Sunny but Windy

It was a lovely start to the day and I woke up in a great mood. I was first up and the sun was shining as I made my coffee. Even little Lucy was still asleep as I sat down to drink my coffee. I had great plans for the day. There was cleaning to be done, children to play with and many other things to do. In the end the morning was a complete waste of time as far getting anything done was concerned. I guess just one of those things that happens from time to time.

Lucy woke up about ten minutes after me. She must have heard me moving about and she was soon calling my name. I went up to her and she gave me the biggest smile which only got bigger when I opened the blinds and the sun streamed into her room. Gathering her things we went downstairs and sat down to watch some television together as we both woke up only to be joined by Catherine who sat down with Lucy.

After breakfast everyone else appeared and Emily and Lucy went off to her bedroom to play together, while Catherine went into Oakham to spend the day with her friend. I didn't see either of them for ages. All I could hear is that they were having a great time together. Playing with the dolls house, on the keyboard and the computer together. It was nice to know they were having fun together, until just before lunch when I started playing postman with Lucy.

Before lunch we popped out to the supermarket to get some food for the day after agreeing a menu for the day. For lunch, pizza, and a roast for dinner to save the rush of cooking a Sunday roast. It is best to maximize the use of all the time with Lucy when it is limited. Everyone had fun shopping and Lucy and we got some chocolate and cream cakes for pudding after a lunch.

I cooked the pizza's as soon as I got in. Everyone was hungry after their shop and food was need as soon as possible to feed those empty tummy's. Emily and Lucy had these in the family room before going up to Lucy's room to play. Their is one big advantage of having the computer Emily has been using in Lucy's room. Lucy just goes up and plays around her when she is up there. Emily in return plays her music and videos.

Over the course of the afternoon you could hear them dancing and generally have fun together both on the computer and the keyboard. Good thing is that it doesn't stop her coming downstairs either. She just comes down when she wants to and gives me a hug and sits with me before returning to her room. This is something that could be a big bonus when I'm cooking and I don't want to be watching for little fingers getting to near the cooker.

Soon it became time to get Catherine form Oakham. We were meeting her in one of the small parks in Oakham so it was an ideal opportunity to take Lucy to the park at the same time. Lucy loves getting out and about and she just loves the park. The things they have are just the right age to give her the challenge she needs. What is really encouraging is that she doesn't need much encouragement to try new things. She just needs reassurance that she can do it. I just hope that stays with her as she grows up and she knows she can do anything she puts her mind too.

We all had a lovely time in the park. After playing on the slide and the other playthings we played shops with Lucy until Catharine's friends went home and she joined us. At one point Lucy was playing at being a take away food shop, and I introduced the idea of doing home deliveries. It was lovely having her food delivered. The service was second to none, but her prices were so high that you would have kept well away if her food wasn't so good. Is Lucy just working on something for later life? The bank of daddy has no money as Emily and Catherine know to well, despite what people outside the inner circle think!

When we all got home Lucy headed off to be with Catherine while I started cooking dinner. Today we had another garlic roast chicken, roast and boiled potatoes, carrots, green beens and stuffing. Lucy must have been missing Catherine because she didn't leave her side for the rest before and after dinner. Every time I looked to see what Lucy was up to while I was cooking I found her having fun with Catherine. Lucy must have been tired because at one point she fell asleep on Catherine and I had to gently wake her, although I did let her have about twenty minutes just to refresh her. I couldn't have her fallen asleep while she ate and I didn't want her to sleep so long she wouldn't sleep at night.

Everyone enjoyed their dinner and with that out of the way Lucy went off to play with Emily and Catherine in the family room before bed. Lucy didn't have a bath tonight, she was just too tired. I will give her a bath tomorrow before she goes back to get mummies. Instead of a bath I cleaned her up and tucked her up in bed for her stories. Followed of course by her cuddles from everyone before she fell alseep.

For the rest of the evening Emily and Catherine watched television together in the family room, enjoying some of there favorite programmes they watch with their mum in Leeds. We were all going to watch "Britain's  Got Talent" but in the end we recorded it so we can watch it another evening when their isn't anything on all together in the living room. Eventually it was time for them both to go to bed and upstairs they trotted to the land of nod.

