Sunday February 20th 2022

09:00 The fourth full day for Lois and me of our stay with our daughter Alison, son-in-law Ed and their 3 children Josie (15), Rosalind (13) and Isaac (11).

Ali and Ed go outside to try and clear up around the carport that was wrecked by Storm Eunice yesterday. Lois goes upstairs to take part in the first of her sect's 2 Sunday meetings on zoom. The children are all busy revising for upcoming tests and exams.

I settle down in an armchair with the book Lois got me for Valentines Day, "Viking London" by Thomas Williams. It's a great little book, in lively language, and not dull and dry like many history books - Williams really makes the past come alive, no doubt about that!

Eventually Ali and Ed finish their work clearing up the carport and putting anything they want protected from the weather in the almost undamaged, adjacent so-called "games room". I see them come by the window with one or two pieces they decide to stash in the house itself.

Ali and Ed come by the window carrying some random stuff

from the wrecked carport that they want to stash in the house

12:00 Another zoom call with Sarah, our daughter in Perth, Australia, and with her husband Francis and their 8-year-old twins Lily and Jessica. This time they get the chance to talk to Ali and Ed - yesterday was just with Lois and me and also Rosalind and Isaac, because Ali and Ed were busy clearing up after the storm.

Here Jessie showcases one of the painted pebbles

that the girls have been working on

13:00 Lunch, and then afterwards Ali takes Lois and me on a drive to Liphook. This is so we'll know the way to Isaac's piano teacher tomorrow. Ali, who works part-time as a teacher's assistant, won't be able to take Isaac to his lesson tomorrow, so she's asked Lois and me to do it for her.

It's only about 5 miles, but Ali wants to show us a special route that will avoid all the local roads still blocked with fallen trees.

What madness !!!!!

Ali shows us a special fallen-tree-free route that Lois and I

can use tomorrow to take Isaac to his piano lesson: what madness !!!!!

14:00 I want a nap by this stage, but Lois wants a little walk to stretch her legs, so we take a little walk round the neighbourhood. It's a slightly stressful walk, because the tall trees are already starting to wave in the wind. The weather is already building up to the next storm coming through - Storm Franklin. Yikes!

the local boy scout troop's hut appears to be undamaged...

...but the fallen tree on the road outside the house

is still blocking the road, and weighing down on the power lines:

oh dear! 

Yes, the fallen tree is still there blocking the road. The fire service says it's only a very minor road and they've got higher priorities.

What a crazy world we live in !!!!!!!

How much more excitement can I take haha !!!!!!!!

17:00 Josie starts preparing a sushi meal for us all in the kitchen, which is fascinating to watch.

18:30 The sushi meal begins.

After the meal the whole house goes quiet. Josie,  Rosalind and Isaac are all busy studying for their tests at school tomorrow. Ali is helping them. 

Ed is dozing in an armchair - tired out after all his work outside fixing the storm damage plus his job-related work on the computer. Also he had a bad night last night having overdosed on Swedish chocolate the evening before.  Poor Ed!

Lois and I are left to our own devices, so we watch a documentary on TV about Henry Purcell, the 17th century English composer, while Sika, the family's Danish dog, dozes in his basket. 

Sika dozes in his basket as Lois and I watch

a documentary about Henry Purcell, the 17th century English composer

Poor Sika !!!!!

After the Purcell programme we're moved to order on Ebay a second-hand DVD of the 1995 film about the story of Purcell's life,  "England my England", starring Michael Ball, with Simon Callow as Charles II. We used to have a VHS copy, but apparently the DVD is hard to get a copy of now. This used one is over £19 - yikes!!!! Still we love the film so it will be worth it,  that's for sure. 

Tremendous fun !!!!!

22:00 We go to bed - zzzzzzzzzz!!!