Sunday 12 June 2011

Visiting

They've gone. Such a short visit, but so productive! The Lovely Son did some jobs around the house, his girlfriend worked on her dissertation, and I cooked. And we spent a lot of time eating and chatting; they also fitted in walks, a visit to the Baltic and a look round a cold wet Newcastle, and a morning at the seaside with a deliriously-happy labrador.

The dead dishwasher, sold with the house, was replaced, plumbed and wired in by the Lovely Son, by the bargain machine bought via the Council's intranet website for the princely sum of £15. It is just humming quietly through its fourth load.

The damaged skirting board in the shower room, so far well-hidden from viewers by a linen cupboard, was fixed beautifully by aforementioned Lovely Saintly Son; no need for replacement.

Door handles, their screws long-lost, were secured throughout the house, the little stained glass panel in the bathroom window was carefully removed (it was a gift from Tricia and is moving house with me), the wildly-swaying ash sapling in the front of the house, that threatened to break windows in breezy weather, was removed (again: it will grow back in time, as it always does).


And duct tape was judiciously applied to the freezer fascia, enthusiastically pulled from its moorings by me during a stop-cock search when the top of the shower-room basin's hot tap came off.

The To Do list shrank noticeably.

The groaning fridge was lightened considerably, and anything surplus to requirements was packed up today to leave with the Lovely Son and girlfriend.

The dogs were kept in a constant state of extreme joy.



And, most delightful of all, I got to know the Lovely Son's girlfriend, C, and to like her very much indeed.



Which was just as well, as she is clearly someone who a) can produce that permanent happy smile on the LS's usually-serious countenance, and b) is important enough to be brought home to meet The Mother.....

"Look at my stupid face!" he exclaimed when he saw this photo.


We did, and my heart was glad. Long may his face remain like that.

No pressure there then, C.

Come back soon, both of you.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Judging from these photos, C will soon be referred to as the Lovely Girlfriend! She obviously earned Tosca's approval, and she looks quite lovely indeed.

Doohie said...

Sounds like you've had a wonderful, weekend.

Bee said...

I love the picture of your son hugging the dog!
How wonderful to have a handy man in the family. I'm so glad that you had some quality time, AND managed to pare down the to-do list.

the veg artist said...

What a brilliant weekend. Happy people and happy dogs. Even a happy dishwasher!

Arthur Ransome said...

Really glad to hear of such a good weekend and to see such delightful photos.

A Heron's View said...

How wonderful to have all those jobs done by your gifted son and his gf has a very warm smile.
Good fortune is raining down on you all!

flwrjane said...

We would be happy to host both of those two. As it happens we have a few things around here that could use some fixing!

You know when I finally take a trip I'll be making a beeline right for your house.
I've got a map now!

xo jane

June said...

Good news all around!
Your son, in the picture where he's holding Flossie, is a dead ringer for my nephew. Do you suppose we are related? ;-p
C looks so nice and wholesome! And kind. She looks kind. She has, after all, a small dog on her lap. Such people are kind.

What a relief it is to have so much finished, huh?

Joan said...

Lovely Son looks so happy!! And so do the dogs!!

Lucille said...

What a very happy post. Smiles all round.

Frances said...

Lovely photos. Especially the last one.......actually brought a tear to my eye! So pleased you had such a wonderful weekend. ( She looks gorgeous, and kind) Now...... if you could organise a lovely girl for my lovely son ..that would be perfect.........

Anonymous said...

Where would we be without our lovely sons!! Glad the girlfriend got your seal of approval - they look so happy together!! Hooray for the new dishwasher - and for all the other jobs off the list. It was very good of them to take away the estra food, and save you from temptation - I put a pound back on last week - back on the straight and narrow again this week!!

mountainear said...

I think she's already achieved LG status! Sounds like a good 'un. What a lovely couple they seem to make.
Glad you had avoid if all too brief time together.

Lesley said...

Sounds like a top notch weekend. It's great to see little Tosca with a smile to rival Flossie's plastered on her cute little boatrace...

Mary ,East Coventry USA said...

Happiness all around- isn't it a wonderful thing to see our children happy? They make a good couple.

BumbleVee said...

Lovely Son looks remarkably like an ex of mine.... a really nice Russian guy.. it didn't work out as we were looking for different things in our lives at the time.... .... hey! and they both love dogs... how great is that?

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

It sounds like a lovely weekend and everyone looks blissfully happy (especially Flossie who's Beside Herself !!!).
Perfect!

Frances said...

ps...love that stained glass window.

Planet Penny said...

What a sweet post! It's so nice to one's 'lovely sons' looking happy, mine is too, for the same reason, a lovely girlfriend! And he came round on Sunday after I was shattered after Saturday's events and did jobs in the garden and walked Higgins! What a star, aren't we lucky!

judy in ky said...

I love seeing all the human/dog bonding and joy and fun! Such a great weekend for everyone.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely looking couple they are, you must feel very proud. I'm glad you are taking the stained glass with you, it would be such a wrench to leave that behind.

Hazel said...

SNAP! Both hosting Lovely Sons and their chosen partners...It is so nice to see them grow up into wonderful people.

Marcheline said...

She's lovely! He's cute! May they remain as happy always as they look in these photos.

Anonymous said...

I am very touched that you are taking your bathroom window with you - almost brought me to tears, and I remembered how Saul and I got it in situ before you knew what had happened - and I promise to make some more windows for your new home - just tell me where and when - xx

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