Stalker62
Well-Known Member
I am not, by nature a sociable man. Truth be told I was a grumpy old man, long before I became a grumpy old man.
Along with the rest of the world, we have not seen our children and grandchildren for over a year - or so my wife tells me.
With L3 easing, and some judicious interpretation of the rights of a family to gather, they are on their way over for an Easter Lunch. When they arrive one of them reminds me that I had joked last year, when this pandemic started "See you next Easter". It was never a joke. I had always thought we would be locked down for a year.
My wife is only ever truly happy when she is feeding her brood. She has not been truly happy for a long time.
Mrs. S62 has been prepping in the kitchen for the past two days - she seems lighter on her feet and even I sense how much good it is doing her. Good Lord, I even spent several hours peeling and trimming vegetables on Saturday.
The house (no thanks to me) is spotless. All windows are open and all the tables in the garden are dressed. With all the umbrellas up it looks for the world like a mini-game fair. We will be eating "al fresco".
There is hand sanitiser at every "waypoint". Meat of choice is lamb. Pudding will be home-made Lemon meringue pie and it is huge.
I have spent hours writing out clues for an "Easter Egg Hunt" and then hiding (what in actual fact, are gold chocolate coins) around the the garden and outbuildings. Apparently the grandchildren have been anticipating this. The joy this appears to give them is rather humbling to see. The youngest grandchild is now talking - he was not doing so when last we saw him.
The grandchildren then play in the garden with both (very patient) dogs and the adults enjoy a hot meal together and some half-decent wine that is saved for special occasions. It is a special occasion.
The Gods smile down on us and the weather is both warm and sunny for the entire afternoon.
The happy atmosphere is only fractured at the end of the meal when I present, what I considered to be, a very reasonable bill.
I had not even included service charge.
Any hoo.
After about five hours and some farewell, "covid compliant" hugs (virtual) they are away home. Silence once again descends on our house. It is deafening.
I look around the garden. It is heaving with discarded balls, toys, bikes, trikes and the like. The remnants of the meal will take all evening to clean up and the dishwasher will be going all night.
Damn I have missed the little bastards.
I very much hope you got to share some time with loved ones over the weekend.
Along with the rest of the world, we have not seen our children and grandchildren for over a year - or so my wife tells me.
With L3 easing, and some judicious interpretation of the rights of a family to gather, they are on their way over for an Easter Lunch. When they arrive one of them reminds me that I had joked last year, when this pandemic started "See you next Easter". It was never a joke. I had always thought we would be locked down for a year.
My wife is only ever truly happy when she is feeding her brood. She has not been truly happy for a long time.
Mrs. S62 has been prepping in the kitchen for the past two days - she seems lighter on her feet and even I sense how much good it is doing her. Good Lord, I even spent several hours peeling and trimming vegetables on Saturday.
The house (no thanks to me) is spotless. All windows are open and all the tables in the garden are dressed. With all the umbrellas up it looks for the world like a mini-game fair. We will be eating "al fresco".
There is hand sanitiser at every "waypoint". Meat of choice is lamb. Pudding will be home-made Lemon meringue pie and it is huge.
I have spent hours writing out clues for an "Easter Egg Hunt" and then hiding (what in actual fact, are gold chocolate coins) around the the garden and outbuildings. Apparently the grandchildren have been anticipating this. The joy this appears to give them is rather humbling to see. The youngest grandchild is now talking - he was not doing so when last we saw him.
The grandchildren then play in the garden with both (very patient) dogs and the adults enjoy a hot meal together and some half-decent wine that is saved for special occasions. It is a special occasion.
The Gods smile down on us and the weather is both warm and sunny for the entire afternoon.
The happy atmosphere is only fractured at the end of the meal when I present, what I considered to be, a very reasonable bill.
I had not even included service charge.
Any hoo.
After about five hours and some farewell, "covid compliant" hugs (virtual) they are away home. Silence once again descends on our house. It is deafening.
I look around the garden. It is heaving with discarded balls, toys, bikes, trikes and the like. The remnants of the meal will take all evening to clean up and the dishwasher will be going all night.
Damn I have missed the little bastards.
I very much hope you got to share some time with loved ones over the weekend.
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