Answers in the form of a question, please.

This couple came for a cup of coffee and some catch-up conversation on Tuesday afternoon, bringing with them Fudgeos, Oreos and a board game of Jeopardy, as a jokey reference to an incident 25 years ago (o.m.g.), and it has rekindled my love of trivia and my competitive nature. It was so nice to see them.

Secret Hopes

From the back of the car this morning Claire said, "We'll see how the day goes."
"Hmm? What's that Claire?," I mumbled back.
"We'll just see how the day goes.......maybe Grandma will pick me up from nursery".

Since John got a breadmaker and a garden bench for his birthday I've got new secret hopes. This morning one came true, which was to be woken by the smell of a warm freshly baked loaf. But the other one, of nibbling on my morning toast while sitting on the bench in the morning sun, has yet to occur.

A Special Day

It was Ailsa's First Holy Communion today. Here is a gaggle of girls getting ready.All lined up in their finery. And a wee sister.

The altar cloth with all their names painted on that I made (at the deputy head teacher's suggestion). I have never done machine embroidery before, and trying to manoeuvre around the centre section of a 3m by 3m piece of fabric was bonkers. Not sure I'd do that again.

Splinter

I got a phone call from the school yesterday morning saying Ailsa had got a splinter on the inside of her finger and she said it was very painful, but the staff are not allowed to tackle splinter removal with pins, etc. So I got Claire up from her nap, bundled the wee ones into the car and set off for the school armed with my tweezers, stick pin and alcohol swab. Two minutes, removed the splinter, went home.
I felt like a mug. Should I have told the school to get on with it? Should I have told Ailsa to grin and bear it until she got home from school? She was just carrying on with her schoolwork when I got there. Would they have phoned me if I was a working mum? Or if I lived a 20 minute drive away?

Sticky Sticky

I am out of molasses.

Old School

I was helping Ailsa to do her homework, involving a bit of research about Ancient Egypt. I turned on the computer to look for an appropriate website. but it was taking ages. I said, "I'll get the laptop, it's so much faster" Ailsa said, "It's ok Mum, don't worry about it, this is what it's like at school, our computers are really old and slow. I mean, it's a Victorian school".

Heatwave

Not yesterday, but the previous Sunday. Barbecuing with friends at Balmedie beach. We have had more sunny days in the last month than Aberdeen usually sees in a year. Glorious. Aside from the rainy weekend that just passed, which actually was a blessing for all my plants. Says she, who doesn't work in an office Monday to Friday, but who can take the kids to the park, beach, back garden, drink coffee on the back step, etc. all week. And a perfect temperature, ranging from 10-17 degrees! I can't cope with it any hotter.

Make your Mark

Voting done. Not sure I've made the best choices, but they're made.

Claire regularly makes her mark around the house. Teeny pen scribbles on the windowsill, lipstick smudges on her pillowcase, paint on the underside of the table.

Laura, not being able to hold a pen, mischiefs in other ways. I wonder how many dominoes I can get inside the ukulele? Ooh, now. I wonder how many Duplo men I can get inside Dad's guitar.

Give Heather chocolate and it will mark the strangest places. Back of her neck, top of her head, eyebrows. What were you doing exactly, with the bowl of chocolate mousse and the spoon?

I should have voted for the party promising free house/child/car cleaning for all constituents.