Le weekend
The journey up to Chesterfield was okay, although there was some platform-leaping excitement at Leicester as I had to get a train other than the one I was meant to *lesigh*. Giraffe waved to Nicola while as we went through Derby. La. Thankfully the train from Leicester was not as crowded as the one from Cambridge, so there was room for such antics. *nods*
I was SLIGHTLY perturbed when the train Rosie was supposed to be on arrived at Chesterfield sans Rosie, but it was ALL okay (well, you know, ish, even if she DID go to Manchester...) and Liss' mummy appeared and took me to the coach station to meet Liss & Katie and then we went back to the station to get Rosie. Chesterfield Station has something of a comedy statue of George Stephenson - balanced on a compass & holding a vair small train - outside, which was suitably admired, and then the Rosie appeared and we all went to Liss' parents & shared in the excitement of the first use of the middle seatbelt in the car...
Having made Liss' daddy feel like Mr Bennett (apparently) and been watered (and in some cases, fed on teacake) and generally allowed to settle in, there was much chatting. And then there was bed. Yes. And my bed was so comfy. And SO much wider than my bed in college...
Rosie and I talked until quite late & then woke up very early. And, er, carried on talking... La... But we were good and restrained and did not go leaping into the others until about eight o'clock. And we sang to Katie in a variety of languages & showered her with gifts. Ish. After a bit we pobbled down to have breakfast and then went to get washed & dressed & so on while Liss' mummy went forth to the supermarket. We were NEARLY ready when she got back. Honest...
As the smallest-when-seated I got to sit in the middle on the way to Belton House. Which meant that as we went round corners I kept sliding into Liss/Rosie. On the plus side, I am not TOO hefty, so I don't think I've done either of them any lasting damage. On arrival at Belton House we had our picnic, and Rosie coveted horses, and I (unlike some...) managed not to spill anything. Huzzah. Sadly, it decided to rain-very-hard&hail as we were crossing the grounds to the house, but we didn't get too wet & were in the house long enough to dry out thoroughly. Always good, I feel.
The House was most fine. Lots of pretty things. Lots of interesting things. Quite random books in the library - Bibles galore; lots of Voltaire; heaps of Roman history & all kinds of serious-sounding things. *nods* The books were MASSIVE as well. You would presumably need a servant just to heft the thing down for you. Meh. As well as wandering round in an admiring fashion, we also had the opportunity to PLAY. There were Victorian style toys - see how I am SPLENDID at whipping a top... Yes, yes I am. *nods* And there were slates. Which may have had a message left on in, er, half a dozen languages. And there were paper dolls. And hoops, with which Rosie juggled... Best of all, however, were the dressing-up clothes. Rosie, Katie and I all dressed up in full-on Victorian dresses (sadly there was only one crinoline, so we had to take it in turns to wear that dress) and got to swish about the corridor from the nursery. Then we persuaded Liss to put on the cloak and swoop about a bit. The poor National Trust lady seemed a little bit perplexed, but then SHE was the one who had suggested we dress up... TREMENDOUSLY excitingly, Liss got to play the PIANO!!!!!!! It was so fine. And then a very mad man tried to insist Rosie play as well. He seemed to think he was in fact IN P&P rather than just where bits of it had been filmed (SHALL THE SHADES OF PEMBERLY BE THUS POLLUTED?!) and so there was some scuttling away.
Once we had finished larking in the house (and listening to Edward VIII's abdication speech, which sounded bizarrely like Winston Churchill & more disturbingly, like my DoS) we went and played in the gardens. We saw the Moondial & then went to the church (and saw THE gravestone from the book) and then larked past the orangerie & to the adventure playground. Katie, as the responsible adult, took charge of our things, and Rosie and I than leapt about the place, playing... There were swings and slides and balancing things and a death slide - or possibly two - and generally much excitement. I also hung myself upside down on the rings but Katie pointed out I might BREAK myself if I flipped over. Alas. But she was wise indeed, and bizarrely, turning myself upside down seems to have clunked my shoulders in a GOOD way. So yes. Not quite sure how I could do something similar for my knees, but obviously I shall have to consider this one carefully...
