The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike, est. 2007) Part 2090 by Angharad Copyright © 2013 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, the way to a girl’s is–shopping. So that’s what we opted to do. Meems stayed with Jacquie and Stella, who looked after the little ones, while Trish, Livvie, Cindy, Danny–yes, Danny, and I went shopping. Not sure what’s going on there, but he decided to tag along with Cindy. Oh well he can help carry the stuff we buy.

I had a list of school stuff we needed but seeing as they can grow visibly in six weeks or so, I decided I’d wait a month before spending another fortune. Today we were going to spend some cash and everyone would get something new, including Danny.

In the end he did very well, getting new underpants, trousers and a shirt, Trish got new trainers and shorts, Livvie got a skirt and top, Meems a new skirt and top, Cindy got a dress, new shorts and a new bra and panties set. Me? I got to choose where we went for lunch.

Seeing as I don’t allow them to have beef burgers very often, they all wanted to go to a certain burger franchise where they all stuffed cheese burgers and fries–those thin stick like things which carry more fat than thick cut chips. I had a chicken roll and coffee–yeah with the cup which warns me it might contain hot fluids.

Even all that bilge was quite expensive, and for the money I spent I could have cooked a much tastier and nutritious meal–but the kids were happy. For them a visit to a burger bar was a treat. Strange creatures, kids.

After lunch, we did a few bookshops and we each had a new book–mine was the latest Donna Leon and more tales of Commissario Brunetti. Trish, opted for a Manga book which showed she doesn’t just eat textbooks, Livvie wanted some book on Portsmouth, Danny found a football book he didn’t have and I got a couple of Secret Seven originals for Meems in a charity shop. Cindy asked for a book on makeup and beauty–I thought it was a waste of money, but it was what she wanted. Finally, I bought her one of those makeup sets they sell with loads of different eyeshadows and lipsticks, most of which you’d never use unless you’re a teenager–well she is, and she thought she was in heaven.

I told her to get some advice from Julie and Phoebe on how to use the different things, and while we were in the shop, I got her a pack of facial wipes as well. Cindy had finished the first Gaby book and wondered why they didn’t have any in Waterstone’s. I explained they were acquired via the internet, but she could borrow the next ones, provided she promised to return them. She did most emphatically.

I know if it came to it, I could download them via the net, but holding a book is such a nice experience, especially in bed. Then I had a thought. While they were busy eating ice creams, I ordered a kindle on my Blackberry with next day delivery. Once I got it, I’d download all the Gaby stories for her as e-books, and she could have that as a Christmas present, albeit six months early and it was significantly cheaper than an iPad. Generous I might be, stupid I ain’t.

David had a made a beautiful veal ham and egg pie which we ate with salad and new potatoes in garlic butter. Fresh fruit was the dessert with single cream. I don’t normally do anything with veal because I have qualms about how they kill young calves, but if they didn’t, we’d have no fresh milk. I’d hate to be a cow or any other farm animal, as so often they are just used as industrial units, either for milk or meat, and every little bit of them is processed to maximise profits. I don’t have a problem with making profits, after all farmers and others have livings to earn, but it’s so industrialised and soulless. Chickens go in one door and goodness knows how many products come out the others, even the feathers being ground up to use in animal feeds.

Anyway, the pie was delicious, better than anything you’d see in a supermarket and we all had a big thick slice of it, except Simon, who had two. David makes amazing pastry. Whichever variety it is, it’s heavenly. I keep asking him to do some profiteroles but he pretends he forgot. If he doesn’t do some on my birthday, I’ll make my own–that’ll teach him.

The next morning, the kindle arrived quite early on and I sent the children out to play in the garden–well, Cindy wanted to practice her makeup techniques, so she and the girls played with that, while Tom supervised Danny in the vegetable garden until it got too hot. I hid in my study and downloaded the Gaby books, now she’d have her own personal copies. I fitted it into the little carry-case thing and wrapped it in gift paper and attached a label from: ‘All of us.’

On the Friday, we went to the beach at Hayling Island again. It was packed, and this time I walked very carefully, avoiding booby-trapped children. We came home by lunch time because it was getting so hot, and instead, David had them making ice cream with the machine. That went down very well, and so did the ice cream.

In the afternoon, Cindy’s mother phoned to say she would collect her tomorrow morning. I was glad Granny was improving so much, but began to feel sad that Cindy was leaving us. Having got to know her a little better, she was a really nice young woman, but she isn’t mine and she had her own mother who was probably missing her as much as I would.

It was all tears on Friday evening, and the girls hugged each other with tearful expressions. Simon suddenly clapped his hands. “Okay, you lot I have an announcement to make.” Everyone went quiet, including yours truly.

“We are going up to Scotland for two weeks at the beginning of August. You can bring two friends with you, but that’s it. I’ve got a people carrier coming for the period, so if we take that and one other car, we should manage.

This was news to me, and I wasn’t entirely happy that he hadn’t discussed it with me beforehand. We’d have words later. The girls immediately nominated Cindy as their guest and I asked Danny if he’d like to ask Peter. He didn’t think so. Given how much Danny had promised to support Peter, he seemed to have forgotten in recent weeks. I’d speak to him later as well.

So, Cindy would ambush her mother when she came to collect her, with the matter of spending a couple of weeks in a castle–wonderful, not. The girls were so excited they were dancing round the kitchen table. Danny, while happy to tag along, slipped away from the celebration and I followed him. I wanted to know what was up between Peter and he, because previously he’d boasted about having a castle like Trish did with Cindy. There was something not right and I was going to get to the bottom of it.