Z says no

We all went out to supper this evening to celebrate Squiffany's birthday.  She had a party at home yesterday for her friends.  Weeza and Phil came over with the children, Phil on his bike straight from work - I've mentioned his 45 mile a day round trip commute, this added several more miles but he never seems to mind.  Ro cycles to work too, but he just has 4 or 5 miles each way to the city centre.  And I - well, less said the better.  One has to allow so much time, especially when travelling from one appointment to another - yes, it is possible because I used to do it, but I haven't been that dedicated recently and I tend only to get on my bike if I have a single errand to run.

The children were all lovely at dinner, the babies in adjoining high chairs looked particularly adorable.  Weeza shared her ice cream with Gus - his first taste of such a delicacy and he was thrilled.  He sat very still and well-behaved on her lap, his eyes following every movement of the spoon in the hope that the next mouthful would be for him.

I finally have got some seeds sown, but have decided not to grow greenhouse vegetables from seed this year.  I'll buy the plants.  The reason is that, with me away for a fortnight in April, it's a lot for the Sage to look after.  It's not difficult nor even very time consuming, but when I have seedlings or young plants in the propagator my first thought every morning is the weather and the temperature, whether I need to turn the heat off, leave the cover on, off or shade the plants, remember to fill a watering can each day and put it in the greenhouse so that it's not going to chill the plants and I can't expect him to remember it when it's not normally his job.  For a few days yes, but not for two weeks.  Just a few trays and pots to be watered is quite enough, on top of looking after himself.

Having said that, I think he quite likes looking after himself.  And I'm slightly anxious about what I'll find when I get home again.  This afternoon, for example, he asked to borrow Al's van.  Al said yes, but asked what for.  Tim in the shop wanted the old fridge taken away, he said.  "What are you going to do with it?" I asked suspiciously.  The nearest tip closed down and I didn't think he'd be driving 20 minutes to the next one.  "I'll leave it in the van, or maybe put it behind the wall" - he gestured to the newly-paved area where my shed is to go.  I lay the law down.  I said no, quite vehemently.  I was not having it brought home, it would be here for the next three years at least, and it wasn't to be left in the van.  The Sage accepted this with reasonable grace, though obviously thinking I was being totally unreasonable.  Later, I drove into town and saw him going in the gate of a neighbour down the road who is renovating his property and has a skip in the garden.  I asked, later ... the neighbour was out, he'll ask another day.  The Sage dearly loves helping people.  Unfortunately, I don't count as people and the result is not always quite harmonious.  Not that we fell out over it.  We would have if I'd found that fridge in my garden though.