A little later . . .

Luca's official Sport's Day had been cancelled because of our very wet weather recently, but when the sun had appeared on Tuesday, the school had taken advantage of it and rushed outdoors to have an impromptu Sport's Day : )
I don't think P.I. really comprehended what was going on but Luca has a winner's medal.
After interrogation, I know everybody in the class got one except Tyler who had his withheld for laughing when another child fell over in the middle of a race.
Poor Tyler.








Luca obviously didn't laugh and nor was he first in any race, he said.
The medal?
With a sigh because it's so plain, Granny, it doesn't need explanation. . .
I was in the middle, three times.




Do you understand?
I'm none the wiser.

D'you remember me telling you about Tyler's wobbly tooth, last week?
Well, the inevitable happened. The tooth came out while he was brushing his teeth at bedtime!

Gary hadn't been privy to the tooth fairy story and was unaware of the wobbly tooth so when in the middle of brushing his teeth, Tyler began to spit out blood, you can imagine Gary's immediate thoughts, can't you.

However, on closer inspection he saw the tooth in amongst the the bloody froth and scooped it into a bit of tissue.

"So you wrapped it up and put it somewhere safe for him to take home?"

"No," said Gary. "We put it under his pillow and after he was asleep I crept in and replaced it with a £2.00 coin."

"Crikey Gary! Two pounds for a tooth. That's an expensive precedent you've set!"

To which he replied. . . "It was that or a twenty pound note!"
Point taken.

Wednesday evening 27th June

Monday evening was gorgeous. The sun was slanting down our road while I potted up the last of my plants for the front of the house.
Trish from next door appeared out about nine-ish and we sat on the wall and had a good old chinwag.
The midges eventually appeared and that was the end of that but it was good while it lasted : )
Yesterday followed Monday evening's example and as Luca and I walked up the lane that connects the school to the car park at the wee local shops where I'd left the car, he told me it was too hot!
Says it all. Doesn't it. It must have been all of 20 degrees : )
But that's it gone for another wee while.
The rain started yesterday evening and we got up this morning to yet more mist and rain ; (
Ian is through in the back room watching TV just now and I'm in the kitchen with the rhythmic churn of the dishwasher in the background keeping me company.
While I'm on the subject of the kitchen, Johanne and I took a trip along to Drumoak kitchens to see their kitchen tables, this morning.
Disappointment.
They don't carry any in stock!
Lots of kitchen displays if you're looking to install a new kitchen, which was very scary.
"Oh I hope I don't see one that I like better than the one I have!", is the worry, isn't it.
But lovely as they were, it's ok. Ours is just as pretty.
Phew!
So to get back to the story. . . The man I spoke to asked me what I was looking for and said he could make one for me.
He'll draw a plan and then give me a quote.
"Would you want drawers?" he asked.
Oh joy of joys!
Exactly what I wanted but couldn't find!
Now we need to wait and see. I've given him my email address. . . nothing yet - it's been seven and a half hours! : )




This is the lino I've chosen for the kitchen. Mock slate.
Not an easy decision. We tripped over sample books laid in strategic places on the kitchen floor, all week-end.




And this is one of the sky photos I took the other day when I began to notice some little chinks in the clouds : )
A glimpse of Heaven.

Wednesday 20th June

7.10am - Looking out of the window at sunshine on the trees wondering if this is just another glimpse of sunshine or the promise of a summer's day. There have been few enough of them this year so far.

So much rain!

Ian came home early last night from his 'Midsummer's Golf Outing' not only soaked yet again but with a tale of thunder and lightning! Not a happy situation to be in when you are sheltering under a tree with a bag full of metal golf clubs, oh no!

On a cheerier note, Carole has been keeping us up to date with her experiences at Bootcamp on Face Book and Gary has taken the afternoons off with a half nine start in the morning to cover the school run for Luca.

I bumped into Gary - not literally, on the dual carriageway heading for Inverurie, yesterday. We were both heading for the school to pick up Luca!

"I was driving alongside you for ages before you noticed me," Gary said when we were seated in the supermarket cafe with Luca and his wee buddy Tyler.

