Peek-a-boo

A day that started badly, but improved. We were all looking forward to the usual Saturday swimming lesson, especially as Tom's new sharky trunks were making their debut, but for some reason, we had a pretty awful lesson. He just clung to me for most of the 30 minutes, not really joining in with any of the activities. Nik decided it might be better if she removed herself from the side of the pool, but it didn't make any difference. I guess we just have to chalk it up as a bad one.

We then toddled into Wellington for a spot of shopping and lunch in our usual pub by the station. We had our customary 1kg bucket of chicken wings plus a portion of onion rings, one of which Tom ate and seemed to like. He was also allowed two dippy fingers of the local bitter, which made him grin from ear to ear. Should we be worried by this?

As we were in Wellington, we decided it was high time we visited Sunnycroft, our local National Trust property. We've been meaning to go for ages, but never got round to it (it's too close). We spent 20 minutes or so looking round the house, an Edwardian "middle class" house. I think the middle classes have gone downhill over the past 100 years. The house is very large and very plush in places. Full-sized snooker table for example. It also has fairly extensive gardens and grounds, which Tom marched around like a trooper. I kept throwing a crab apple ahead of him, which he was happy to chase time and time again. His walking really is excellent now.

We were also very lucky in that today was the Sunnycroft summer fête, meaning that the lawn was filled with old-fashioned amusements such as a tombola, coconut shy, skittle alley etc. We ended up winning two toys for Tom, who endeared himself to one of the stall operators by putting all the spilled coloured balls back in the bucket they came from. And then taking them all out again.

By 2.15, we decided it was time we got the lad home for his nap. We were right. He didn't even make it out of Wellington before he nodded off in the car. He had a couple of hours kip at home, and then looned round the garden for a bit before tea, which he is (I hope) eating as I write this.