This morning we had various tasks to do; the kids did some painting fence posts with bitumen paint so they don’t rot when they are sunk into the ground, Ady and I did some collecting wood and grading it into piles, stacking some and putting some in another pile for further cutting, barrowed some bags of wood chippings ready to go into the polytunnel at a future date and did plenty of chatting to Rob who we were working with today.
Jane was working this afternoon and Rob was going along to a jumble sale. Ady had decided he was going to get us invited along so did a whole number on how we’d never been to a jumble sale before, asking questions about it until Rob had a lightbulb moment and said ‘I know, why don’t you come with me?’ it was hilarious. We spent the rest of the morning coming up with alternative names for a jumble sale, the kids prefered one was jumbo sale – will there be real elephants to buy? 😆 😆
After lunch (more lentils, I abstained) we went to the humble bale and went crazy for under a fiver. Davies got a little wooden ship which he’s turned into the Black Pearl with various lego accessories for 20p, a set of wildlife coasters for the van and a couple of other bits, Scarlett (rather predictably) bought about 3 soft toys and a couple of animal books, a t shirt and a couple of pairs of trousers, I got 2 t shirts and a jumper and a couple of books, Ady got two towels to replace the two we’d left at Evergreen Farm by mistake, army surplus jumpers for all four of us and several more books. Nothing was over 20pence per item 🙂 Hurrah for jungle sails!
This afternoon Davies and Scarlett went off to play while Ady and I hung out in the orchard pulling up nettles. I have nettle stings on both arms which are still tingly now but it was a lovely way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon nonetheless, chatting and laughing and talking about things that have happened over the last three months that have already become part of our story of this year. There are so very many highlights to this year but I know that an overiding memory for me will be all the times Ady and I have been helpless with laughter at some shared silliness or very private joke (usually at the expense of our hosts, rather cruelly I suppose!) which just reminds me of our very early days together before we were anyone’s Mummy and Daddy and had to pretend to be grown ups. Even lovelier is that the kids are often around to share it and we have so many of these moments all four of us have shared now. It all feels a bit like one of those coming of age road trip teen movies where everyone discovers who they are or something 😆
We went in for dinner and then Davies and I watched Doctor Who with Jane, Rob and their son Brendon while Ady and Scarlett (who still claims to be scared of Doctor Who) went off for a wildlife spotting walk and a shower, Davies and I then had showers and we all retired to the van to ring my parents who we’ve not spoken to in over a week.
We read a fair chunk of Born to Run (Morpurgo) at bedtime and then Ady and I played with Skype for a bit and watched some youtube clips and listened to some music. Last day here tomorrow and then we’re off to house sit for a friend which will be all but a holiday (we’re doing a tiny bit of gardening in exchange for 4 nights in the cottage but hardly arduous) which we’re all looking forward to :).