BASKETTCASE

We had the grandchildren all to ourselves today while Mary-Ann and Dom went to the Good Food show at the NEC. It was a bit scary but actually we had a lovely time. It was an honour and pleasure to have them for Joe's third birhday. We took them to church this morning for the first part of the service, and they were amazingly good. James made friends with the couple in the pew behind us and was given the man's spectacle case which he proceeded to chew until it was thoroughly wet. Joe loved the music and clapping (we are happy clappy) and when it got to the baptism which was total immersion he wanted to be next!

While James had his sleep we played with Joe in the new sand-pit. It has been a great success although we are glad there were two bags of left-over sand because quite a bit has finished up in the spaces between the new paving slabs. When James got up we went down to the summer house and Joe opened his tool-kit from Uncle Joe and Auntie Sally and his Thomas engines and tracks from us.

Dot and Rod came to sing Happy Birthday and have a slice of chocolate birthday cake. We played down there for the rest of the afternoon, then had a BBQ. James tucked into sausage and burger like a seasoned Basketts, but couldn't resist helping himself to my potato salad.

We finished off with a solar shower for the boys. There would have been a picture of this spectacular event, but I had not anticipated how difficult it was to shower two little boys outside, one of whom cannot stand, and take pictures as well. Needless to say, I didn't!

Mary-Ann and Dom were home in time to put the children to bed. A successful day all round.