The morning might have been a waste of time for me personally, but by the end of the day things had got a lot better. What happened could have so easily have spoilt the mood for the whole day but in the end it didn't and for that I was grateful. All the days that I have the girls together mean so much to me. I don't want anything to spoil them when it doesn't have too.

Iconic or Ironic?

Is it Iconic or Ironic that a shinny Harrier GR9 has become the new gate guard at RAF Wittering, when these magnificent could be serving their country in Libya and protecting civilians from a corrupt government. What a waste of an aircraft other counties still have in service because it can do what other aircraft can't. It is even rumored the Chinese are developing such an aircraft while we prepare to cut them up for scrap. 

It has been reported in Peterborough Evening Telegraph that an RAF spokesman said: “The placement of a Harrier GR9 at the RAF Wittering gate is a fitting tribute to the sterling service given by the Harrier force over the years." It's just a shame the RAF don't actually speak their mind and like the Navy and say they still need this aircraft to carry out the work they do instead of relying totally on the Tornadoes and Typhoons which aren't even a ground attack aircraft as such.

I just hope there is some truth in the story that Liam Fox is in talks to save the Harrier that I published yesterday in the blog. Even if we lose RAF Cottesmore, knowing that at least the naval versions of the aircraft are still in service would make me feel that at least we can defend our country.

A Royal Friday

Well with the weather being overcast it couldn't have been what the Royal couple wanted weather wise but I guess that would have been a passing thought. They must have been so busy with all that was going on and remembering all they had to do to worry about much else.

With the girls being at off school for the main event everyone had a lay in, accept me. Once again I didn't sleep well and found myself awake at just before twenty to six. I managed to lay in bed for a while and drift in and out of sleep but nothing meaningful sleep wise came along. At half past eight I gave up and went downstairs for a coffee to be joined by Catherine an hour later, before heading out to Oakham.

The pick up was rather different from normal but it didn't take away my own joy of seeing Lucy who instantly asked where big sisters where as we walked to the car. Soon we were heading back to Langham together with Lucy telling me her news since we last together, combined with a bit of singing.

When we got home everyone was up to greet her. It made her morning having everyone at the backdoor to see her in to the house, she loved all the attention. Once inside she started were she left off from the last time she was here. Out came the mousetrap game and Catherine was roped into playing with her until eleven when we all started watching the Royal Wedding together.

It was a lovely service and Westminster Abbey looked wonderful for the occasion. It was all quiet touching. I'm not sure what Lucy made of it she kept popping in and out of the living room, siting on my lap, watching a bit and then going off to play again. What was lovely was when the service ended and the couple left the church, not only did the sun come out in the village but the church bells erupted in to song. It was all rather magical and a fitting end to the whole affair.

Eventually we headed out to the supermarket to get some lunch. Just some stuff to make some sandwiches and a few bits and bobs we were short of. It was remarkably quiet still on the roads and the supermarket was nowhere as busy as you would expect it. I did think we would see more bunting and stuff around the town but it was like the council couldn't have cared less about the whole affair. Shame really when once these things were a time of mass celebration just for the fun of it. Guess we are too much in our own little boxes these days to care.

When we got home I made Lunch which everyone sat down eat together before they all went off to play for the afternoon. With the weather not being great we didn't bother going out anywhere all altogether, although Emily did go into Oakham to go to the fair with her friends. It was just a lazy afternoon, although we did pop to the shops again to get some sweets and just get out of the house for a while when we drop Emily off in town.

Just before dinner we went back to get Emily. She really enjoyed the fair and had a great time with her friends. She especially loved the bumper cars. Lucy meanwhile was pleased to have her back. She had been missing her and kept asking when she was coming home.

When I got home I got dinner on. It was more like an indoor barbecue, in that we had barbecue food but cooked in the oven and the grill. The weather really wasn't up to a full blown barbecue to celebrate the Royal Wedding. It didn't seem to matter as everyone enjoyed there dinner and George got a treat with the leftover cooked meat, although it does seem to have given him wind!

