A great deal of coming and going this week, much of it involving cars. Poet Caroline left hers with us while she travelled to London on Tuesday. At the same time Colin was putting boards down in our loft, so his lorry was in need of a space during the day, and in the evening there was Tuesday group. Dot and I both needed to use our cars, so we couldn’t just shut them in the garage-stroke-driveway. So quite a bit of fun was had popping them in and out. Happily the cold weather was in the process of abating, which meant there was little possibility of skidding into walls in the process.

Dot had a very busy Wednesday, with a school visit, a talk with the diocesan director of education and a music rehearsal. I meanwhile was driving down to Caddington for a rendezvous with Julia at David’s house, where we had lunch before driving to Beechwood Park for a Christmas concert for “senior citizens”. Oliver’s class did a mime of a typical school day, which included him scoring a goal and celebrating. Others, more traditionally, sang and played instruments. It all finished much earlier than expected, and there were mountains of refreshments to follow – and we still had time to join David and meet Amy out of her classroom, much to her excitement (plus a certain amount of confusion at mismatched grandparents). I looked after her at home for a while after Julia left, and while David collected Oliver an hour later. Julia actually arrived home after I did because of huge hold-ups on the M1. I left at 5.20pm, amid rush-hour traffic, and got home at 8pm.

The next day I was en route to Caddington again, this time with Dot. After a good journey we arrived early and had to wait at the Harvester for Julia and Dave (and David) to arrive. Had the usual Harvester meal (very helpful waitress) and then Dot and Dave went off to see Amy perform as a traveller in her class’s Nativity. Only room for two: this was the grandparents’ event. Apparently she did very well. All four grandparents then played with Amy (in the sense that she told us what to do: Amy heaven) while David collected Oliver again. Dave and Julia left, but we stayed for soup. We left as they had a bath, and again the journey was good. Mucky roads, though. I played some games of chess with Oliver: he is really coming on very well.

Yesterday it was considerably milder, and I went for a longish walk after moving bookcases (and books) around in a dramatic reorganisation. Funny how boarding the loft has this sort of effect. Delivered a couple of cards and was then invited in for a cup of tea by Dorothy Rayner. Good to catch up with her. Dot picked me up from The Cedars as I delivered my last card. Bit unnecessary, as I could have got a bus, but she had been doing school inspection preparation all day and wanted to get out.