Larking over, we larked back to Liss' parents & curled up in small heaps in the living room. Eventually it was time to cook tea & Rosie and I kitchen-minioned for Liss & her sous-chef... We had STIR-FRY. And the spring onions made me cry rather spectacularly (which was a bit rude of them) but I did not chop myself instead of them, which is always a bonus. The stir-fry was most fine. And Rosie lived up to her reputation. And then we had Katie-birthday-chocolate-cake. With candles. And MORE singing. And once we had cleared up there was then more chatting. Which is a bit like a theme, really.
Rosie and I went to sleep earlier last night, and then got up rather later this morning. We had eggy-bread for breakfast. And it was so fine. And I may have bounced across the kitchen making excited noises. Or those might just be wild rumours. La. After a trip to the Spar we returned to the kitchen & Rosie and I minioned for Liss & Katie again. And I danced like a loon, because that is clearly what one DOES once one has finished chopping the courgettes. Yes. And we ate the last of the birthday cake once we had put the lasagne in the oven, because it would have been cruel not to put it out of its misery/end its lonely state. And there was some blatant icing-theft going on, but perhaps it is best to draw a veil over such things.
The lasagne was so fine. Mmm. And then we had mango. And pancakes. Pancakes with jam. A most delicious lunch. But then it was time to get ready to go home... So we did, and we went to the station & Rosie & I said goodbye to everyone else & then went to play with the trains. I went home a very different way to that planned (though NOT via Bournemouth...) and came back to college to discover an EBay win had appeared. As had a parcel I had SENT, because apparently the Post Office couldn't cope with delivering it to the recipients address rather than mine. I mean, I know that College is lovely, but the post was meant to be going to London. It has now gone into the private-posting box & I hope that this time it gets to its intended owners. Otherwise I shall wail & gnash my teeth. Yes, yes I shall...
I now need to think about having some tea and then possibly-maybe starting to pack & sort my room out. Meh. Gah. And other noises of a similar nature. My dad has said he'll help when he comes to pick me up tomorrow, but I would rather get as much done as possible before he arrives.
Wheee! Going home tomorrow. Then I have a dentist's appointment on Tuesday (though my dad knew this before I did, which is novel, to say the least) and am also having lunch with Liss & Marie, and on Wednesday I am going to Brighton *bounces* There is much excitement. I also need to chase my optician as the email I sent does not seem to have worked. Alas and indeed woe. But never mind, for I am (mindlessly) optimistic that all will be well...
I was SLIGHTLY perturbed when the train Rosie was supposed to be on arrived at Chesterfield sans Rosie, but it was ALL okay (well, you know, ish, even if she DID go to Manchester...) and Liss' mummy appeared and took me to the coach station to meet Liss & Katie and then we went back to the station to get Rosie. Chesterfield Station has something of a comedy statue of George Stephenson - balanced on a compass & holding a vair small train - outside, which was suitably admired, and then the Rosie appeared and we all went to Liss' parents & shared in the excitement of the first use of the middle seatbelt in the car...
Having made Liss' daddy feel like Mr Bennett (apparently) and been watered (and in some cases, fed on teacake) and generally allowed to settle in, there was much chatting. And then there was bed. Yes. And my bed was so comfy. And SO much wider than my bed in college...
Rosie and I talked until quite late & then woke up very early. And, er, carried on talking... La... But we were good and restrained and did not go leaping into the others until about eight o'clock. And we sang to Katie in a variety of languages & showered her with gifts. Ish. After a bit we pobbled down to have breakfast and then went to get washed & dressed & so on while Liss' mummy went forth to the supermarket. We were NEARLY ready when she got back. Honest...
As the smallest-when-seated I got to sit in the middle on the way to Belton House. Which meant that as we went round corners I kept sliding into Liss/Rosie. On the plus side, I am not TOO hefty, so I don't think I've done either of them any lasting damage. On arrival at Belton House we had our picnic, and Rosie coveted horses, and I (unlike some...) managed not to spill anything. Huzzah. Sadly, it decided to rain-very-hard&hail as we were crossing the grounds to the house, but we didn't get too wet & were in the house long enough to dry out thoroughly. Always good, I feel.
