Holidays

I have booked a National Trust house in Somerset for a week at Easter:

Waif has decided that we need to find things to do for the week.  Yesterday, out of the blue, she presented me with a file of printouts containing 5 different outings, together with Googlemaps direction finder routes to each, opening times and prices.  She has even found a toddler gym for her young cousin who will be staying with us, and riding stables for her and her friend.  The file is neatly set out and indexed.  Sigh, this is typical of Waif.  My mother remarked to me the other day that Waif had some of my "obsessiveness".    Well, whilst I was capable of great focus as a child (generally on my school work), I was not organised and efficient to the same extent as Waif.

There will be the four of us (me, husband, Waif and Older Daughter) plus an old schoolfriend of Waif's, and, for a few days, H's brother and young family.  H's parents are also going to come and stay for a night or two.  Waif has begged me to make it only the one night.   Hmmmm........Grandpa did not endear himself to her the weekend before last when he came on a rare visit and announced that she couldn't sing in tune.  Tactful, huh? As if she doesn't have self-esteem issues already.  There are lots of positive comments he could have made instead.  Sigh, he doesn't mean to be rude but is old-fashioned - he lived in and was schooled in India at the end of the Raj not seeing his parents for 10 months at a time.  He had his own pony and 2 grooms when he was only 7.  Empathy was not taught in early 20c British boarding schools in Rajastan.  They were bigger on stiff upper lip, manners and honour.