Family day

It was another stunning day. Not a cloud in the sky and the temperatures in the mid-20s. Cousteau-Cub certainly brought some good weather back from Thailand!

Today was family day. We got up and got going. There was no hanging about. Ellie was up and dressed and the car loaded with the relevant bags and toys. We got our motor running and headed out on the highway. We were born to mild (if it's ok with you).

It was a lovely drive up through the Sussex and Surrey countryside, then bouncing through Hampshire into Berkshire. We had a really good run to J and T's. We were there for lunch and to meet up with Mulder and Scully before they return to to US. They've been here enjoying a vacation week in Dorset, but were now preparing to return tomorrow. It was good to hear that Mulder had handed in his papers and will be retiring at the end of October. Now we just need to get Trev to join the 7-day weekend club.

Ellie was a bit shy at first but soon got her mojo and played contentedly in the garden with each of the adults at one time or another. Blade turned up with Sophie and they too joined in with Ellie. It was nice to see them all again and nice to catch up on all the news. As usual Gorse Fox's little sister put on a wonderful spread and we had an excellent lunch.

Mid-afternoon we took some group photos, then loaded the car and said our goodbyes. We'll see Mulder and Scully again next month when we meet up on holiday... and we'll arrange our next meet up with J and T for soon after. We headed off. Ellie had fallen asleep within a couple of minutes and slept for almost the whole journey back. Late afternoon on a sunny Easter Saturday was clearly a good time to travel and we pulled up outside Urban-Cub's house about 90 minutes later.

It was lovely to see Cousteau-Cub when we arrived. She is staying with Urban-Cub and Pistol Pete temporarily until she has settled the dog with them. So far Tyson, the dog, seems to be coping well and is bonding well with Scrumpy, their dog. Once the dogs are settled and behaving, Cousteau-Cub will come back and live with us.

Now, the plan was that we would spend the evening with them. Urban-Cub was still at work but would be back soon. Pistol Pete would arrange for a take-away and we'd all catch up. It didn't quite work out, however. Cousteau-Cub had lost a suitcase in transit and Aeroflot had contacted her to say it was being couriered to our address between 7 and 8pm. That was all very fine, but we weren't there. Plans were quickly adjusted and we headed home to make sure we were there to receive the errant suitcase. At least it had been found and is now nestling in our hallway.