Thursday 14th. March

The blog has been rescued this evening...back from the clutches of the "cabin fevered" woman of the house.....who has popped out this evening to the first official meeting of the new cancer support group that she and Dad have helped to get off the ground. For some totally inexplicable reason they haven't asked the old man to sit on the committee....could it be something to do with the fact that not many men suffer from gynaecological cancers? Anyway...he'll be there helping where he can....and we're sure that there will be many people who will appreciate their efforts.

The day started with various family members getting "back to normal"...Dad was gone before 7:30 with Bex following soon after. Calls were made back to base when Becky hit the traffic (not actually...which was helpful) and she was advised to "stay on the main roads"....anything off the beaten track was not advisable...she got there eventually. We suspect that there were a few drivers that missed their "rat runs" on their way to school....hence the gridlock just after 8. Dad was pleased to in town well before all the yummy mummies filled the road up with their four by fours (Dad left his at home today!!)

Mum took the dog for an outing in the car...but struggled so much to get anywhere that she abandoned the visit to the shop to buy provisions and just parked up (at St. Michael's School) and started walking. She tells us that she ended up at Queen's Valley....eventually returning to car in time to get home. Some of us are less than impressed that Mum now puts food shopping above dog walking....this won't do, and words will have to be spoken when she returns this evening.

Dad took Jessie in the woods when he returned home late afternoon....and came back with more stories of fallen trees. It's not that long ago that the gales took down a lot of branches in the woods and the snow (coupled with the gales) has brought down another load. There's some serious chainsaw work to be done now apparently...but just getting there with any amount of equipment will have to wait until things dry up a bit.

Dan's trip to the Minquiers didn't materialize, unfortunately for him (it would have been a grand run down there today)... but he did get to do some maintenance on the boat. Dad is reminded that he needs to find "a half day" sometime to get his boat ready for the season. No doubt he will try to rope other family members in....especially as he has a bulb to change in a light right on the top of the mast...we can't see him going up any tall ladders, especially on a boat that bobbing around in the harbour. As an aside, Jack is back at the station this evening doing some sort of marine radio course....and Dan has a sea survival exam this Sunday.....we will shortly be the best qualified family on the Island...as the phrase goes.."all the gear, but no idea"....well, we hope not!

One of the letters in tonight's JEP calls for people in Jersey to put winter tyres on their cars....they don't realise that us Luce's are already there...except that we don't let Thomas put his winter tyres on his car....'cause if he does he just goes faster and faster and then comes home and spends all his time racing round Dad's field. So.....think about it....normal, bald, no grip road tyres are actually safer, and better for your health!

There's a quiz night on at the Public Hall tomorrow evening in aid of the Parish Twinning Association. Mum and Dad are apparently going to try to get some of us to turn up....well.....we'll see. Chelsea on the TV this evening...we won't bother to speak to dad for the next hour or so....just as well we have more than 1 tele in the house!

finally....our apologies for the road sign as the background to the blog....you would have thought that blogwoman would have found something in English...disgraceful!

Be careful what you write on this blog, I still have ultimate control...........