Tuesday 12th February

I knew it was too good to last….what is it with this weather? We were promised showers today….I suppose what we had today could be called showers….but only if you call it “showers without any heavy rain and without any breaks”…..in other words…RUBBISH, and cold rubbish as that. Roll on tomorrow morning when we can expect to wake up to frost……at least that means there’s a chance it  might be clear skies…..here’s hoping.

The bonfire was still going this morning….and this lovely cold damp weather has ensured the “odour” has lingered around us all day. Febrezze wouldn’t be able to sort this out…..even if you have a shop full of the stuff. On the bright side, the bottom yard is looking much clearer….all the better for filling up with other rubbish during the summer!! It was a boat that appeared last summer that was responsible for much of yesterday’s fire….NO MORE BOATS is the Old Man’s latest saying…..funny that, as it is his boat that’s now left down there.

In the usual fashion of “taking things to pieces”, the Fireman and the Engineer have already removed some critical parts off the new digger…..rendering it immobile in the middle of the yard. Father was less than impressed about the ability of his 2 sons to think ahead……”Why? Why if you’re going to leave it somewhere ….. Why there?????”….I think you probably know how it goes!! Anyway…parts have been removed and orders have been placed. Now we wait to see….

Glencoe tomorrow…..and as is usual when the weather is bad, half the Island descend on St. Lawrence to see what’s for sale….1 and 2 went along and apparently there’s some “lovely” dexion shelving that’s “just what we need” for our big shed. Father pointed out that it would be good way of maximising the amount of car spares and other assorted rubbish we can store in any given space……so not sure if that’s “go” or not. Much argument ensued as to who was available to go and bid….and even more argument about who was going to pay…..consensus was that it’s usually he job of the landlord to enhance the building…..that went down well!!  Anyway….Dad is in town for meetings, No 2 is fighting fires tomorrow, Barista is making coffee in town at one of his many shops…..and bidding at Glencoe isn’t really a “girlie thing”, so that leaves son No. 1…..and that’s where the problems start. Those of you who know the Poker Player also know that his “daytime hours” and our “daylight hours” are not the same thing…….we can’t really remember the last time he went to bed before 04:00, or got up before 12:00.  This means that attending the auction is probably not going to happen for us tomorrow…..much to the relief of the one who would probably be paying.

After the “first mowing” of the new year yesterday we are now in a “boys discussion” about a replacement mower for the orchard/meadow. Our little ride on is getting worn out….due to the fact that it is regularly used for “brush clearance” that can only be described as Rozel’s equivalent of the destruction of the Amazonian Rainforests. To say that our little Honda goes down slopes similar to those on Ski Sunday is not far off the truth…..last year it went down one part of the cotil that we could hardly walk down…let alone walk up. Apparently we have “details” being emailed soon….

Puppy training tonight….who’s going with Mum?….you’ve never seen 5 people move out of earshot so fast!!

A minor crisis this evening, a son slowly entered the utility room, calling for me and telling me it was “serious”. As I approached him I scanned his body briefly for the damaged limb/open wound,  that surely had warranted his cautious and solemn arrival. However I wasn’t expecting the reply I got to my question, he had been strimming outside and unfortunately his whirling machine had happened upon fairly large, fresh, and smelly dog faeces!! This news was met by my sympathy and practicalities of clothes and body washing suggestions unlike another son who offered no advice but his guffaws of laughter were heard echoing from the living room for a full five minutes.

As regards the puppy training we had to retire from the class early as Jessie started limping, (she had limped a bit earlier on in the afternoon), son no2 thought she was “faking it”, just to get out of the lesson!! We actually think that in tearing around the beach this morning she probably wrenched her shoulder- lead walking for a few days I think.

mum and dad on a dog walk yesterday