Frankie Tomatto gets his Dollar Coat

We played cards again last night, but moved the table into the lounge so the kids wouldn't be disturbed by our noise. Actually we were quiet. We played two different games but were very tired and gave up by 10:30. The ladies were cheated!!!!

Poor Beetle (Telegraph picture)

Huffle was at home today (working from home!). He had two phone call meetings all morning so Grandma, Grandad and I went the garden centre (where I am going to work). We picked up some nice things. I spoke to the man who owns it and told him I would start this Monday. How exciting.

We met a woman in there who worked in the nursery at Treboh, a favourite garden of ours and Grandma and Grandad - we went when Small was very Small. She lives here now but goes home every winter because its too cold and there are no flowers!!

We then went into the local town. We stopped for coffee at the new Italian Deli. It had been taken over by new people.

While Grandad got some money, Grandma and I went to the Thrifty Store. The coat was still there. They had a red ticket day. Everything with a red ticket was $1. I checked if that meant the coat and they said if it has a red ticket, it is $1. So I quickly picked it up and threw it behind the counter and asked if they could hide it for me till Grandad was somewhere else. He came in, saw me, and then looked really sad as he realised it was gone. I told him to look for another coat and then paid and ran to the car with it and hid it in the boot.

We went to school and picked up the boys (I rang them first thing to ask if we could take them out early). Then we headed for Frankie Tomattoes where we had a table booked for lunch.

I had Grandad and the boys in my car and we sang "little boxes" all the way, very loudly. Huffle and Grandma were in the other car. We were a little bit late but we got there eventually. It was packed.

It was eat as much as you like buffet style. The boys loved it. They thought it was great to get down, look for more food, get it themselves and come back to the table. There was great array of Italian food. Smallest liked the spaghetti best but not the meatballs. Then we had dessert. Lots of ice creams (boys especially liked the sprinkles). Red velvet cakes were yum and the choux pastry with fresh cream were delightful. Shame they were so small that we had to have a few!!!!

The bill came and we had to remind them that we were celebrating two birthdays (Grandma and Grandad). They came with music, hats, balloon tomatoes, candles, cakes and chocolate. They sang a song to them, put hats on them, took photos. It was very funny. Small wants to come back for his birthday (October).

We left after being there for nearly two hours.

 

We drove home. I took the coat out of the car and Huffle put it on and went to the front door. He knocked and I said, oh Grandad, it's for you. He went to the door and when he opened it, Huffle was standing there wearing his lost coat!!! It was so funny. Then we told him the story about how the coat was only $1. He couldn't believe it.

Grandad wearing his new coat (sorry $1, couldn't resist - they said in the shop that it meant it had been there for some time!! Quite!) - doesn't he look happy?

The boys played and fought outside. We had to get rid of their sillies somehow! We weren't home long before the airport trip had to be made. Huffle and Small decided to take them. Me and Smallest stayed behind. It was a very emotional goodbye. Lots of hugs and kisses. Smallest was his usual tactful self. Grandma said she needed an extra big huggle to last her, he said what forever? He seemed to think he would see them again tomorrow, even though he knew they were going home. It's weird, it seems like they have been here for ages but that it has gone really quickly too. How can that be.

We waved goodbye and then smallest and I played a couple of games and did a jigsaw. Then we watched some TV till his bedtime.

We skyped HB and she lay on the pillow with Smallest for a while.

Huffle and Small came back from the airport, Small went straight to bed as it was late. Small had been a very good companion to Huffle on the way home and they said they listened to music. One boy asleep and the other quite sleepy.

Huffle and I are going to sit and watch TV. Night night xx