RANDOM JOTTINGS

I would like to be sitting here gawping at the TV at the moment but as Downton Abbey is full of commercial breaks I always record it and watch the next day. No matter, thinks I, will watch first episode of Homeland Series three. Ah but there is a catch. It is on at the same time as Downton and I cannot bear to watch Homeland for the same reason as Downton, far too many commercial breaks.  All I can say is thank goodness for Sky plus as I can record it but an hour later. Oh the tribulations and trials I have to contend with…..

I have had a lovely weekend.  Yesterday James and Helen were going to an afternoon wedding reception and an evening party of friends of theirs from university and asked if I would babysit. Of course says I and then discover that the two events are taking place at the Talbooth in Dedham and they would book two rooms at the hotel, one for them and one for me. Well, I am not averse to staying in a nice hotel with lots of lovely toiletries, a mini bar and tea, coffee and biccys and so we were booked in at Milsoms close to the venue.   I arrived after they had checked in and I went to my room, dumped my stuff and then went along to their room and tapped on the door. I heard a shriek, running feet and then a beaming Florence opened the door and flung herself at me. What a lovely way to be greeted and then into the room and a chuckling Beatrice held out her arms to me. Bliss.

I came back later on to drop them all off at the afternoon reception and when Helen appeared with the two girls, all of them dressed in their best, I just welled up. Helen looked absolutely beautiful and Florence and Beatrice simply gorgeous and Helen admitted she was glad she had girls so she could dress them up!   Dropped them off, had meal and then went back to bring the girls back with Helen to get them ready for bed. Duly done and Helen scoots off again.  Beatrice had hardly slept all day and was exhausted but took a while to settle, think she was overtired.   Florence then keeled over in her parent's bed (after refusing to sleep in the little bed the hotel had made up for her as it was low down and she could not see me) and so cuddled down in her parent's bed next to me.   All peace and quiet and had text to ask if they could stay till the end, midnight, and was I OK? No worries I texted back feeling smug and In Charge and all was well.  Pride comes before a fall. Up wakes Beatrice, bolt upright, no settling and full of the Oh be Joyfuls so out of the cot and sitting cuddling her and singing and was doing that when parents returned. Up pops Beatrice, oh they are back she thinks, it is morning and time for play. Oh dear.   Fortunately, Mum and Dad were wide awake and flown with champagne so a general rearrangement took place of beds and sleepers.   Helen got into bed with Florence and Beatrice and James slept on the little bed on the floor, bit short for him but he said he slept well and I returned to my room and retired gratefully to bed which had a wonderful mattress topper and was sooooo comfortable. I simply love getting into bed and relaxing.

After breakfast they were all going off to Dedham and to meet with my ex and his wife and go for a walk in Dedham Vale and I have to say the weather was perfect for it. I drove home a long way round as it was such a glorious day, sun was shining, mild and with a gentle breeze and the trees turning into gold and red and brown. Simply glorious.   I love the autumn. My favourite season.

So back home, coffee and Sunday paper and then out into the garden to do some weeding and sorting out of my rose bed and, again, gorgeous sunshine and the kind of day that makes you feel good to be alive. After lunch watched last night's Strictly Come Dancing which I had recorded and am beginning to think tis is the best way to watch most programmes. I was able to fast forward through all the chat, the unfunny jokes, the VT's, the banalities etc and just watch the dancing and listen to the judges.  The results show is now finished so I can safely say that Tony Jacklin has gone. He was AWFUL.   Julien Macdonald was in the dance off with him. He is AWFUL as well.   Over the top and shrieks all the time. He was trying to do a macho tango and failed miserably because as Len put it 'you are a delicate blossom' which I thought was a rather nice way of describing his over the top campness.  The standard at only Week 2 is really amazing.   By fast forwarding I managed to reduce the programme to a manageable forty minutes and cut out an hour. Just shows how padded it all is.  Love it though.

A lovely weekend.   Nothing earth shattering but just being with the family makes it all wonderful. To round if all off Kathryn called from Sydney to tell me she has been
on a boat in the harbour watching the Fleet come in as Prince Harry was
there and there were fireworks and fly pasts and she said it was simply
spectacular.

 She told me there was a fly past of twenty helicopters and I immediately let forth with  a rendition of the Ride of the Valkyrie as used in Apocalypse Now and she burst out laughing and said she knew I would do that – she did it too and all her friends just looked at her as if she was mad.   She's used to that.

I do miss her.

I am going to bed.

I hope everyone has had as good a weekend as I have.