There are times

when I wish I had a shotgun. The chap over the back is playing with his motorbike again. Maybe this time he will overrev for the final time and burn the engine out. We can live in hope. Actually, I’d rather live in the middle of nowhere, but given our current financial situation, hope is going to have to do.

Anyway, back to the day. Started late, as is becoming increasingly usual, but dp had made it to give Big her breakfast so at least I didn’t have to feel like she had been starving while waiting for me. After the rest of us had breakfasted, we cleared off to Tesco’s to do the weeks shop. Why, oh why, given that I am not constrained by a 5 day 9-5 job, do I do this to myself? Tesco, with two small children on a Sunday morning. And why do ppl go there as families? I know why I was taking my children, pretty much because I had to, but why do couples take their teenage children with them? Is it a social outing? Or are they afraid that the children might burn the house down or some such in their absence? And then you get the occasional single person, at least you assume they are single, because the amount of food in the trolley that they have parked sideways across the aisle, so that you get to examine it at length, is not sufficient to feed them frankly, let alone a family. And when you point out (politely but in slightly fraught way) that they are blocking the way, while attempting to push your trolley which is insisting on going sideways, while keeping your 15 month old child from taking items down off the shelves and trying to spot where your 4 year old has legged it to this time, they look daggers at you, like somehow their trolley being in the way is your fault.

Sigh. Must get myself organised to get a veg and fruit box delivered, shop occasionally for perishables at the coop in the next village and see if anyone else wants to join in a cooperative shop at the local organic and veg wholesale warehouse. They deliver if you order more than £75 worth, perhaps I could shop once a month??

Got back and was unloading the shopping just as Sarah and co arrived along with offspring, offsprings bike, new wraps for Small and smellies for me. Smellies because I’ve been working on her shopping cart, and I’m hoping that it’s nearly ready to go live. A feeling of achievement there then. Larger offspring played out with bikes, smaller offspring fought over the single doll buggy – first time that I’ve really seen Small fight back actually. Sure that must mark a developmental phase, but I’m not quite sure which one. A pleasant afternoon was then had by all, although we did end up retreating inside as it was really really hot!

When they went home, Big lost it completely – she wanted someone to play with, so I suggested she talk to the little boy next door, who was loitering hopefully in the passageway by his back door, but he was obviously far too scary to do that. So I ended up chasing her around the drive til I trapped her screaming in the garden, and then dragging her indoors, where we redeemed ourselves slightly be reading the three (out of date) library books that were on the shelves. And Big started her own reading again, which consists mainly of repeating whatever I’ve just read. Well, maybe she is learning something by it, although I’m not quite sure what.

Tea time, bathtime, bed time. Small is currently headbutting my side as I type – not quite sure what he wants, but hopefully he’s tired as he only had a half hour nap. Long day out planned tomorrow, so I’m hoping that he goes up soon so that I can go up soon after. Although I need to excavate the kitchen, tidy up the garden, fetch the washing in, put some more through and cook and eat before I get to call it a day.

Hohum.

Edited to add – Small is asleep already! Wow