The House was most fine. Lots of pretty things. Lots of interesting things. Quite random books in the library - Bibles galore; lots of Voltaire; heaps of Roman history & all kinds of serious-sounding things. *nods* The books were MASSIVE as well. You would presumably need a servant just to heft the thing down for you. Meh. As well as wandering round in an admiring fashion, we also had the opportunity to PLAY. There were Victorian style toys - see how I am SPLENDID at whipping a top... Yes, yes I am. *nods* And there were slates. Which may have had a message left on in, er, half a dozen languages. And there were paper dolls. And hoops, with which Rosie juggled... Best of all, however, were the dressing-up clothes. Rosie, Katie and I all dressed up in full-on Victorian dresses (sadly there was only one crinoline, so we had to take it in turns to wear that dress) and got to swish about the corridor from the nursery. Then we persuaded Liss to put on the cloak and swoop about a bit. The poor National Trust lady seemed a little bit perplexed, but then SHE was the one who had suggested we dress up... TREMENDOUSLY excitingly, Liss got to play the PIANO!!!!!!! It was so fine. And then a very mad man tried to insist Rosie play as well. He seemed to think he was in fact IN P&P rather than just where bits of it had been filmed (SHALL THE SHADES OF PEMBERLY BE THUS POLLUTED?!) and so there was some scuttling away.
Once we had finished larking in the house (and listening to Edward VIII's abdication speech, which sounded bizarrely like Winston Churchill & more disturbingly, like my DoS) we went and played in the gardens. We saw the Moondial & then went to the church (and saw THE gravestone from the book) and then larked past the orangerie & to the adventure playground. Katie, as the responsible adult, took charge of our things, and Rosie and I than leapt about the place, playing... There were swings and slides and balancing things and a death slide - or possibly two - and generally much excitement. I also hung myself upside down on the rings but Katie pointed out I might BREAK myself if I flipped over. Alas. But she was wise indeed, and bizarrely, turning myself upside down seems to have clunked my shoulders in a GOOD way. So yes. Not quite sure how I could do something similar for my knees, but obviously I shall have to consider this one carefully...
Larking over, we larked back to Liss' parents & curled up in small heaps in the living room. Eventually it was time to cook tea & Rosie and I kitchen-minioned for Liss & her sous-chef... We had STIR-FRY. And the spring onions made me cry rather spectacularly (which was a bit rude of them) but I did not chop myself instead of them, which is always a bonus. The stir-fry was most fine. And Rosie lived up to her reputation. And then we had Katie-birthday-chocolate-cake. With candles. And MORE singing. And once we had cleared up there was then more chatting. Which is a bit like a theme, really.
Rosie and I went to sleep earlier last night, and then got up rather later this morning. We had eggy-bread for breakfast. And it was so fine. And I may have bounced across the kitchen making excited noises. Or those might just be wild rumours. La. After a trip to the Spar we returned to the kitchen & Rosie and I minioned for Liss & Katie again. And I danced like a loon, because that is clearly what one DOES once one has finished chopping the courgettes. Yes. And we ate the last of the birthday cake once we had put the lasagne in the oven, because it would have been cruel not to put it out of its misery/end its lonely state. And there was some blatant icing-theft going on, but perhaps it is best to draw a veil over such things.
The lasagne was so fine. Mmm. And then we had mango. And pancakes. Pancakes with jam. A most delicious lunch. But then it was time to get ready to go home... So we did, and we went to the station & Rosie & I said goodbye to everyone else & then went to play with the trains. I went home a very different way to that planned (though NOT via Bournemouth...) and came back to college to discover an EBay win had appeared. As had a parcel I had SENT, because apparently the Post Office couldn't cope with delivering it to the recipients address rather than mine. I mean, I know that College is lovely, but the post was meant to be going to London. It has now gone into the private-posting box & I hope that this time it gets to its intended owners. Otherwise I shall wail & gnash my teeth. Yes, yes I shall...
I now need to think about having some tea and then possibly-maybe starting to pack & sort my room out. Meh. Gah. And other noises of a similar nature. My dad has said he'll help when he comes to pick me up tomorrow, but I would rather get as much done as possible before he arrives.
Wheee! Going home tomorrow. Then I have a dentist's appointment on Tuesday (though my dad knew this before I did, which is novel, to say the least) and am also having lunch with Liss & Marie, and on Wednesday I am going to Brighton *bounces* There is much excitement. I also need to chase my optician as the email I sent does not seem to have worked. Alas and indeed woe. But never mind, for I am (mindlessly) optimistic that all will be well...