Real Life?

I had great plans for today. In my head, this was going to happen: I would drive to Burntisland and pick up my daughter and the children, then bring them back to Methven. When we arrived home I expected the kids would play out in the garden with the dog, while I threw together a tasty picnic lunch.

Next, I was going to persuade G to go and collect my Mum and her wheelchair in his van, and bring her to wherever we had decided to spend the day with Abi and the kids. We would all have a lovely time, before heading home tired but happy.

However, as usual, this was only achieved in my dreams! In reality I was late leaving, as I decided to hang out just one more load of washing (why?). Then I got slowed down with the traffic for the Ryder Cup. Then I drove much slower than I normally do because the car is making a funny noise.

When I got to Burntie, the kids were watching Nanny McPhee, and refused to leave without seeing the end. We eventually got home, the car screeching all the way (must get it into a garage this coming week), by which time it was too late to go to Jam Festivals or Active Kids.

I threw together a hasty filled roll, which we all ate in different rooms, and then because it was now after 2pm, we did the lazy thing and took the kids to the Softplay at Tiso's. They had a ball as they always do, while we laughed at how ridiculously expensive the stuff is (people buy this! £39 for a Merino head band!! To hold your hair in place! £299 for a cosy jacket! Talk about conspicuous consumption.).

Afterwards we toddled along the street to the M&S Foodhall store, and bought some stuff to take to Great-Granny's house for tea. G went home, and me, daughter and grandchildren went to G-G's and had some pasta and juice.

I attempted to take a nice group photo of mum with her granddaughter and great-grandchildren (she has 3 others, and is very proud of all of them), with absolutely no luck at all. The kids wanted to sit in the recliner armchair and use the control to put it up and down; Mum wanted to spoil them, and fill them full of sugary junk; my daughter just wanted a wee bit of peace and quiet, and for the kids not to wreck the house before they left.

This dreadful photo is the result! It's real life, isn't it?

By the way, we all had a really good day, even if I did have to drive home at 50mph with the stereo turned up as loud as I could bear to drown out the sound of metal screaming on metal! Anyone got any ideas what it could be? .......