I worked last night, got in at about 2.45am, and was looking forward to a nice relaxing day without my usual post-night shift grumpiness – waking up without the alarm, a lie in, potter in the garden with Chantal until Matthew arrived, and then Sunday lunch at The Elms in Lutterworth with Matthew, Simon and Kate.
When I work nights Chantal also enjoys a lie in, without me leaping out of bed before she is awake, but we were both woken suddenly at 8.55am by the phone. We were too bleary eyed to answer it before the answerphone cut in. “Hello, this is Lydia’s husband. She won’t be going to Church this morning.” Bugger! I am on Transport Duty!
I had a rushed shower and was dressed before I was awake enough to realise that at least the early (ish) morning call had given me plenty of time before I had to leave, especially with one passenger less, and consequently Chantal and I had a lovely relaxed breakfast on the patio in warm sunshine, and I even had time for a very brief garden potter after walking the dogs.
At least, I thought as I settled into my seat in church, I can relax for an hour or so during the service. Unusually any children had to stay in the service instead of leaving for Sunday School, and so our Minister, Andy, prepared a service suitable for children – a theme of pharaohs, kings and slaves. “I need a volunteer to be Pharaoh” said Andy. There was only one child in the service, and he didn’t volunteer. There was a silence. “Neil will do it!” pipes up someone in the congregation, and so, having worked the night before, been woken suddenly, and starting the day before my first cup of tea, instead of relaxing I found myself at the front of the church, a crown on my head, a staff in my hand, telling the congregation, who were supposed to be slaves and doing appropriate pyramid-building actions, that they had to work faster. Told you it was a children’s service.
At the end of the service I discovered that I had forgotten that I was a “finance steward” for the day – in other words I had to assist counting the collection, while taking old folk home, and rushing home for lunch with the family, all at the same time. Someone kindly relieved me of monetary duties, and I arrived home shortly before Matthew, we all headed for The Elms, meeting Simon and Kate there.
The day improved dramatically – the boys treated us to dinner, and we had a lovely time chatting and catching up on news.
Naturally I had some nice cards, and Simon and Kate, who went to the Food Show at the NEC yesterday, bought me some lovely speciality cheeses and pickle. I might just sample them later…. Matthew’s present has still to arrive – I don’t what it is but presumably I may get delivery of it when he is next over in a couple of weeks for his birthday.
Matthew came back here for a cup of tea, cake or ice cream (actually, I managed both…) and a chat in the garden, and then joined me for a dog walk around the fields and up Croft Hill. We had more time for a “gossip” over another cup of tea in the garden, before Matthew headed back to Bedfordshire.
It’s been a lovely Father Day, and I only got a bit grumpy….just briefly….
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.
