Wednesday 10th Apr

Another beautiful morning for delivering the papers and I whip round quickly first thing. I am then challenged by a number of small DIY jobs, so rather than rush into them I settle down for a coffee and a look at the paper. The eldest and Mrs P have been asking for a while if we could get a lock for the toilet door. Now you may think everyone has one, but we’ve lived here for nearly twenty years and we’ve managed fine without one so far. However, under protracted teenage pressure I go out to get one. To add to the fun the toilet door handle is sticking, so it’s really a double challenge, and one to be faced after lunch. Feeling well fed and watered I attend to the sticking handle with my favourite tool, a hammer, and it seems fine, though only time will tell. I then fit the door lock and I’m on a roll so I splash a bit of paint on the bathroom ceiling, something Mrs P asked me to do at the beginning of March, so I feel I’ve dealt with it fairly promptly.

The weather forecast was promising rain though I can’t see it myself, but I decide as I’m so active today that I might as well give the grass its first cut of the year. I’m now hoping the promised rain turns up to address what looks like a scorched earth project, but could one day be a lawn. Having knocked off the ironing (much to the chagrin of my friend who doesn’t have kids and couldn’t believe our washing machine goes on every day), I put together a decent tea for Mrs P, the eldest and myself, enjoyed by all for a nice change. Unlike the other day when the youngest walked into the kitchen, and before he’d fully entered the room, pointed at his plate and exclaimed in a loud voice “I’m not eating that!” I wouldn’t mind but it was pie and mash, food for the soul.

Jay-le-taxi is out early evening to pick up the youngest, who has been bowling with some school friends , then on for a bite to eat, and with no homework to follow he’s straight on the xbox and one happy teenager. The eldest meanwhile is caught between homework, revision and practising for her Driving Theory Test which is on Monday. So, one not quite so happy teenager.

At this point I must thank the TV companies who continue to transmit a diet of dross most evenings, allowing me to relax with a cuppa and a good book. 116 channels through Freeview and nothing I want to watch before 9pm for the third day running. If they truly are catering to the lowest common denominator, it’s not me.

Yours content for today

Jay