With dinner out of the way there was time for Lucy to play before she headed upstairs to the land of nod. Everyone took part in the story reading tonight and once again she loved all the attention, milking it for all it was worth. I had to clear the bedroom to get her to settle down and after a few soft words in her ear she gently fell asleep after her kisses and cuddles that I always give her before she goes to sleep.

It's been a nice day despite my lack of sleep and waking at such a silly time for no apparent reason. I guess it is just one of those unexplained things that happens. Today it was like someone was watching me which was rather bizarre especially when I woke up. Anyway, I loved the romance of the Royal Wedding, call me a big softy if you like but the look in their eyes when they said their vowels was magical, as was the smile on there face. I know that feeling and I just hope it will last for them.

Harriers Return?

Now there is talk of saving at least some of the Harrier fleet at least in the short term. Maybe the time has come again for these magnificent aircraft which still have so much work they can do until they are replaced with a more modern equivalent in 2020.

Within the last twenty four hour there have been reports coming from the The Portsmouth News that Liam Fox is holding talks to put jets on HMS Illustrious. It claims that aircraft carrier will retain it ramps making it possible for the Harriers to fly from her decks once again. As anyone interested in the fate of these aircraft will know they are still in tip top condition and could be made to fly again within months if not sooner if there is green light to go ahead with Liam Fox's plan. 

It will be interesting to see what happens. In my view it would make sense to bring them back. Being able to have aircraft within 15 minutes of Libya would be a big bonus for NATO. It would mean that they would have a very reactive air strike capability ready to react to any situation. Lets hope that people that run this country see sense and bring back the Harrier.

What Choice

At last we have both sets of election literature in from both of the purposed candidates for the local council this year and I left still not knowing who to vote for. None of them seem to represent my views on the future of Rutland.

In fact there is not much to chose between them at all. Nick Waunright a former Conservative is standing as Independent although I fear he is just doing that to get elected. You know what they say once a Tory always a Tory. He even claims to hold Tory views in his election literature so you can guess which way and who he will vote with in the council. He doesn't sound Independent at all. As for the Lib Dem offering, Peter Green, he isn't Green enough for me and just sounds like all the other greedy councilors that see Oakham and the surrounding area as a area for development. If he hadn't have supported the Sainsbury's development I might have believed him what he say's about planning. None of the two candidates has said enough about keeping Rutland Rural for my liking. They are both just a waste of space. I want change not more of the same old dribble in the council.

So how will I vote? Well at the moment it looks like I will be putting two ticks on my ballot paper in protest that neither of them are worth voting for. It will be the first time I have ever spoiled my ballot. What a waste of time this Local election is going to be.

Just Quotes

I'm really going through a stage of famous quotes especially by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He said:

"Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think."

The problem is he forgot to add, unless the person doesn't understand the meaning of the gift or who it is from. May be I should have listened to Zora Neale Hurston, a more modern writer, who said:

"If you want that good feeling that comes from doing things for other folks then you have to pay for it in abuse and misunderstanding."

I think she might be more to the mark after the events of today. Oh well I guess tomorrow is another day and life goes on...

Two Pints Returns

Last nigh saw the return of Two Pints of Larger and a Packet of Crisp. It is a comedy show that is shown on BBC Three and a bit of a flagship programme from them with a cult following. I have seen it many times and been amused by it but I'm not an avid viewer. It is just some to watch to make you smile.

It is now in it seventh series and was recently parodied in the show How TV Ruined Your Life which while watching last night stuck in my head for some time. All the same it is well written, the storylines are good as in the acting, especially by the actress that plays Donna, Natalie Casey (pictured far right). If you are looking for something to watch late on a Tuesday night I can recommend it. They got the seventh series off to a smashing start with a double bill last night and I hope the rest of the series matches this good start.

All Change

It was all change as far as the weather is concerned. The hot weather has gone to be replaced by the more sessional weather you would expect from this time of year. It was cold and grey this morning temperatures were nothing to write home about compared to what they were over the weekend.

