Jonathan’s birthday ended up nicely. Dale, Sam, and I rode the train over to Ingatestone with him, and he spent a pleasant day with Eleanor & Annabelle. Christopher seemed to enjoy himself playing a game of Axis and Allies: D-Day with Dale on his side as the Germans, and Ben and Sam as the Allied forces. The game lasted the entire time we were there—we broke only for Jonathan’s birthday tea, which was a wonderful myriad of food as always at Lee’s house. I didn’t play the game (read the Sunday paper and then looked through one of Lee’s new cookbooks) but did sit at the head offering advice and consultation to the Allies as they were inexperienced. In the end I took Jonathan home on the train instead of Dale doing it so that they could finish the game.
Monday we spent hanging around here at the house. In the morning we all went up to the shops together (after a bit of palaver), and when Dale immediately got annoyed with Jonathan for wanting to read as he walked (he did bump into someone), I took him under my wing and we split off from the rest of them. I do believe we hit every shop on the side of the High Street that we were on! Joy said she wished she’d stayed with us.
It had been quite cold in the morning (a northwesterly wind here means it’s coming straight from the Pole, and it’s COLD), but it warmed up beautifully. After lunch Brian did gardening while the rest of us lounged about indolently. I dragged my harp out in the garden and played for so long that I ran out of stuff to play. It was fun.
Mid-afternoon Joy, Kayleigh, and I went across the street to visit Irene, who’d invited us to come over sometime and see her craft stuff. She has a lovely house and plenty of space for her things; I borrowed about eight rubber stamps but now need paper to stamp them on so I can take them back home. Guess that means a final trip to a craft store . . .
Today (Tuesday) we are going to Southend again with Dale joining us this time (last time he was still working). It’s a beautiful sunny day and should be great for it, and we need to do trips like that quick since the first day of summer holidays for schoolkids here is Thursday.
Posted by elizabeth at July 22, 2008 03:14 AM