Castle in the first place like wot I wanted to....I'll say no more.

It's Valentine's Day tomorrow and yes it's the shepherd's birthday - never has there been a more un apt birthday for a person - EVER! I really will say no more ...................

..

Good Days - Bad days

I am unashamedly nicking a blog title and format from Mountainear, I absolutely writhed when I read her blog of this title never thinking that within a few days there was only one way to describe the Wednesday from Hell that was yesterday.

Hmmmmm it started well enough - well that's if you have the overpowering urge to catch a train to Wolverhampton, find the imposing building that houses The Magistrates Court and attend a training course which was so inspiring I can't or the life of me remember what the hell it was called. Wolverhampton on a wet day in February would never have inspired Wordsworth that's for sure, I looked out of a tightly shut window down onto the dirty red brick and wet slates, a few pigeons fluttered aimlessly across the rooftop and the ventilation shafts puffed clouds of warm air out into the greyness. There was still salt and grit on all the pavements but no sign of snow or ice just depressing clinging wetness. The trains were on time and wonderously there were free seats - (I never got over standing all the way to Shrewsbury from Birmigham one vey hot day next to a very hairy, sweating man in a dirty vest - yuk!)

Adventure into the heart of the Black Country over, heave a sigh of relief and look foward to the evening ahead.......

That believe it or not was the good bit - now for the bad bit...........

The little family down in the valley are now firmly back in the working routine and everything is, or rather has to be, planned like a military operation with every eventuality covered. So Wednesday nights we have to step in to a gap that happens now and again when N is on nights starting at 6pm and T is on days and doesnt get home until after 8:30 - no problem! I should be able to rustle up a meal for us, feed and bed two babes and feed a tired mum when she gets in - of course I should - so just WHY did everything go so wrong yesterday?

I drove home working out in my head what I was going to cook and jumped when nearing the village blue lights flashed in my rear view mirror, I pulled over as you do and proceeded to follow the ambulance into the village. It indicated right - so did I! The front door was open and there was a lot of activity - I parked around the back and legged it into the house thinking one of the babes had been taken ill. In the lounge a strange man sat entertaining the two little ones whilst what ever was going on went on in the hallway. I asked the perfect stranger who seemed very pleasant what on earth was going on -

It appeared that N had been feeling unwell for a couple of days and it had finally culminated in him feeling faint, ringing T (who was 10 miles away at work) she rang a friend in the village who was out but her very kind husband rushed in to find N flat out on the bathroom floor - out cold. When I tried to peer round the door all I could see was N's feet sticking out through the door and bottoms in green trousers all bending over him - I could hear them laughing so wasn't unduly worried - I meant they arent that callous are they these ambulance personnel ?

T then rushed in through the door, the friend arrived and a couple of neighbours and basically it was a full house - should I make tea - I thought - then thought better of it - didnt think there enough cups for a start.....

The decision was made to take N into A&E for some tests and very soon they were on their way with one demented T and friend following close behind. I said goodbye to all the other folk ,who ever they were, and heaved a sigh of relief as the door closed. I changed the baby and fed the pair of them, tidied up, cooked tea and waited for my other half to appear - and waited and waited ..........yep - he had forgotten where he was dining and was patiently sitting at home with a roaring log burner and Thursday night's tea cooking ......

Middle son rang him, 'I've broken down, where's mum I need the AA card details?' he asked

'Where are you?' asks N trying to be helpful father....

'In the car' came the reply .......

'WHERE ARE YOU?' helpful father tries again - slowly and with feeling

'IN THE SODDING CAR!' equally slowly with increasing exasperation came the reply.

Its a wonder we ever get anything done in our house ...............

Eventually the light dawned on the errant husband where I was and where he should have been, the AA found the wayward son and delivered him to us , and N was diagnosed with an viral ear infection ..........

did we laugh...best laid plans and all that .......

Better luck next Wednesday!