I had noticed there was a car there but in the minutes before I looked, I thought, "There's a car overtaking me."
Nothing unusual there. Happens to me all the time.
Then I'd thought, "Jings. This guy is trying to overtake me and his car engine doesn't have the power to do it."
Then I thought, "Why doesn't he just slow down a wee bit and tuck himself in behind me?"
Then it dawned on me. Gary's car is silver, the car to my left that's keeping pace with me is silver. No it couldn't be, on the other hand maybe it is. . . him!
And it was!
I turned my head and there he was waving away like mad : )

Tyler, Luca's little buddy was a last minute addition to our merry band. Problems at home had been solved by Gary's offer to take him home from school and keep him overnight.

He's a lovely wee guy!
"I've got a wobbly tooth," he told me with some pride. Luca's are still holding fast.
"Oh, let me see," I'd responded enthusiastically. You have to, don't you. It's a big thing after all.
So we got onto talking about the tooth fairy and then the pair of them started sharing the story of the film, it being apparent that nether realised that it was fiction!
". . . and then the boy grew wings!"
I haven't seen the film but I think the boy must have caused the fairy to have an accident and was obliged to take her place till she was better - at least that's what I think the wee ones were telling me. It's not easy translating 5 year old speak into intelligible story lines.
Anyway, Tyler looked at me across the tea table and said, "You look like the tooth fairy!"
Has anyone out here seen this film?
I'm betting the tooth fairy is a wee old woman with curly hair.



To finish off, here's the photo I took at Potty's on Sunday where Gary treated us to our dinner for Father's Day.
A totally male environment. Would you be surprised to hear that the conversation strayed several times onto the subject of football!

Ian, Luca and I ate dessert. Ice cream, sadly not chocolate for Luca, Eton Mess for Ian and I can't remember what mine was called but it was a long narrow plate with three little dishes on it. The middle one was vanilla ice cream, to the left was a shot glass filled with Amaretto and the the right, a shot of expresso. Lovely!

Don't feel too sad for Luca. The restaurant had run out of chocolate ice cream and yes, that was tragic, but Grandad had been given a box of Thornton's Chocolates by Gary for Father's Day and Luca got first picks when we got home.

Ian said I can eat as many of them as I like and I don't need to ask! : )
That's love isn't it!

Wednesday evening

I'm tired.
It's been a long day so I bought ready made curries from the supermarket for tea and I've eaten one already.

The sign above the display stated that you could buy two meals + one side dish for £5.00.

Right, I thought. I'll buy two times two meals for £10.00 and that'll do us for tea. I'm tired, I've had nothing to eat since breakfast so I'm starving too. Couldn't possibly manage to go home and start cooking.
But I don't want the side dishes - pakora, onion bhaji, samosas - no. Curry is enough calories without adding those in.

Having selected my curries, I made my way to the check out where having stood in a long line and having had a queue collect behind me, the young man explained that I could have a"two for £5.00" deal if I took a couple of side dishes.

I explained to the young man that I had noticed the deal but didn't actually want the side dishes. Could I not have the meals and just not bother taking the side dishes?

Unfortunately not, I was told.

My friend who has now asked me if I'm fond of Indian food, possibly because I am in possession of four, explained that the code on the side dishes is what triggers the deal. If he doesn't put through a side dish for each set of curries, they will present on the till as £3.60 each!

Oh no, I thought! I'm now thinking I'll just leave it. I really can't face going back to get some.

Will I run round and get a couple for you?

. . . .What a nice man!

Does anyone want a pack of onion bhaji or a mixed selection containing samosa, pakora and yet more onion bhaji?

Let's finish with a photo!



Luca took this one himself.



And I took this one myself!
Aren't we clever? : )

Thursday morning

Let me share yesterday with you.
I was at the dentist!

I had not been looking forward to what I was sure would be a back sweating, armrest gripping session!
But yesterday was the day arranged to have my broken tooth repaired.

Remember, part of the tooth had broken off while Ian and I sat in London Airport waiting for our flight to Sydney.

A dental check up last week revealed the extent of the damage; root intact, large metal filling present, not a lot else.