The morning started earlier than of late. The school holidays are over and although Emily got herself off to school I got up to make sure Catherine got up and left in time. Unlike mornings of the past my first drink of the day wasn't a coffee but a lovely cup of tea. It was just what I need with this horrible sore throat that has stopped me eating for the last few days. It was much better at soothing the throat rather than coffee which seemed to be making it worse.

With the Catharine safe at school I got on with catching up a bit with this blog. There were a few missing posts and nearly all of them have been done except for one major one from the middle of the month that I started at the time but never finished. Even that should be done and dusted in the next couple of days. I dislike having the blog so behind that I'm always playing catch up all the time. It makes it feel like an obligation rather than a pleasure which is normally is to write. So getting the it almost up to date was a good for my soul.

When noon arrived I head off into Oakham to pick Lucy up from nursery. It was so lovely to see her again. For some reason I had been missing more than normal over the weekend. She gave me a massive hug when I picked her up and she just wouldn't let go. When we got into the car we headed straight for the bakery in Uppingham for some food before heading off to Eyebrook Reservoir to eat it. I'm really falling in love with the place it is so beautiful even when the weather is grey and cloudy.

When we got home, after a secret mission to the shops, Lucy went into the family room to play with her board games and other toys. I kept popping in and out to play with her while I got on with the other jobs I had to do that I didn't want to. I would rather have played with Lucy if I could of but I really didn't have a choice today. All the same I seem to be at the right times to keep her amused, although I did miss interacting with her as much I would like. When I get days like this I feel at times I have hardly seen her.

Just before Catharine came home I had settled down with Lucy to play Mouse trap. We were both working out which bit went where. The instructions are missing somewhere around the house. Lucy was helping me by testing the different bits out as I built them. We were having a grand time and when Catharine got home she joined us. She was trying to remember the rules so we could play a game. In the end she gave up and made her own variation of them. It turned out even these weren't need as Lucy was just happy setting off the traps for now.

To help me get on with my jobs Catherine suggested that she take George for a walk with Lucy to the Park. Lucy jumped at the idea. Earlier in the day she had asked if she could go to the park and I said the it wasn't really warm enough so having a second chance really appealed to her. Catherine got George and I put the lead on him and together with Lucy, dressed in her warm coat, they all headed out to the park. From all accounts they had a lovely time and while they were there they met up with Emily and brought her home with them.

While the girls were out I got on with making dinner for Lucy. She had dinner on her own tonight although Emily and Catharine joined her at the table to keep her company while she ate. They all encouraged to her to eat and they chatted and had fun. Lucy did well on her dinner. I hadn't realised how much I had cooked and she had enough to feed either Emily or Catherine, but all the same she finished a good part of her dinner.

With dinner over Lucy and myself finished off the work for the secret mission. Their was a present to warp and a cards to write and put kisses on. One card from Lucy and another from Emily and Catherine, but for who? With this out of the way I played with Lucy until it was time for her to go back to Oakham. While Emily and Catherine headed out around the village with Charlie.

The trip back to Oakham was rather exciting especially for Lucy. She had the results of her secret mission to deliver. And now all can be reveled, a present and card for her mummies birthday. Of course she doesn't really yet have a full grasp of the concept of time and wanted them opened in an instant although her mummies birthday is not to Thursday. So she going to have to wait to see them opened. With the drop off out of the way it I head back to home in the grey light of the day. I really wished it had been at least sunny for part of the day.

All there was to do next was to cook dinner for everyone else, while I had something simple that was easy to swallow. In the end they all had Emily's favorite spaghetti bolognese which I found hard to cook given I wasn't in a position to really taste anything. I must have done alright because by the end of the meal most of it was gone. With that out of the way Emily and Catherine did there own thing until it was time for bed and off to there sleep they went.

