It all started so well! Gwen came to clean. I tidied, replied to emails and packed. Then I left in good time to go to the station. First hiccup came when I found a back road to the station closed, after I had wiggled for a while to avoid going through
town. But I made my way back through Kendal and found the carpark at the station that I wanted to use. A private one that wasn't so expensive. The owner appeared and helpfully assisted me in working the machine. I paid my £20 and was in good enough time
to get myself a coffee to drink on the train. But then I get onto the platform to find my train cancelled and everything from the north delayed. There had been an overhead power failure and everything was looking gloomy. I talked to staff, as there was another
train due to go to Preston and then on to Manchester Airport, but he didn't think I would get any further, until the next train to Coventry in an hour. So do I wait on the platform for an hour, and risk missing Sam's production, which was the main purpose
of the visit? Well not when my car is close by and I can drive straight down and get there at the same time...if not earlier if I am lucky. So I abandon the train route and get my car out of the car park, fill up with petrol and drive south. Today I'll see
what compensation I can get!
I actually had a good journey, though I had been looking forward to reading a book and generally relaxing!
Lovely to be here anyway! Sam is in briefly, but leaves as soon as Lucy gets home with the big car,
as he has large speakers to take with him! Joe is back from work and we have a good long chat. Holly arrives, and Lucy flies in looking very pretty and smart. They have been interviewing all day at school! She cooks us a pizza, and is in touch with Will and
Ash. They have both been to Alton Towers for the day with a school fun trip! Will gets back in time for Lucy to pick him up and thrust a box of food at him. Poor Ash was on the only coach whose driver did not check his travel news and spot the major delays
on the motorway because of a bad accident. The other three coaches diverted, but poor Ash was in his coach for 4 hours.
Anyway, Lucy drove Joe, Holly, Will and me to Kenilworth Castle. For the second year running, Sam had cleverly
designed a 'promenade performance' Hiring the castle grounds. It was a wonderful idea. Ideal locations for each scene. There were 5 scenes in all, and three different groups of audience went around them one after the other. Sam had a small cast of seven year
sixes who moved from scene to scene, but he had 3 casts, one for each different performance, so all the children who wanted to, could have a main speaking part. I loved Sam's humour, and all the children were thoroughly engaged, whether it be the main actors
or the other classes doing one song and dance in different areas of the castle grounds. Sam had written all the words and music. He composed the music using a computer programme, and it was very very effective. He had been lucky with the weather......not yet
the dreaded heatwave, but two very pleasant, sunny evenings.
We got home to find poor Ash on the doorstep!
Sam finally got back and we were all having cups of tea or glasses of squash, when Sam's friend Gavin rang. Luckily for
Sam, it was Lucy who answered. His cat was very poorly, and he needed help. Lucy grabbed Holly and they both went round. The cat had had awful diarrhoea and was having fits. Gavin was beyond himself. Lucy had to take charge, so the floor could be cleaned up,
the cat put into a basket and somehow got to the vets, where it had to be put down. Poor Gavin who was inconsolable, Lucy who had to deal with a really unpleasant situation and Holly who had found the whole thing quite traumatising. Not what you want after
a long day at school followed by a hectic evening, and with your mother In law staying too!
Through the bedroom window I have watched them all go off this morning. Lucy first in the car, then Sam on foot. He has sports day today! He says he has worked
60 hour weeks for the last four, and is really tired, though he is gradually ticking all the big jobs off....play, reports, sports day etc. All will be done before the heat wave next week. Then Joe in the car off to Lyra where all hands are on deck delivering
some electronic components to a deadline. And then Ash, followed by Will who also have sports days at school. I am having a quiet morning, though I have been bidden to pick Fyfe up from school to help out over there for an hour or so. And then I'll take
the family out for a meal at the nearby pub! Happy days!