Once upon a time, some years ago, I was given a new name. Our first grandchild, Alice, called me 'Pomme' for a while until she decided that I was her 'Grandma' instead. The reason should be clear. My name is Smith and I became a Granny. (No I am NOT green!)
An ex-colleague, witty chap (you know who you are!) used to find this very amusing and I would find apple labels stuck on my chair, my computer and even, occasionally on my back. (I'll get you back one day Clarkey).
And so, a very, very brief visit to the UK last weekend was hopefully to be timed with the arrival of our latest grandson. Unfortunately he wasn't interested in meeting his grandparents over the weekend and only just put in an appearance today, two days after we returned to France.
Baby Riley was born this morning at 7.20am, the phone call to say that our daughter was about to go to the hospital came at 4am and we tried to go back to sleep, but just dozed. They have both been kept in unexpectedly for 24 hours but we hope that all will be well in the morning and they can return home.
The quick visit was to attend a 30th wedding anniversary party for some friends and it was a long-standing promise we had given before we left the UK in early 2007.
What a fantastic weekend we had, lots of laughs, a brilliant party in a wonderful hotel in the Surrey Hills and catching up with some people we hadn't seen for many years. The highlight of the weekend was a ceilidh/barn dance - again something we haven't done for a very, very long time. Jon amazed me by always wanting to be the first on the dance floor and even my protestations about having a bone in my leg and a sore toe didn't deter the man from dosy doe-ing, swinging his partner and promenading all night long.
Honestly, I was knackered!!!
And that was before we had a 'last drink before bed' and finally crawled to our rooms at around 2.30 am. Sunday dawned clear and sunny and we headed to our friends' house to help them move chairs around the garden and put out a buffet lunch. As she was their godchild Youngest Daughter, Son-In-Law, two sons and bump came along to lunch too. Many suggestions being bandied around as to how to persuade the bump to enter the world but we already knew we would be on the plane soon and wouldn't get to meet him even if he did start heading world-direction.
We don't know which of these brilliant ideas she tried out yesterday but obviously one of them must have worked.
We, in the meantime, have been back to work. Admin today, trying to save the garden tomorrow - finally we have a weather forecast that says it will be sunny until the weekend and no rain. We'll believe it when we see it, but it is a nice thought and we can plan to rescue the tomatoes and beans that are beginning to slide down the bank into the field. Happy Days!
Thank you so much friends for a wonderful weekend. May you have another 30 very happy years of marriage. Much love from us both.
And love too to baby and his family xxxxxxx
3 comments:
All this knees-up stuff is no good for you, you know. What you should do is get a good bottle of wine [are there bad ones?] and settle down for a quiet drink.
And... I became a grand-dad for the 6th time yesterday morning at 3:15am when young Evelyn joined the family weighing in at 8lb 6oz. I'll send you a photo on email.
All the best
J
Aw, Jim, you beat us by two, we've only got four (over to you girls).
She is gorgeous and, looking at the photos you sent, so are you, Grandad! Many congratulations.
Jon sends his best.
Congratulations dear Susan and Jon on becoming Grandma and Grandad again, and ta muchly for the lovely pics, Love and blessings heading your way xxxxx
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