Wonky pub

Slightly better night last night. Tom slept through from 6.45pm until 2.15am, his best stretch for many weeks. I was in the spare room by then (a very bunged-up Nik was snoring). Tom ended up in bed with his Mum at 3.15 and finally nodded off again at 4.00.

We managed to get a decent breakfast down him and then put him down for a long enough morning nap, meaning that the swimming lesson went pretty well. Very few tears, but he must learn not to open his mouth like a whale when he's under water. God knows how much of the pool he drank.

We had a quick drink with Rose, Martin & Abi and then headed down to Dudley to drop Helen & Alan's Christmas cake off. We were planning to have lunch and a walk at nearby Himley Hall, but the weather started to go off, so Nik suggested we go to "The Crooked House" pub (see photo). I've never seen a building so keen to fall over, and walking through the front door is genuinely disorientating. Like something from an old seaside amusement arcade. Still, it was an interesting old place and the food was quite decent as well.

We thought we'd use our newly acquired National Trust cards and stop at Wightwick Manor on the way back, but the car park was full when we got there, so we gave up and decided to go to Waitrose instead. Spent too much (well, it was Waitrose) and came home. Tom ate a good-sized tea and had a fun bath with his Mum before eventually taking his bottle after some stern words from his father.

We then settled down to watch the Blu-Ray version of The Dambusters. Cue stirring music...