Prince Tom

Sophie and Tom came and visited us at the cottage today.

Because it was Father’s Day, we figured we’d need to book a table at the Holly Bush a bit early, so we did that last week. As it turned out, we ate after 3pm and there wasn’t a whole lot of fathers left. I think they’d probably gone home for the football. I have to say that, if I was a father, that’s how I’d want to spend my special day.

Anyway, they turned up and Mirinda gave Sophie the full guided tour while Tom and I tried our hand at the swinging bat and ball thing in the garden. Tom didn’t quite understand the rules, assuming the idea was to hit your opponent with the ball. Following this change in the rules, I managed to hit him on the head a few times.

I was very surprised that his hand and eye co-ordination isn’t very good. People claim that kids who play video games get better at it. That’s certainly not the case with the Tomster. He may have improved had we played for any length of time but we had to leave for the pub. Mirinda suggested we get one for our garden. Then we’ll see if he gets any better.

The pub had been tarted up a bit for the dads with silver stars scattered everywhere, a red cardboard crown and bar of chocolate at every table. Tom figured the crown was for him, even after he was told it was meant for the fathers.

The menu has changed at the pub. The landlady told us yesterday that they’ve moved to a more summery menu. And I have to say that the swordfish with Greek salad and cous cous I had was delicious. Mirinda and Sophie vouched for the rump steak and Tom sort of ate his burger and chips.

After lunch, we walked back slowly, stopping off at the playground so Tom could sit on a swing while I pushed him.

This attracted a number of kids to join us. One of them took the swing next to Tom while the other two started throwing footballs at them as they swung. The idea was to get certain points for hitting certain parts of the body. This started as only a single point until the kid throwing the ball decided he wasn’t getting enough points. After reaching 42 (which, he said, was his lucky number) he started making the points ever bigger. By the time his mother called him to leave, he’d amassed about 5,000 points.

Tom thoroughly enjoyed this strange interlude and was a bit sad that the other kids had to go. We left as well, not wanting to be the only ones there (I assume), and headed back to the cottage.

Mirinda took Sophie off to the wild Farnham Heath to experience killer moths, vicious black Dextor cows and very scary mud while we stayed behind to watch a film.

Rather than actually watch the film, Tom wanted to have a Nerf fight. He’d brought along his double barrelled Nerf gun and gave me his new cross-bow. We then indulged in a lot of silly shooting each other while the movie played to itself.

Eventually, Mirinda and Sophie returned and there was a big rush to get everything packed and in the car for a quick trip to the station for their train home. We made it with six minutes to spare.

Another lovely day with my favourite little mate. I’m hoping to take him to a football game next season. Hopefully he’ll not want to take the Nerf guns with him.