The Swimming Pool: Inauguration

By later in the afternoon on Christmas Day it was decided that the water was clear enough and all the correct pH and chlorine etc boxes had been ticked so the children were let loose.  First in was Catriona who had been dangling on the edge all day.

Catriona - the true Water Baby - first in to the new pool

After that it was a free for all for several hours.  I have to admit that although the children said that it was warm (and it felt warm when I put my toes in) I chickened out and availed myself of the spa (usually called a hot tub here) instead.  I'll go into the pool when the surrounds are all finished - or the weather heats up too much, whichever comes first.

Martin takes the plunge

That's the no jumping, no diving and no mucking about rules broken in the first few minutes (the last one was never a starter anyway!).

The spa/hot tub - bliss.

According to Plan?

What do you think? It's now 2310 and I suspect that the day is far from over.

Have I packed up or packed my case? I could try and think of a long answer but the short one is 'No'. Have I had a Good Day? The answer is definitely 'Yes'.

I spent the morning attempting to sort out the contents of The Cottage. Well perhaps that's not the most successful achievement today.

Went to croquet. Zoe, fresh from her success at the Te Mata Doubles Tournament, decided that we were to play a singles. She wanted to part with one final win against me under her belt. Despite our respective differences on paper I would not put more than even money on me winning in a levels game (well perhaps I'd give myself a 55:45 chance). Zoe decided on handicap. Unfortunately for her I couldn't do a thing wrong and played one of the best games of my life to win on the 13th hoop 7:6. It may be the very last game I ever win against that young lady and I shall mark it up. I am glad that, when I return, I will be playing with her and not against her. I shall miss my croquet friends. It would be hard to find a lovelier group of people with whom to play.

This evening we went out to a Thai Restaurant. We had a lovely meal and the children were excellent company (ie they behaved impeccably). The photos will have to wait because I took the camera up to The House when we returned and went in the spa and took in the wonders of the sky. Martin saw one shooting star. I'm hoping Martin has taken the camera in 'cos last I saw it was on the table outside. Fortunately it's my compact and not my principal camera.

It's nearly midnight. Am I going to make a start on the remainder of the sorting of the packing away? No. I'm going to bed. Wotthehellarchiewotthehell.

Happiness is Dancing Naked in the Warm Rain

I have returned from Wendy and Martin's. It is nearly 0140. Late.

It has been a wonderful evening. Wendy came down at around 0830 just as Boston Legal was finishing and I was about to go up and see them. She had come to collect me because they were going to go in the spa and catch up with the week's news. We chatted for an hour and then went up to the house.

We all chatted about the week's events and enjoyed a glass of wine in the warmth of the spa on a beautiful warm evening in the open air. For a while we sat on the edge of the spa as a warm shower passed by and we tried to work out how to tell the world just how unlucky it was not to be sitting with us. To be honest we couldn't think of the words. But if heaven is like this then I would be well satisfied.

Cheese and biscuits - and perhaps a little more wine - followed with more chat.

And now for bed.