My very cheery and upbeat dentist had smiled at me through his enormous goggles and surgeon's mask,
"Ooh yes," he said, "well, this isn't too much of a problem! We'll rebuild the tooth . . . and I think we'll get rid of that nasty metal filling and replace it with a nice new white one!"

He always speaks to me as though I was five.

And so as I walked home yesterday, with a mouth that no longer followed commands, and a numb left nostril that made breathing just a touch difficult, I thought about what had been achieved and I was happy.

It's amazing how dental technology has progressed since I last needed any work done.
I felt nothing - literally : ) For several hours afterwards as well. But Drinking my coffee through a straw, having spilt it down my front is a small price to pay.

And, I didn't know you could get your fillings matched to the shade of white of your teeth either!

Incredible!

Maybe I could get the dentist to remove that 'nasty metal filling' you can see when I smile? And replace it with a white one that matches my teeth.
Hmm. Maybe not.




Nice flowers?
I thought so when I saw them in Morrison's.
They only cost £2.00 and I've had them for a week already!

Wednesday

Have just watched 'Heir Hunter' while having breakfast.
Vera from the wedding, eats cake for breakfast! She says that most Italians eat cake - not gooey gateaux - more like fruit loaf style cake.
Why not? Eat the bulk of your calories early in the day gives you the chance to burn them off, right?
So I've finished the boiled ham that was in the fridge instead of my usual Ryvita. Let's see how long it keeps me going!
Yesterday was the doctors for me.
Doctor Henderson - who is probably young enough to be my grandchild had I started my family as early as possible and so had my daughter, his mother!
His mother isn't actually my daughter, you realise. I'm just surmising. OK?
He has ruled out my heart and lungs and has now ruled out my pancreas, seemingly you can tell by having a good feel to see if it's swollen.
I suggested it might be skeletal - from carrying heavy bags home from work every night and he thought it was a possibility. So, he's given me a painkiller gel and said to use it for a month. If it works, great, just phone in and they'll add it to my prescription. If not, come back and see him!
Luca came over here after school. Gary had texted in the morning to say he would come over here to pick up Luca since both he and Carole were going to be late back.
I sat having tea at the kitchen table with Ross, Gary and Luca! Wasn't that nice?
We had chicken breasts and homemade chips . . . and Luca ate it all - plus three peas! Brilliant - things are looking up!
The rain is still raining here and Luca had an indoor play, yesterday. So he coloured in a picture of a crab for his mummy and he drew a picture of his family for me.




Gary said, "You've put hair on me!"
"No," Luca replied in his condescending manner, "That's your spikes!"
Silly Daddy.
Two episodes of 'Silent Witness ironing' yesterday. At least the same to do today! I hate bedlinen!!
And today is also the dentist. . .
Not looking forward to my session of back sweating, armrest clinging agony on the dentist chair. The old filling is coming out and the brand new larger version is being inserted.
OK, that's all for now : )
I'll let you all know how I get on at the dentist next time ; (

Monday morning 23rd April

The house is quiet again : (
Ross went out to work this morning at the back of eight but it was after ten before anyone else got up.
They left after breakfast to head back down the road. Glasgow first to drop off Tigg, then Edinburgh where Vera and Peter are staying tonight before they catch an early morning flight back to Tuscany in the morning.
Been swimming, have had my tea while watching 'Montalbano' and am now kicking my heels wondering what to do with my evening.
I could watch another episode of Montalbano, but that would be overkill.
I've finished my Sister Fidelma book - you know the seventh century Irish nun who solves murders - I know, it sounds ludicrous. But the author, Peter Tremayne is actually an historian called Peter Berresford Ellis who is seemingly a well known authority on the ancient Celts.




It was actually quite informative!
Did you know for example that the Irish Celts used what was called the Brehon Law system, the basis of which was to allow someone who has committed a crime to make atonement to the family in a practical and/or financial way, and be given the opportunity for rehabilitation?
Your parcel arrived today, Lucy. Thank you
Ross wonders if the food you sent will last for three months which is the amount of time he reckons it will take him to lose the remainder of the excess inches around his waist : )




And these photos! What a good idea to make them magnets!
Ok, all done for now : )