Categories: uncategorized
Date: 25 April 2004 18:49:45
Now that was a lovely afternoon out, if potentially hampered by one or two minor details. But the sun shone, the traffic was favourable, the buses were wonderful and we really enjoyed ourselves. This is the way to spend Sunday afternoon, not worrying about jobs left undone.
Dad finds it hard sometimes to appreciate the fact that the boys can enjoy simple pleasures - which is strange, really, as you'd think he'd be proud of it. Hence he couldn't quite see the attraction of driving through town on a 1975 bus. The boys loved it, though, and assembled a collection of old bus tickets as we went. It was nice just to sit that little bit higher and see that little bit more as we passed by the houses we pass at least once a week and simply take for granted. A glimpse of one of the tanks in the new military museum, the discovery that several houses had Nissan huts in their back gardens, a sudden sight of the towers of Osborne House in the distance and the catamaran speeding across the Solent. It was great. And best of all was the excited look on the boys' faces.
On our return to the museum we decided on drinks next. I told Dad I'd go ahead and get the tea, coffee and squash and he and the boys could look at one of the old buses and then come and join me. We discussed where the cafe was, how long he should wait before coming there, and whether I was going to bring them the drinks outside or find a table, but apparently he didn't pick up the idea that I was NOT going to bring the drinks out to them. I'd finished my coffee and my cream scone by the time they eventually joined us (and Dad's tea must have been virtually cold), and was apparently in disgrace for not having made my intentions clear!
The boys and I went on ahead to continue looking at the buses as Dad was a bit tired and wanted to take his time over his drink. He followed us out. We'd looked at the new up-to-date blue bus, and the lovely old bus/ambulance which had been converted to a museum and where the man showed the boys how to use a conductor's ticket machine and let them sit in the driver's seat and sound the horn. We then crossed over to explore the open top bus. We were sitting up on the top and waving down to Dad who was standing below, when we got a bit of a shock. The bus started up and set off full steam ahead, with us right up on top not knowing where it was going and certainly not intending to go for a ride without my Dad. There was nothing we could do, though... we were trapped! Fortunately Dad had spotted what was happening and leapt aboard to join us, and we settled down to enjoy the unexpected ride! It turned out to be the best bit of the whole afternoon - driving through Newport and up the hill to Carisbrooke Castle, with the most fantastic views over the town and the Downland. It was quite exciting, too, as we were brushed and buffetted by the branches of the overhanging trees and ended up covered with blossom like confetti! Dad nearly lost his hat. We laughed almost all the way there and all the way back, and by the end of the ride Tiddles had decided that he wasn't as scared of the high bus as he thought he would be.
Home for tea, and Dad happily invites both boys over to his house for tea, giving me a rather nice break with a cuppa. Cut somewhat short, however, as Tiddles arrived home in tears with a raging headache - the result of going to bed half an hour late last night, and then getting over-tired this afternoon. This is ridiculous - the boy is 11 years old and should be able to stay up until 7.30 without problems the next day. He was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Now the dishwasher is whirring away, the tumble drier is working on the school uniforms ready for tomorrow, and I am about to settle down with my book and a mug of hot chocolate and continue to enjoy that Sunday evening feeling.