Sunanniversaryday

You know when your wife says to you "we won't bother about buying each other presents for our anniversary"....yes...you know where this is going, don't you. Right....muggins here did was he was told and just went for the card...spent time picking the right words etc....not too corny...just right. BUT, didn't do the pressie....BIG mistake, monumental mistake....especially when Jill turned up at the breakfast table with a jumper for me...albeit oversized....but still a pressie. It's fair to say that I haven't been allowed to forget about it all day. Everyone that has been within 100 yards of the house has been told...I must be the baddest meanest husband around.....even this afternoon when I suggested the two of us take the dog for a walk I was sent to the garden...to be fair we were both there....doing our bit to keep the passing public impressed with our horticultural skills.  


Our anniversary evening has been literally "put on hold". We decided earlier in the week that we would have a family meal this evening.....everyone on a three line whip to attend...so we were all at the dinner table at 630....or for our nautical friends, 18:30. Not long after starting to eat, someone (not me...I wouldn't have dared after my day today) put the TV on to see what was on Countryfile. There was an article about ploughing, and so there was immediate interest from the male fraternity around the table. Jill was NOT impressed...words were spoken...so, in order to keep the peace we put the programme to record and carried on eating in relative quiet. Once we had finished, cleared the table, washed up and put away (phew!) it was back to see what we had missed. The "box" was switched on, "play" pressed, Countryfile finished and then we carried on with the recording...this time Strictly results.....consequently we are now halfway through the programme, the time should be 19:15 or so...but actually in real life it's 20:55.....what are those who are actually watching this to do?.....Homeland (another of Jill's favorites) is about to start.....the problems we have to cope with.....it's so unfair.

"What have you all been doing today?"...I can hear you ask. Well, you already know that I was in the dog house, but the others? Bex got up and made drop scone mixture for her breakfast (I had to come through to make sure that the first three or four were edible.....a public service really) Jack had been out last night and wasn't around...Dan was similarly "stuck" at TN's in town.....and Tom was a late riser (no change there then). I thought, at 08:10, when my mobile rang (and it was Daniel) that he was phoning to wish Jill and I a Happy Anniversary. There were two questions....1) can you switch the handheld (we keep a marine band handheld radio on the kitchen table at all times) on and tell me what the wind speed is? (Our reader also needs to know that there is an automated broadcast from the pier heads on Channel 18 every minute that gives wind direction and wind speed)...so, direction 297 degrees, that's west northwest to normal people...and wind speed 7 knots, gusting 11 knots.....again that means it's fine to go to sea. Question 2) was...can you have a look out of your bedroom and tell me what the sea looks like? (again, one needs to know that I have a great view of the Ecrehous from upstairs...and a powerful pair of binoculars)...it's really easy to read what the water is doing between here and France. So it was all systems go for Dan...not that he really fancied it much....the last day of commercial charters out to the Ecrehous reef....two trips later and Dan was back, the boat back in St. Helier...and the countdown to his Thailand trip well and truly started.

Jack, Bex Pops and I went to pick up a chest of drawers to go to Holmchase just before lunch.....Jill had, of course, by lunchtime done a long dog walk with SC (over from Cornwall for 48 hours)

 and then a class of keep fit....or "keep fat" as I affectionately call it. Dan had gone boating, and Tom had emerged saying "I'm going to build a bonfire". This afternoon Bex made a Tarte Tatin for supper, Jack went to the Cider Festival, Dan was still boating, Tom still cutting (he had disappeared into the meadow with a tractor/trailer and chainsaw) ...and Jill and I were gardening. AA arrived to wish us well, and immediately got roped into weeding the path.....to her credit she stuck at it for over half an hour, after which she very sensibly made her excuses and went home. Jilly and I continued ... chatting to passing neighbours made a very pleasant distraction every so often. Jack and Bex prepared the veggies...all from the garden....carrots, leeks, parsley, spuds (Amal Grow...variety Charlotte...very nice) and Gammon from Gorey butcher. Excellent.

Tom has built an enormous bonfire.....but I do have to say that I'm worried....not about the fire, but where he has found the wood from. He was gone a long time this afternoon...with the chainsaw.....I hate to think what he's cut down....no doubt all will be revealed the next time I "go down to the woods".

Dinner table discussion this evening was dominated by the correct pronunciation of Phuket. Dan (who's off there in two weeks) was convinced he had it right. He was telling us how, when he gets there, he's going to hire a fishing boat and "go exploring". Bex went on her phone and asked Wikipedia for the correct way to say the word.....Dan turned out to be correct....but then Bex saw that the latest headlines from that area were this..."fishing boat collides with tourist cruise....30 injured and 3 still missing".....Dan is rethinking his itinerary.....

Many thanks for the cards/gifts and well wishes for our Anniversary- we've had a good day!