I really dislike being busy on the days I have Lucy. I just want to get on and have fun and today it was made worse but not being one hundred percent. Although there is little you can do about it, it is still a pain and spoils the day in someway. It was that and other things got in the way of making it a lovely day but there is little you can do sometimes accept just know there were still some magic moments in the day. Those I will hold on to and they will make me smile. Finally I will leave you with a lovely quote I found today by one of my favorite poets:

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody" - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's so true if you carry one making enough noise someone will notice you. Look at Lucy, she is an expert at it, but fun aside, if you don't keep trying you will never have a chance of ever succeeding. A good rule to live life by don't you think?

Artist if the Week - Jessie J

I listen to a lot of Capital Radio in the car these days when I'm not listening to CD's especially on shorter journeys. There is one artist that you can't get away from and she is my artist of the week. She is Jessie J who has really hit the big time in the UK.

It is hard not hear Jessie J at the moment. She is getting massive air play on all the popular radio stations. Even little Lucy can sing along with her songs and knows the words to the choruses. I just love the raw energy of songs and performances and there is something refreshing about her I like.

Jessie J was originally from Redbridge, London and attended the Colins Performing Arts and at the age of eleven appeared in the West End production of Whistle Down the Wind. At the age of 16 she began studying at the BRIT School and a year later joined the girl group "Soul Deep". Eventually she signed her first record deal in 2005, but unfortunately the label went bust before any of the tracks were released. Not put off, she continued to write songs for other singers and started supporting some of them on tour. Eventually she finished the album she had started 6 years earlier and last year released her first single, "Do It Like a Dude", which was well received by the music press and charted at number two. The was followed by her second single, "Price Tag", that shot to number one. Her latest single "Nobody's Perfect" was released just 5 days ago and is on it's way up the charts. Meanwhile Jessie J has been in the States trying to get noticed by ever means possible including buskin.

I hope you like this weeks Artist of the Week even if she is a bit different from the normal artists I pick. There is a great variety of music out there to listen too and none of them can be ignored. Without the variety of music we hear music would be bland and boring and it takes artists like Jessie to mix things up a bit. Happy listening until next week.

Happy Easter Sunday

Just a quick post to wish everyone a Happy Easter Sunday where ever you may be. I hope you are all having fun with family and friends and enjoying the lovely weather we have been having if you live in the England. 

Lets hope this warm spell doesn't mean that we don't get a glorious summer, we are due one this year after the last few years. Have a great day and have fun.

Beautiful Rutland

With it being a quiet weekend and weather like I have never seen before at this time of year the only thing was to go and enjoy the beautiful county of Rutland. Anybody who has been here will tell you how amazing the place is it really is lovely. Like the visit to Sherwood forest I will let the pictures, some new and some old, do the talking for me.

It is the most amazing place to live and if you have never been please don't miss out the smallest county in England. It is really lovely and my pictures hardly do justice to it. Only by coming yourself will you see it true glory.

Good Friday

Another fine start to the day and a day I had been waiting for since last weekend. The day that Lucy would reunited with Emily and Catherine and I would have them altogether again. And what a lovely day for it to happen. You couldn't ask for nicer weather.

For some reason I didn't sleep that well, but then again I don't sleep as much as I use to anyway, haven't for a couple of years. This morning I woke at six and really didn't get back off, drifting in and out of sleep. In the end I gave got up still tired and made a coffee and read the news on the computer. As always Catherine was of the children to be up first and that was soon followed by Emily who just made it out of bed before I left for Oakham.

The traffic was light on the way to get Lucy and the pick up was rather swift. As we travelled home we chatted and she was telling me she had been staying in Leicester since early in the week and all the things she had been up to that were important to her including her upset tummy. It was nice to see her again after missing out last time.

When I got home with Lucy, I was amazed by the reception she got from Emily and Catherine. They were so pleased to see her and scooped her up and gave her massive hugs.  For the first half an hour Lucy was so excited she just rushed from person to person. Not knowing who to play with. Eventually she settled down after she was changed and started playing with her dolls house with Emily in her bedroom for a while before Catherine spirited her away to play with her.

