Week 27 18-24th September 2011

Sunday 18^th September 11

Back to Broad Chalke by lunchtime. Notice immediately that neighbour has cut the hedge AGAIN in our absence. What is his problem? Seethe through lunch and then go next door to have hedge conversation. Neighbour keeps me on doorstep despite fact that it is raining quite hard. I think I make it clear he is NOT to cut the hedge again because it is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Return home to congratulations from children who have been eavesdropping through Tom’s bedroom window. Amy says I should have been more aggressive!  This doesn’t surprise me.

Get call from Rob who is now on the Prairie in Canada. Feel sad to think of him as ‘Little Rob on the Prairie’. Tom says this is ridiculous as he has 1000 men and 50 warriors for company. Fair point.

Monday 19^th September 11

Have to take Amy to school speech day in evening held in Salisbury cathedral. See new headmistress in distance and keep my head down. Think leaving job at school, was a bit like escaping from Azkaban and congratulate self silently on right decision. Service quite dull. Headmistress addresses audience as though we all have abnormally low IQ’s.  Meet Amy afterwards by statue of skinny lady and we leg it back to car. Arrive home to complete chaos. Tom had been asked to keep an eye on Angus and let him out a couple of times but has clearly FAILED to do this. Find Angus in kitchen chewing sofa cushion. Quickly discover sitting room curtain has been pulled down and hooks broken (and eaten!) and large puddle of wee in the middle of Hector’s bed. Am NOT PLEASED and say so quite loudly. Both children make themselves scarce and later find Tom tidying his wardrobe. This doesn’t really compensate but I don’t say so as he is trying to make amends and knows being tidy wins brownie points with ‘neat freak’ and cross mother. 

Tuesday 20^th September 11

Invite hedge cutting neighbour and wife for a drink on Weds evening. Do this in interests of community harmony. Completely goes against natural inclination to

1. Sue him
2. Rip up hedge and erect ugly 10ft fence

Invite friendly neighbours Val and Tim along too to alleviate any awkwardness (and to prevent hedge cutter having a go at me should he be planning this.) Reveal plan to children. Amy thinks is the right thing to do. Tom thinks I am mad. Interesting.

Wednesday 21^st September 11

Am quite nervous in lead up to arrival of hedge cutter but fortunately Tim and Val arrive first. All goes well. Everyone drinks a lot of wine and beer and they don’t leave until 8.45. Poor children haven’t had any supper. Give them lots of praise for not saying ‘ God we’re starving’ until neighbours have left.

Friday 23^rd September 11

Have hair cut in afternoon. Hairdresser goes mad and cuts off FAR TOO MUCH HAIR and I come away looking like Henry V. Not pleased. Why do hairdressers always do this? They are the losers as I will now not need hair cut for much longer than usual. Perhaps own fault for saying ‘cut off an inch’ to someone born in metric age. Note to self ; Give hairdresser instructions in centimetres next time.