Where's My Bike?!!!

There is an enforced day off from the house-wrangling today as Mrs Silverwood takes Mum off for some extreme shopping in Portlaoise leaving Dad to wrangle children.It is the day for the play school to which Toddler-R (4) goes, to do their singing-in-a-circle for the Mums and Dads (and Uncles in this case), have their visit from Santa, get a present and get face-painted if they chose. This went well and kids were very sweet sitting in the circle doing their stuff except for R who was so excited to see Santa, who'd come in to hear the singing, she kept jumping to her feet and running over to stand in front of Santa, hopping and bopping and wondering where the presents were.


Unfortunately when the present arrived it was "NOT A BIKE" (it was a perfectly good, sweet rag-dolly) so there were tears and tantrums. Dad and Em-J calmed things down trying to explain that this was an extra and the bike would still come on the real day if she was good, tears were dried away and rather sad face presented to face painting babe to be converted into a pink and multi-coloured butterfly. The troops returned via the Super-Valu supermarket for hot sausage rolls and "chippies" and now all is serene as this is eaten on the sofa with we two dogs in eager attendance looking hopeful and hungry.

Mum and Mrs S are off Christmas shopping but also in search of all things camping which Dad does not already own from 2CV camping ready for the first night when the caravan is at the new house. This is stuff like a big water 'jerry can', oil lamps, oil for same and provisions. The plan is to take the caravan up there tomorrow and Mum and Dad and the two cars, so we've effectively moved up there. Momentous day! Also there that day will be Sparks checking out the electrics.

Deefski

Three Line Whip

With the Silverwoods still in residence, Dad's on a 3-line-whip to stick around, and not slope off to meet his fellow volunteers down at the Cambria, where the excitement is building ready for the refloat on Monday at 13:37 high tide. Dad has to cobble together a mission by subterfuge (Come on, Dad; you don't think they didn't see through it, do you?). He persuades Mr Silverwood that he should see the barge and can get below decks and likewise with the two elder girls. Em-J and J-M who might like to meet two English girls of similar age who volunteer on the project as painters etc at the weekend, Beth and Han.

He then needs little M to be sold the possibilities of a sweet shop in town, and the rest of the ladies the potential of the flea-market and furniture shops on Standard Quay and we have ourselves a mission. Dad gets to see the Volunteer force who are out mob-handed today and Mr S and the girls get their look-see. The next time they clap eyes on SB Cambria she will hopefully be complete and working, hi-tech classroom in the hold, live-able cabins, rigging an' all.

We dogs are a little off colour at present, maybe because of all the disruptions to our routine and possibly due to high potential for snacking off the leavings of small children, but today the sun shines (why couldn't it have been sunny for Howletts yesterday?) and Mum and Dad can throw open both doors of the French windows and humans can sit outside on the terrace and gravel garden, naturally closely superviving small humans near the pond. Everey dog and pup which we've ever had or has visited has been in there and we don't want to expand the story to include any small Silverwoods.

I am told that peace and tranquility breaks out tomorrow as the Silverwoods are packing up for an early sprint up the Motorway. We always love having them but there's something to e said for a return to normality.

Deefs

More on Maxwell

What kind of a sleeping position is that, Maxwell? Are you sure you are not letting the cats get away with a bit of mickey taking here?
Actually it’s a dog eat dog world out there and a boy has to learn fast how to survive and how to write a good email. Blimey – the chap is only 10 weeks old and he’s nearly as good as me.

“HELP!!!!!” (He writes) Baby R has me tied up in the top tower of her play house and when not there I am being guarded by Thomas the black and white cat and Jasper the white cat, who I am beginning to think is either really rude or just plain deaf. No matter how much I bark at him he just blinks at me, unless I get to close then I get a scratch to the nose, they keep saying something about white cats with blue eyes but I'm not buying that I think he is just rude, SEND HELP NOW, PLEASE”
Don’t kid a kidder, Maxwell. You wouldn’t come away with us even if we did come out and try to rescue you. You wouldn’t get out past Em-J, J-M and M Silverwood!
Maxwell continues, “Just a point to note as well, the basket is actually MINE, the cats (Thomas and Jasper) seemed to take to MY new dog blanket, but I did put up a fight when they tried to take it over completely.

Attaboy, Max! C*ts – we’ll show you what to do with them, when we’re over!
Deefs