Monday, Monday!

It just goes to show that however much preparation and planning you do beforehand, things can and will go wrong!

Today, my eldest son left with his classmates on a school trip to Shetland. We spent the morning going through his kit list and ticking everything off as we packed them. I had to go and help his sister's class on a gardening project at the local care home, so left him and another boy killing time before they had to walk down to school. I took his large bag and sleeping bag down to the school, so that he only had his rucksack to carry (at his insistance). I was pleased because the gardening was a great success, as the torrential rain that had been falling all morning had finally stopped, and the wee ones had a super time filling wooden tubs with conifers, heathers and violas, having an instant impact. I phoned my son to say it was time for him to go (a little late, it must be said, as I'd been up to my elbows in soil!). All well.

As I left the Primary School I saw the coach with the trippers on it go by and I got a big wave.
I got home and, inspired by the planting with the children, decided to do a bit of a tidy up under our giant copper beech. The winter aconites are over and need pulling out, and the dandilions are beginning to take their place!

I finally went into the house - to find my son had left without either of his jackets! It didn't cross my mind to say 'and don't forget your jacket' when I'd phoned, but I felt guilty for the omission. I know it is not really my fault, but I always say that we should never assume anything about other people. It was obvious to me that he should have his jacket, but not to him! Now I am trying to contact someone at their destination (they are on a 14 hour ferry journey now), to see if someone could lend him a waterproof top (he has plenty of the other sort!), or if the staff could buy him one there and we will reimburse them when they get back. Unfortunately, no-one is answering the phone at the hostel, so I'll have to keep trying..............

Ah, well. There's a lesson in this somewhere..........................