The Lost Last Weekend

No, not Ray Milland on a four-day bender, but the end of the school hols. Weather not so great, but on the days we didn't find ourselves some company, we found that a Kellogg's Variety Pack did just as well.

A passell (passel? passle? pastle?) of children spent a cold afternoon hurling themselves around the maze at Chenies, with me firmly outside flapping my hands and bleating ineffectually, begging them not to lose themselves.They dis- and re-appeared at will, showing absolutely NO fear of being lost, finding no way out, the tall yew gradually closing in, all sound muffling as the light leaches from the sky.

Or maybe that's just me.

Today's Country Show at the Open Air Museum diverted us with terrier racing, falconry, and folk in mediaeval armour having at each other with socking great mediaeval swords. We were joined by Jeremy's ma and three of her other grandchildren, and I was tickled when all three children, on a day which included a golden eagle, some flambards and lots of ice-cream, voted, as the best thing of the day, 'Cousins'.

Kit has been hopping with excitement because, instead of a classroom, five days at an activity centre in Norfolk await. This evening has been all about packing and checking and labelling and unpacking and packing again. I think he's finally ready - I'm not sure I am.