Off to Peebles today to see Granny and a whole load of other people. After a long discussion, we decided not to call Pickfords but to handle the removal of royal court for the day ourselves, a decision which we think was largely correct [well we would say that because I’m nearly as stubborn as Debs is], even if we’re not entirely convinced. Quite surprisingly we were only about 20 mins late arriving (see I told you we were getting this parent thing licked) and even better, we were slightly less late than everyone else.
Clearly Granny is still just besotted with her latest grand child and was keen to hold her at every possible opportunity.
Auntie Ann was also there [and yes, it is true, when I was small and Charlie and Ann were coming to visit I did get all excited and jump up and down saying “Can Ann bath me? Can she? Please?”] so there was clearly going to be some competition.
Laydeez aaaand Gentelmane. In the balooo corner, we have Gerranny “Ooh, it’s just like the first all over again” Begbie. And in theeee ahorrange corner, we have Aaaaann “Never had such lovely soil in my life” Begbie. Remember laydeez, no hair pulling, no nails and only minimal emotionaaaal belackmayal! Ting… Ting…
Thankfully Granny B’s friend Margaret was also there, and clearly a force for reason and good measure, so it never got too nasty. Margaret is the second member of what, until the third member Jean passed away recently, was a trio of hardened coach tour officianados. They say young people get all sorts of opportunities to travel that the older generation never had, but let me tell you, the coach miles these ladies have clocked up would put many an airline loyalty card holder to shame. My eldest brother Charlie, looking all freshly shorn like a little silver haired ewe, and one of my nieces, Rosie, were all there for lunch too, which was lovely.
No trip to Peebles would be complete without popping in to see Mum’s neighbour Jean. Now Jean has about the best kept garden I have ever seen, although she would probably say it is not what it used to be. And I grant you, it’s not as complex, but it is every bit as well tended. For years she won honours in the garden competitions and it’s really no wonder. Not too much of a surprise till you consider she’s on her third artificial hip already! She’s also had heating fitted this summer and swears blind that her days of hefting huge buckets of coal in to the house to keep the fire going are now behind her. Well, we’ll see if she’s good to her word.
All that cuddling fair takes it out of a young lady but the only time in the whole trip she was unsettled was when we were trying to eat and, well, she couldn’t
have that going on without putting her tuppence in. When the feeding line wore a little thin, she fell back to Thunderpants, mid desert. Slick! The rest of the time she was a gem, but it was clearly tiring as evidenced by her state on the play mat back home. Just time for a quick snack before I get back to more well deserved rest I think…