The finale, Tea, pressies and departure.
As dd and I had hurried back home, leaving af trailing in his shorts, we managed to get back and put the kettle on for them. dd had told me that she makes her own cards and presents. af had complained (I think jokingly!) that dd kept taking his fresh white paper. As Quakers EVERYTHING is recycled. All envelopes are reused and if they get a letter with a bit of scrap paper not used at the bottom, it will get torn off and used (quite often to send to me!). So any new paper and stuff is a real treat for her. Whilst the kettle was boiling, I took her down to my 'office' and sorted her out with a whole load of coloured paper, card, and other art stuff. She was really pleased. She saw I had a lavender bush in my Garden and commented that she made lavender bags as pressies for people. She seemed thrilled when I gave her a whole bag of last years lavender that I had dried. It did smell wonderful!
Arrive home ds and Af, look of exhaution so Tea and cold drinks all around. DD had put her card stuff in a carrier bag so no fuss was made about it, but I felt I had to make the offer to DS about giving him some paper so he got a reme of white paper with a big grin on his face. As it was his birthday in a couple of weeks I decided to give him his birthday present. He was thrilled. Put the bracelet on straight away and dd asked what was on the inside (MIZPAH), She looked puzzled until ds showed her his card. On the front I had put MIZPAH, and the quotation about being apart but always together etc, and I had printed the poem inside the card. Stuck a fridge magnet on the front of a penguin that had room for a photo in it and turned it into a birthday card. dd then understood Mizpah, said she had a fridge magnet like that and wanted a little fridge to go with her teasmade, (I gave her at Christmas), AF said "Just because you have a fridge magnet does not mean you need a fridge!(I hope he was joking again!). He made no comment and ignored ds's bracelet.
I spoke to ds about his gap year (which is now!) and his plans to travel. I offered him a Rucksack, (a large proper back packing one), which he readily accepted. dd said that was just what she needed for her Biology field trip to Snowdonia! So it was a good job that I had 2 of them. So they both now have one.
It was nice to be able to talk to my ds. He had seemed to warm and was very enthusiastic about his job. telling me all the details. It sounded great.
I also had a Teddy that was new, but urgently needed a home, and it was given to me with 4 cushions which had 'Dogberries' on. Which was why I had it. I invited ds and dd to the spare bedroom to see if dd could give the teddy a home and she fell in love with it. ds saw the cushions and exclaimed "Dogberry!". Not bearing to part with all four I said that they could have one each. dd chose a pink one and ds chose a blue one. However, ds said, "can I leave it here, and collect it another time as my flat is in a bit of a mess?" I added "Of course and it is an excuse to come and visit again, not just to go fishing." He agreed. AF could not manage the stairs and I used the stairlift as it was at the top he could not follow. Again I had both ds and dd to myself if only for a minute or two.
We went back down and af imediatly 'bear-knapped' dd's bear and said it was very nice but dd was having none of it and took it back.
It was way past time they should have left for the football, despite this my ds never said a word apart from laugh at my 'varoom' 'varoom' and told me that IF we won we would have a good chance of winning whatever it was they were playing for. So despite all of the time limit they left late and both of them came up to me seperately and gave me a kiss, yes a kiss and a small hug and said "Thankyou for the day"
They drove off waving out of the car window.
I had made a comment about the 'am' to my dd, and was surprised that she was a bit derogatory about her. I think I must give the AF credit for giving me time with my children and referring to them on 2 occassions as my children or me as 'mum'. Something he would never have done had his wife been there.
Oh- If you don't know the 'Dogberry' story I shall tell you again but it does make me a bit sad.
It was wonderful!
Any questions?
Lots of love Bunglie