Before lunch we all popped to the supermarket together to get some supplies for the day. When we got there it seemed that the whole of Oakham was there doing their shopping. The supermarket was really busy but that didn't stop us having fun as we went round the shop. It wasn't until we reached the checkout after for queueing ages that we discovered the most rudest people I have ever founding shopping in Oakham. 

What they had decided to do is send one person into the queue with a basket full of shopping and then continue shopping. Just as we put our shopping on the belt the first woman turned up with a trolly full of food to be followed by another older woman with another trolly full. I couldn't believe the cheek of it. It was so rude and made worse when the older woman who had gone off to get some more things after dumping her trolly. She then decided to push me and the children out of the way with our trolly to get back to her family. She didn't even say sorry or anything. The older woman was the rudest person I have ever met and I hope I never have to met her like again.

For lunch we had some nice ham sandwiches and crisps. The girls ate these in the family room while they chatted away to each other and generally had a nice time. It was nice to hear them all having fun while they ate. I miss the noise of the children when they are not about. It just takes one of them to be away for whatever reason and the dynamics of the place changes. That is not always a bad thing but it is something you miss.

After lunch we headed out to Oakham to the park. The temperature at this point was approaching twenty three degree and it reached twenty four by the time we got into the park itself. It really was amazing weather for the time of year. All three of them had a lovely time in the park together. Catherine was pushing Lucy on the swing and playing the playground  with her while Emily talked to her friends that were there. Lucy joined them all at one point and sat on Emily's lap and joined in the fun her big sister was having. To get out of the heat we popped into the church for a bit. It is always cool in churches and Lucy found the toys and was soon playing with the cooker and making us cups of tea and food. After we cooled off we all went outside for one final play in the park before we headed home again.

The rest of the afternoon was spend avoiding the heat outside. The temperature peeked at twenty six and Lucy being so young it was best that she got some respite from the heat. It didn't stop her going outside but at least the garden is shady under the tree in the afternoon. At one point she was outside drawing with Catherine who I have discovered really might have an eye for design. All in all they had a smashing afternoon together.

As they played I cooked dinner, nothing special just something quick and tasty. Everyone ate together at the table and it was nice to have everyone round back round the table eating and for there was no rush. We all just took our time and they was loads of time for play before Lucy left and the Emily and Catherine got ready to go to Leeds.

I love the way we both make the trip back happy and positive. It is nice to sum up Lucy's day and ask if she has had fun. She always say's yes which makes me feel positive about the whole going back to Oakham thing. The drop off was even swifter than the pick up. I was glad that her mummy had decided to return to Oakham so I could see her. It seemed like the day was never going to happen from what had been said. I really don't have the money to drive to Leicester and back, especially twice in one day. I haven't a clue how we will sort this out things being the way they are and petrol costing so much.

All there was left to do when I got home was to head out again. This time with Emily and Catherine in the car to take them to see their mum. She has them slightly longer this weekend with it being Easter and I will miss them on Monday. I have hardly seen them this holiday but I know they will have had a great time all the same.

I had a great time with all the girls and I can't wait until they are altogether again. I particularly looking forward to the weekend of the Royal wedding which will in a little way make up for the last weekend when they weren't all at home together. The one thing I did feel today was very frustrated. I can't get my message across effectively. It just left me feeling moody all day and it didn't get any better as the day went on.  Sometimes I just feel like people aren't listening and I just don't know what to do about it or how to make myself noticed. Lets hope lit passes with the coming of a new day.

Sun and Trains

I'm not sure how many ways you can say it is another fine day. I think I might have used up all the common ones. So lets just assume you know the weather is still lovely and move on to a day in sunny Rutland.

As is common during the school holidays, now the girls are getting older the mornings are always lazy with the girls getting up in their own time. This morning was different in that their was only one girl to get up, Emily. Catherine had a sleep over at Charlie's so when I got up there was nothing to do except drink my coffee and reflect on life's events. 

The morning was just spent around the house, everyone waiting for Catherine to return to start the day. The preparations for the sleep over were so hasty that we all forgot to ask what time she was coming back. It was just before we were leaving for Oakham in the car to get some lunch that we spotted her and Charlie's brother George heading towards home. She went home and we continued her journey to get some food knowing she needed lunch too.

