Back home and back to Wales - October 7th - 13th,2013.

Lazy day at home after walking Alice, getting on with my grandson's jumper - almost finished now, hope it fits him!!!

And then the family descend and all of us go over the fields and down to the stream.  We clamber over slippery rock, splashing into the sparkling water swirling about our ankles, and my ankle boots are too low.  Now I'm water-logged in one boot, the others are wondering why I didn't wear my regular wellington boots,  and so am I.  Oh well, never mind, a little water won't hurt me.

Two of the younger ones go off further up the stream, balancing carelessly, not a wit bothered about falling in or over the boulders, not even the tiniest bit afraid of falling into the stream.  What it is to be young, confident and self-possessed, hey?

I knows, it's all in the mind.  The idea that you'll slip over, go head-over-heels into the soft, boggy ground on each side of the river.  Silly me, just grit my teeth, find a stout stick to lean on, and keep up with the others as best I can.

So, we climb back over wire, away from the moss-covered rocks and back on dry land again.  Hey ho, now for the upward-climb back up to the higher ground, we've only just slithered down, what fun this all is?  The sun's shining, it's not raining and the family are together.  What more could any one want?

I'm the last one up the hill, puffing a little, for it's all a sheer scramble over very rough undergrowth, but I make it and have to laugh at myself for making it all look such hard work.  I mean, I'm the one who takes Alice each day for her walks, often twice, even three times, a day.  I should be fitter!  Actually, it's just the upward climb that gets me every time.  Something about my ability to balance I think.  Never mind, I made it and now we're going home and folks are thinking of mugs of hot tea and "what's for supper!"

Well, that's my territory.  I know what food's in the fridge and help is offered to get supper on the go, and we're off.

We'll have both pork and gluten-free grilled sausages, potatoes, and that Sweetheart cabbage, thinly sliced and steamed.  Then there's the liver that really must be cooked tonight or else it will be wasted and I really hate throwing good food away.  It only takes a couple of minutes to cook, once the onions and bacon are sauteed and the gravy's ready cooking.  I do love liver although  I understand lots of people don't like eating offal but liver and kidneys are great when cooked well.  Liver and bacon with onions is a great British staple and well, it's good for you.  We're not having calf's liver, for that's just too expensive for an everyday family meal, but wonderful for a special meal for two, sometime!

Finally, it's all ready and seven of us sit down to a friendly family meal.  In what seems just seconds, it's all gone and folk are up and off to do their own thing about the house, even though the washing up needs to be done.

Washing gloves on and I'm ploughing thru' the dirty dishes when I'm told it shouldn't be me who clears up!  But the job needs doing and I hate leaving the kitchen in a mess, until later in the evening.  My cooking helper comes to my aid and really it takes no time at all to wash-up, wash down and put things away; it looks so good when everything is back to apple-pie order again.  Then we join the others on the sofa for a spot of TV and a shared bar of chocolate.  Naughty but nice, hey!!!

Tomorrow, we're leaving the dear SO behind, for a few days peace and quiet, whilst there's urgent work for me to do at home.

We leave mid-Tuesday-morning , after a last walk with Alice, and coming back we stop at a McDonald's drive-thru'. - my first encounter with one - and Happy Meals, Burgers and ice-cold Cola drinks are the top favourites.  I go for a McDonald's chicken and bacon salad with a good dressing, which is really good.  Plus, of course, an ice-cold Cola drink!!!

Finally we reach our home.  The family help me unpack my bags and baggage from the car, then they're off, and I get down to work.  No Alice to walk, no cooking to do, because of that huge McDonald's salad, so there's no thing to stop me getting on with things!!!

Next morning.....hey, that's for another day, right?

Come back soon for another instalment of my busy week, alone, with a desk sinking under a ton of work.

Hey ho, it's good to be busy, don't you think???

Cheerio,   Daisy!