The Shock

Ok so all the polls had been saying that the election was going to be such a close-run thing and it was a question of who would form a coalition with whom and we were on our way to vote on Thursday when P suddenly said:

"What if people have a last-minute panic about the economy and decide to vote Conservative and they get a majority?"

I stayed up to watch the results like I always do and there was the exit poll suggesting the Tories had done very well and there was everyone disbelieving it and Paddy Ashdown offering to eat his hat (I think the lesson we should all learn from this is never, ever offer to eat your hat).

People round here are referring to the result as 'The Shock'  because whatever your political views it was a huge, unexpected shock like this can't be happening, I must have fallen asleep and it's all just a dream.

So I sat there watching and, having grown up with parents who were members of the Liberal Party and my dad having stood as a candidate, it was painful seeing the Liberal Democrats so decimated. I wasn't actually surprised that UKIP did so badly and SNP did so well but probably like most people I thought Labour would have done better. 

Then I woke up at 4 am and realised I'd been dreaming that I was going to bed and then I felt I did want to go to bed so I did, waking P up and updating him "Told you so" he muttered. Then I couldn't get to sleep so after half an hour I got up, waking P again and sat there, listening to the birds singing and seeing the sun rise and watching more decimation and feeling sorry for Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband who both looked awful.

P had booked us a hairdresser's appointment for 11 am so I missed the drama of Nigel Farage's result ("You missed the best bit," said J whose Maths teacher kept updating them on the results). I'm sorry Nigel but I don't really like some of your policies all that much although I do feel a bit sorry for you and three party leaders resigning within the hour???

Who can believe it?

Oops

After a busy morning yesterday - left for church 8.30 back home 14.00 (although did include lunch at Wetherspoons with few of others) was having a nice rest when 

text from my brother:

'stuck in traffic'

Why are you telling me you're stuck in traffic?

Gradually a memory began to worm its way to the surface of my brain - a memory of my brother saying he was coming to stay the night on May 3rd.

"Er P..."
"J off the sofa now and help me tidy up please."

Normally when my brother comes P has prepared a huge meal so I had to admit I'd forgotten but I think P did very well to rustle up teriyaki chicken and rice for him at such short notice.

Anyway we had a very nice evening with him and played one of J's complicated board games (all J's board games are complicated because if they're not he changes the rules).

Welcome to our new princess

This is what I wrote on July 12 2013 when Prince George was about to be born:

'Ok this is my guess for the royal baby.

I think it's a girl and will be called Elizabeth or possibly Charlotte.'

Not bad for a girl's name guess eh? Just got them the wrong way round.

Such a good choice of second name I think and such a lovely little baby.

Aaah.

Update

Well we are all better from our colds except P who's had a bit of an issue with his ear which made him quite deaf for a while so he kept going:"Sorry what did you say? Pardon?"  every time J or I made any sort of noise which got a bit irritating. And he wanted the volume up too loud. It's getting better now, thankfully. I suppose that's what life is like all the time for some people though.

The solar repair man came and repaired the system and two days later it started leaking again. Sigh.

P is sanding our floor which I've been nagging him about suggesting he gets on with for ages so it's good but he's doing it but noisy. He wants to start a church housegroup in our house in September but I'm saying we have to get the floor done first.

J has started doing some Maths tutoring at school - helping a Year 8 girl who's in the lowest set. He quickly realised that she was trying - and failing - to do quite complex calculations in her head. When he got her to write it down step by step she started getting the answers right. 

He's also started doing 'STEP' Maths after school one day a week which is an extra exam some unis want them to take - it's quite hard so a challenge for him.

J went to a Physics Masterclass at Cambridge last week which he really enjoyed.

I'm going to stop now because the computer keeps crashing and I don't want to lose what I've written.

Hot and cold

Been a bit unwell - can't seem to shake off this cold. Yesterday I went out all bundled up in a polo-neck, coat and woolly scarf while everyone else was in t-shirts and summer dresses. Weather has been lovely - just like summer.

Solar heating still not fixed - man can't come until next Tuesday. He's made a career out of going round fixing leaking solar systems which says something I think. The real problem with ours is that it's a bit too efficient at producing hot water and when we're away and not using the water the pressure gets too high and a pipe springs a leak. What we need is a permanent solution to this. Or else we never go away.

J been on another uni trip today, well it was a day hosted by one uni but there were representatives from several others speaking. He wasn't at all impressed with host uni but says he picked up several tips about the application process and personal statement.

"What were they?" I asked.
"Can't remember. I know them but I can't remember them if you know what I mean."

No, actually I haven't the faintest clue what you mean.

Not complaining

My rib actually isn't all that bad - just uncomfortable to lie on that side. I'm  not going to complain about it because my friend's husband had a horrible accident and smashed 10-12 of his ribs and was air-lifted to Intensive Care and that's a major ouch. 

The moral is when you are using machinery don't wear loose clothing.

He said it felt like 10 minutes being whizzed round attached to the auger by his jumper.

Thankfully he is on the mend.

I'm also not complaining about my other aches and pains because I know several people who are going through chemo at the moment and I just really, really hope and pray that they're all going to be ok.

Wales

Well we've been in Wales, staying with my brother and family.

Great things about our trip:

• really easy journey there
• after the first day weather was nice and sunny
• three excellent services at wonderful Anglican church (P thinks vicar's wife is a distant relative!)
• celebrating my younger niece's 16th birthday
• amazing food cooked by my brother
• just enjoying being with my family
• coming second (to my older niece) in game of Risk - victory for the girls yay!
• P's amazing simnel cake
• neighbourhood hot cross bun contest
• seeing snowdrops, daffodils and primroses all out together
• having some interesting conversations with older niece's boyfriend, a politics student
• just relaxing in the garden listening to the birds singing

Some not so great things:

• all three of us having colds
• trailing the subtle fragrance of 'deep heat' round with me due to painful back (? due to wheelchair incident)
• having a slightly cracked rib - don't know how it happened
• simnel cake suffering a bit from tipping over on the journey
• eating too many hot cross buns
• just the occasional teenage tantrum
• traffic jams on way home resulting in 9 hour journey
• came home to house full of the smell of burning ethylene glycol - solar heating leaked again
• a little bit of a middle-age tantrum at having come home after 9 hour journey to stinky house and that solar heating's been nothing but trouble (P doesn't agree)
• Masterchef didn't record!

Pictures to follow (not of the tantrums)