The Holoweckijs were up here for a few days last week, staying with Andree. On Friday night Daniel stopped over with us – I think that for a 12-going-on-13-year-old endless baby talk is of limited interest, and he was glad to be dropped off with his aunt and uncle. Daniel definitely takes after his father. He talked continuously from the time he said goodbye to Ian through to 11pm, when Chantal and I had to tell him that we old folk didn’t have his stamina, and we needed to go to bed. Don’t misunderstand me – there is no way that Daniel is boring! We heard all about his school, his friends, and his new flat, and it was very interesting!
On Saturday we all went on a dog walk across the fields at the back of our house. The combine harvester has been at work the previous day, and was parked up by the gate – the dew on the remaining wheat meant that there would be no harvesting until later. Chantal photographed the combine, and I photographed Chantal photographing the combine until she shouted “Get Out of my Shot!!”, and Daniel and I retired hurt to go and taste the nutty grains and see the flour inside, of the wheat which was still standing.
Daniel and I left Chantal to her photography, together with Lesia who is now on short walks, and we walked with Tia to the next village, where there just happened to be a garden centre café offering fizzy drinks and ice cream (and a pot of tea and scone for me, and where Daniel showed me how to balance a half-full coke can on one edge so that it swings round to show the wind direction. Life is just one long learning experience.
The rest of the Holoweckis, including Andree, joined us for a BBQ later on Saturday. It was the first time that we had met William Holoweckyj,now 10 weeks old. Chantal commented that it was a bit cool, and so I decided that it might be a nice idea to light the fire pit, and then we could have toasted marshmallows for pudding. By the time the Holloweckis arrived, the fire pit was lit and burning nicely, and Chantal was ready to cook on the bbq. It was when Chantal started cooking that the trouble also started. Chantal complained at length that smoke from the fire pit was going into the house, and so I closed the patio doors. Chantal then complained at length that smoke was getting in her eyes, which seemed to be the case no matter where the fire pit was located on the patio. In the end I gave up, and Ian and I carefully lifted the burning fire pit down into the garden.
I went down to the end of the garden to chat to Andree and Svitlana, and both asked what on earth I had done to my hair and eyebrows. I had singed them while carrying the fire pit – I had been down wind. I was the only thing toasted – we never did get to toast the marshmallows.
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
