Martin rang me on Thursday morning and asked what I was doing for the next few days. I said only Creative Writing on Friday morning, thinking they were invitining us down to them, or they wanted to come up to us. But no, Fiona wasn’t well. She hadn’t felt the baby move all Wednesday morning, had developed a stitch in her side, and couldn’t lift Alexander. They went to the hospital, and the baby’s heart rate was strong, so they sent her home, but Martin needed to get to work and she still couldn’t lift Alexander. She’s still getting sick too. So off I toddled, and spent Thursday to Saturday there having a great time bonding with Alexander. He can point to various animals and objects in books and is toddling around really well now. I brought all my camera gear, and can’t believe I didn’t take any photos.

John coped fine when I was away. Luckily the fridge and freezer were full. On Thursday night he reheated some leftover chicken curry and dipped bread in it. Then he made himself muesli, strawberries and icecream. On Friday he cooked sausages and chips. For lunch each day he had cheese and ryvita. He said he was a bit tired of cheese when I came home, but he could have had tinned salmon, crab or tuna. If he’d remembered the crab he would have had that.

I came home and developed a really bad mood in the evening. John wanted a take-away but I had been stuffing myself at M and F’s and wanted an omelette. We had a pizza from the freezer in the end. Then, owing to a misunderstanding, John finished all the muesli which left me none for breakfast this morning. I went to bed in a right mood.

This morning, it’s the First Communions. One of the reasons I’m out of sorts is that one family have not shown much commitment at all., and the boy is not well prepared. I saw him after school last week, and did two catchup sessions very rapidly. He was supposed to come on the Sunday, but the father rang to say ‘they had changed their plans’ (FOOTBALL I GUESS) so he has missed that last session. The father was supposed to ring to arrange a catchup session during the week, but didn’t ring, of course. (John would have picked up the message)So this morning the poor kid is going to receive Hoy Communion this morning having never tasted the host or practised holding the chalice. He will probably have a quick practice before Mass this morning, but sheesh (as they say)

After Mass I need to pop into the Coop for some meat for today and a topup of salad stuff, then I’m FREE. I need to cut the grass as sod’s law - I texted the gardeners to do it on Friday but their lawn mower was broken. Anyway, they did lots. Trimmed hedges and weeded, so now I can see the lavatera that Sandy and Joy gave us when they stayed last year. I had forgotten it was there, and it has really grown, albeit a bit long and lanky as it was struggling for daylight.

Anyway, bye diary, I need to have a shower and get ready for the day ahead.