Souvenir

I don't normally buy souvenirs

but I found this at the bottom of my bag

and I remembered buying it on a hot day

in a crowded shop on a cobbled street.

When I hold it I can feel the sun on my back

and the happiness of a day with the people I love.

Do you have a souvenir from your holiday this year?

MasterM saves the day

It is our wedding anniversary
and we are having a romantic night out.

It was an Elizabethan manor with moat

and is now the swishest of hotels.

(it was a special offer)

The bathmats are monogrammed

(and so are the towels, the sheets, the coasters, the carpets...)

Everything is designed to help us to forget everyday life.

(the note says you can buy these bottles for£4.50)

We sit on the terrace
to drink champagne cocktails by candlelight

(the one on the right is a Bellini made with peach puree)

And then relax over a delicious dinner.

(so much oak panelling that it looks as though we are eating in the dark)

At least - that was how I imagined it.

It had not been drawn to my attention

that it was the opening night of

The Rugby World Cup.

MrM is reluctant to leave the wide screen TV.

MrsM starts to stamp her little foot.

But MasterM has a backup plan...

he will send text scores throughout the evening...

So MrM spends the evening

looking surreptiously at his mobile.

I thought that I was very tolerant
but I did decline the offer
to watch the match highlights at midnight.

Paws for Thought

Spend time with your team.

Tell them that you value them.

Love Poppy x

Welcome to Roy

Cutest Puppy in the Blogland posse

Train your family early, Roy.

Berried Treasure

I thought that I had held onto summer

so tightly

that it could not escape my grasp

but I see that it has slipped though my fingers.

A Showcase for Eccentricity?

Due to obsessive compulsive honey purchasing

I have no room in my kitchen cupboard.

When confronted with the evidence

MrM waved his hand dismissively

And said

'You can feature it in your blog.'

I think he has an attitude problem.

Dandies, Corinthians and the Nonpareil.

MissM is going through a serious Georgette Heyer phase.

It is a passion she shares with her Granny.

Although, perhaps serious is the wrong adjective

because these are not wholemeal bread

but the lightest of patisserie.

I had not read Georgette Heyer

and was worried that such frivolity

might be bad for her intellectual digestion.

The modern edition by Arrow features delicious covers
for the adventures of the various heroines
and, I was surprised to discover,
a range of reviews from the most impeccable of sources.

Who can argue with Margaret Drabble?

I discussed this with a young academic
who specialises in Nineteenth Century Literature
and she admitted to reading everything
that Georgette Heyer had written
before moving on to Dickens.

Georgette Heyer to Charles Dickens.

That must be like
gorging on meringues
before gobbling fruitcake.

Bitter/Sweet Memories

Today we return to school.

Have we done everything that we wanted to this summer?

Probably not.

Have we done as much as we could...

and then squeezed in some more?

I hope so.

We didn't have a Barbeque...

but we did have Summer Pudding.

Eventually.

Apologies for the poor quality photographs.

They were taken in a hurry,

late at night,

like most of the things that I do

in the day before school starts.

Next term will be different.

Maybe.

Unexpected Kindness

I went to the Post Office today to collect a parcel

and was quite astonished

to discover that it was for me.

From America.

It was from Angie in Michigan

and we couldn't wait to open it.

We all loved the picture by Aden

and MissM said

'look how big my hands are next to Aden's!'

Thank you Aden for making us smile!

And then, beautifully wrapped,

two wonderful pictures embroidered by Angie.

They are just amazing and I was so touched.

How did you find the time???

I should explain that Angie who writes comments as FarmMom has a homestead in Michigan. She farms and cooks all day and looks after two adorable children.
Her blog Children in the Corn
shines with humour and honesty and enthusiasm.
I love visiting her
and hearing all about the challenges that she faces
and she is always very welcoming to her townie house guest.
At the moment she is waist deep in harvest so this lovely gesture is even more appreciated.

Thank you Angie, for this most unexpected kindness.

It is the best of Blogland - I wish all of you a blogfriend like Angie.

In which we review a film...

The Bourne Ultimatum

We all really liked the bit in Waterloo Station - MrsM kept thinking Matt Damon was going to have to stop for MrM as he made a dash for the 18.58 on Platform 19.

It was agreed that MrM was not impressed by the impulse mobile phone purchase - how did he know he was getting good value? Did he even ask about the free evening and weekend calls offer?

And who was the guy at the bus stop?

Why was that girl in the office. MrsM suggests that she was just turning up for work. MissM says scathingly 'at night time? I don't think so.' Which is a good point. Why was she in the office?

MrsM was confused by the bit in Tangiers - how did they end up in the same place? MissM explains that Matt Damon ran along and jumped around a bit and then ran along some more and then jumped around some more. MrsM states that it was a bit bizarre. MrM is shouted down as he says 'you mean...bazaar'.

MrsM and MissM agree that she looked very cute with a fringe even though she probably didn't really cut it herself. MrM says 'but she was doing it with scissors in the bathroom'. MissM says 'you can't believe everything you see on the screen'. MissM then wonders where she got the hair dye - did she have to carry it around with her?

MrM is outraged by the careless way that she treats her mobile phone - she should have thought of the upgrade.

MrM wonders if there will be another sequel. He suggests 'Bourne Again' as the title.

MissM says 'I think you just missed the whole point of the film.'

The Summer That Was

This summer

Marciac, Gers

was the summer

Tillac, Gers

that was too cold

Bassoues, Gers

and wet

Montesquiou, Gers

to grow geraniums.

Bassoues, Gers