Last weekend I had flat-packed the outgoing shed and Nick had called yesterday morning to give a 30 minute warning of his arrival to collect it. Since the kitchen was still reeling from my having cooked the night before (both rare things), we had a quick whizz round to clear up.
Nick blamed the speed of John’s van for the additional 30 minutes it took him to arrive, but at least we got to sit and relax in the garden for a while before he arrived with Oliver and Sam. The shed was duly loaded into what can only be described as a prime contender for the ‘builders van of the year, 1989’ and father and sons trundled off… driving over the kerb at the corner of the road in the process. The big question is: will he blame the lack of a nearside mirror?
Kim & I set to in the garden, as much as an excuse to be outside as anything else. Kim weeded whilst I chopped back an oversize philadelphus. We had just reached a natural break, with all the of the aforementioned stuffed into three large garden sacks when the door-bell rang.
My brother Michael & Dad beamed at me as I opened the door… surprise! Despite all the garden cushions being out, the rubbish bags and the open gardening book served to demonstrate our industriousness. Phew! I hate to be caught napping!
We sat in the warmth of the glorious afternoon catching up and Michael even got to road-test our latest KriKri coffee cup!
You passed my test!!
I knew it was a long van, saw you and Kim waving as we drove off, saw the kerb and thought “I wonder whether they are still looking and will notice THIS..” (as there is indeed a large gap where the n/side mirror was placed back in ’89) and by that point was turning slightly left, so there was no rearview from the offside mirror (still present in roughly the same place as originally nailed on in Dagenham).
“Doink, Doink!” proclaimed my youngest, delighted at the excursion up and over the concrete..
If you doubt my motive, ask my two little “helpers” – they loved the journey by the way, and the errand of colleting said shed became a fun trip – one son proclaimed “is this the rattiest van in the World, Daddy?”
I’m Not sure, but its gotta qualify for the front few rows of the grid!!