Grannie's visit

Tom's trial went well on Wednesday. I sat in the staff room reading a magazine (bliss!) whilst he explored the room, when I reappeared he was happy and the lady looking after him said he could come any day as he is a good tidy upper.  Anyway he was happy which meant that I was happy.

On Thursday Grannie came on the train.  Matt and Tom went to collect her then we headed into Kirkby Lonsdale for a wander around and tea and a bun.

Friday the plan was for a proper afternoon tea at the Midland Hotel in Morecambe - a famous art deco landmark.  First we went to Carnforth to play in the Thomas room and have a light lunch, then we did some memory lane bits for Pat - visiting various houses. We had time to kill so we thought we would wander around Morecambe town centre - BIG mistake.  Morecambe's best feature is its promenade - on no account should anyone walk behind it - the place was very drab, dreary, depressing and in dire need of help.  Lots of charity shops and pound shops and very little else.  It was pretty much impossible to spend any time strolling around as it wasn't exactly inviting or pleasurable.  Looking in the estate agents window confirmed the state of the town - property here is very cheap.  We ended up back on the promenade so Tom had a play in one of the parks there and then we looked at the shops on the promenade and actually came across a gem of a shop full of interesting toys including a huge big jigs selection and a huge selection of dolls house furniture and fittings (please note Mum!) so it wasn't a complete loss.

Afternoon tea (before it all went wrong!)

Eventually it was time and we headed to the hotel which felt very upmarket after our time in the town centre.  We quickly brushed hair, put on smart clothes and made ourselves presentable before being seated.  It really was very nice, we looked out on the sea from the warmth of the conservatory.  Tea came and was very nice we were looking forward to a nice civilised afternoon, but it wasn't to be:

1) Tom took a bite of his first sandwich and was promptly sick - luckily most of it went in his napkin.
2) Pat managed to drop part of her custard tart on the floor.  The custard ended up running down her handbag and she couldn't find the pastry until the end of the meal when it turned up stuck to her black trousers.
3) We all had a massive giggling fit during the custard tart incident - you had to be there, but we were crying with laughter and making a spectacle of ourselves.
4) Matt managed to drop the chocolate bit of his chocolate eclair on the floor and then rub it into the carpet.
5) Matt then reached across the table and smeared clotted cream across his shirt.

I was well behaved (apart from uncontrollable giggles).  Humm, not sure we will be allowed back.  It was very nice as you can see from the photo, we were the last to finish, not sure if that was because we were being slow or because the other guests left early to get away from us!

Anyway, it was an afternoon tea to remember.

We got home, gave Tom some jam on toast and a banana at his request - he was instantly sick - he wasn't well, so he had a dip in the bath and went to bed whilst the sofa covers went in the washing machine.