Sunday 28th March 2010

In the morning I completed the assembling of a chest of draws that are to go in Ed’s new bedroom. I was concerned that he would get restless or attention seeking but he seemed to like being in an atmosphere of industriousness.

In the afternoon we headed into town on what was a fairly bright day. The drawn up shopping list I had included some Spring Greens. I bought an open bag of leaves from Sainsbury’s impressed that Janette had opted for some seasonal produce. When I got back, however, I was told that this was not what was required and it was to directed to the bin. What was needed was the sealed bagged and shredded stuff. Eventually she assented to using it just as I was planning in my own head several days of teas to be accompanied by retrieved spring greens. And good it was too: a worthy accompaniment to veggie and non-veggie Cottage Pie.

While out, I took Ed on the carousel. An attendant will usually survey the kiddies on board to see that they are strapped in and then receive the pound per go. However the carousel had started moving while I was still strapping Ed upstairs on the double decker ‘fun bus’. As his bus pulled away from my outstretched hands his clipped in straps didn't have that ideal waist clinging firmness. luckily Ed is unlikely to want to manoeuvere anywhere else on this rotating ride. The attendant was still distracted when the ride finished. I lifted Ed out passed over a belated pound coin to her King Tut bearded chum.

Saturday 27th March 2010

I decided to venture into my local pub to see if they were showing a Bluebirds match that was live on Sky. I hadn't previously found it particuarly friendly but a small feature in the local paper accompanied by a smiling landlady reported that it was under new ownership. A poster on its window promises ‘all live matches shown’. I had barely walked in when a shaven headed bloke with a barely gnawed pie looked up from the table and asked, in a gravelly voice if he could help me. I mentioned the match. ‘Yes, we show all live matches’, he said and went on to switch the big screen on. A familiar watchful landlord type, perhaps best suited the pubs of the this very local sort.

In the afternoon we drove to Altrincham. We went first to a retail centre for a crib mattress for our new baby then, while in the area, on to our friends. We took our respective offspring to the local park. A grafitti artist hoarding for Woodstock Park caught something of the atmosphere as some youths with hooded tops larked about. The largest yells, however, came from Ed who objected that two other children had dared to take up some swing seats for which he presumably should have hadfirst refusal