When we got to Oakham we popped into Leeson Family Butchers. They do their own home cooked range of pies, pasties and sausage rolls. They have even won awards for them and I can recommend their range of pies. It is a great place to pick up a quick lunch and there is even a good sandwich shop next door, although nowhere as good as the one in Uppingham.

With lunch brought we headed home to eat before going out for the afternoon. The idea being that today we would managed to do what we missed out on on Tuesday. Going to the the Rutland Railway museum with Emily and Catherine. They had both seen the pictures from when Lucy went there but they had never been their themselves.

It is not far to the museum from the village. Just a short drive through Ashwell and back into the countryside on the way to Cottesmore. In fact it use to be on the flight path into the runway of the RAF base there before the idiots that run the country decided to close the base and make a mess of sacking the pilots. 

Once we arrived my first impression was of how much the place had changed since I last took Lucy there. It was like someone had given the place a makeover as well as a new name. It is now called "The Living Ironstone Museum" and has a new website to replace the old Rutland Railway Museum" site. It all looks rather impressive and I hope that the new image gets the hard work of the people their recognized. They put a lot of hard work into the place and they deserve some success. 

When we got there we started to look around. I took Catherine down the nature trail and Emily decided to stay looking round the main part of the museum. It was lovely down the nature trail that follows the track to the end of the museum site. Catherine and myself walked to the end. It was lovely to just chat to her as we walked. We don't get much time to chat when the house is full of people and she is much more complex person than she appears on the outside and has more insight than you would imagine for a ten year old. The countryside was beautiful and in contrast with the industrial nature of the museum it just highlighted how lovely it was.

When we walked back to the main museum site they were moving some of the trucks around with a diesel engine. It took as a bit by surprise. When where there once countryside suddenly there was trucks. It made us both double take until we looked down the line and saw the engine going back down the track. One thing I know nobody expected was that Emily old boyfriend from when she was in year six would be there. Catherine spotted him as we walked back. I remembered he wanted to be an engineer when he finishes school and there he was working as a volunteer at the museum. 

When we got back to we found Emily sitting on a bench. She had walked to see the engines the have been restored or are waiting restoration and it was where Catharine and myself headed off to next after telling Emily we had seen her ex-boyfriend. I was a bit surprised that it was Catherine that was taking such an interest in the museum I thought it would be Emily given her tomboy tendencies of the past. Clearly those are being replaced as she approaches womanhood. Catherine loved the engines and was asking all sorts of questions some of which I didn't know the answers to and the information displayed with each engine didn't explain. So they had to go unanswered as we moved onto the quarry area to see the diggers. 

It was just before closing time that we left. It is a wonderful place to just stroll around and the work the people put into the place for nothing is commendable. To think all this has been created with such a small amount of money is amazing. It really is a credit to the people that have worked on the project over the years. While we were there the temperature peaked at around twenty six degrees and I think we were all glad to be in the shade when we got home and drank the drinks that Emily go from the wine merchants in the village. 

The rest of the afternoon was just spent just cooling off and as Emily would say chilling. Emily wanted me to play a computer game with her over the internet but we couldn't find the other disk. It is in the house somewhere but the where bit is the problem. Catharine disappeared into her bedroom and was chatting to her friends and after the unsuccessful disk hunt Emily went into Lucy's room to use the computer there. The lower half of the house fell quite and their was nothing to do other than relax until dinner.

After dinner the relaxing theme continued for everyone. The house was till hot from having the sun on it all day and the windows were open in hope of catching some cool air and the ones upstairs remained open for most of the night. Eventually bedtime came and Emily and Catherine retired for the night and they went off to bed. I hope to dream of happy times.

It's been a smashing day. You couldn't ask much more of it. The weather has been lovely and I hope the promise of the sunset means we have a great day tomorrow. Hopefully it is just that little bit cooler and we can do all I have planned when we have Lucy with us. It's been so long since Emily and Catherine have seen her that I can't wait to see all their reactions.