Together in Stone

We had an autumn get-together at Joe and Sally's.  Mary-Ann and Dom had a horrendous journey up the M5, with several lots of road works and all the usual hold-ups, but it would have been several hours longer if they had come to us in Dereham.  We had a lovely relaxing weekend.  The weather was kinder to us than it would have been at home.  We were able to walk round Stone on Saturday morning, having gone on the local bus, which was an experience in itself.  Everyone except our young ones was on a bus pass, they all knew each other and said a cheery good morning to each other as they moved down the bus.  After ten minutes we had been round the housing estate and arrived at the garage at the bottom of Joe's road!

Sally picked up her new specs, Prada no less, but was disappointed that she still had the visual aberation caused by her loose lens.  They are vari-focals, so her brain has another challenge now.

While the children had their nap Joe and we 'girls' took a car load of unwanted effects to Katherine House recycling centre, which is a sort of Freecycle in aid of the local hospice.  If I hadn't gone with them we wouldn't have travelled back to Norfolk with an electric quad in the back of the Honda.  It was worth it though to see little Joe's delight as he drove it round the wide verge outside Joe's house.  Now our playhouse definitely has to have a lean-to!  More construction!

After the childrens' nap we went to Trentham Gardens, which were decidedly autumnal but still beautiful.  Sally has been wanting to try the barefoot walk for ages, so everyone except James and I took off shoes and socks, rolled up trousers and set off along a path of various textures - shingle, bark, logs, sand, pebbles - and mud.  Thick black mud.

 Joe had joined in looking rather bemused but when they got to the mud his compliance reached its limit.  Walking with Grandma and the pushchair suddenly seemed like a fun idea.  He was able to join in again once they stepped out onto dry earth, but didn't have the extraordinary black socks everyone else had as proof of participation.  Foot showers were provided, and low level foot-dryers, so everyone was comfortable by the time we walked round all the little specialist gardens - seaside, winter, pottager and so on.    Then time for a cup of tea and cake (we had had bacon sandwiches for breakfast so hadn't wanted lunch). 

After a good supper and several glasses of wine we were up for a playstation session, singing along with the Beatles, Chris Rea, Queen and numerous others I have never heard of.  Then out with the drums and guitar for a rock session.  Mary-Ann went to bed first, and was able to assure Joe and Sally that their assertions about the sound-proof qualities of their ceilings were entirely false.  The boys slept through it.

We rounded off the weekend with a carvery lunch at the Crown and Anchor, greatly enjoyed by all. The Knees set off from there and had a brilliant trip home, only 3 1/2 hours.  We lingered for a final cup of tea, and were home by 5.30.

What a fun weekend!  Thank you Joe and Sally for making us all so welcome.  We are aware that we arrived at a clean, tidy and stylish house on Friday afternoon and left a typical Basketts mess after lunch on Sunday.  Sorry!