We survived...barely

[noadvertising]

Sister and family came later than expected, but it was great fun to have them in our house. We had fizz, we had cake- mine plus the one sister brought with her (Sachertorte-yummy!), weather was fine, so the pool got opened for use. For the first time in five years our number four set a foot into the pool water, because his cousins were here and lured him in. Of course, Cassian wanted in, too. Since yesterday Cassian has a favourite uncle, much to the distress of number four, who does not tolerate children well. I fear son will be the sort of psychologist who needs a psychologist. Hubby sliced big amounts of his self-cured bacon, we had ham and cheese and sausages, too, served on the terrace. Ten minutes after we had started to eat a storm set in. Everything got brought into the dining room save for the napkins which are now in neighbour´s garden. Then it began bucketing down- no day without rain! This morning I had to drag my lemon trees back onto the terrace. No big trees, scraping 1,30 metres at most, but still no fun to drag up what storm has blown down. And I had to sacrifice the last fruit, still green as a lime, for today´s schnitzel, because hubby forgot to buy lemons. Dil and her friend arrived one hour early, and after a short time my patience was wearing thin. Elsa and her friend were at loggerheads all the time, battling for toys, for cake, for schnitzel...I now know why number four preferred to stay in bed until they had left. Aunt Lil had to be brought into town for work, and I grasped the mantle, said goodbye and left husband mine to the yowls of two very tired little girls and their nonplussed mothers who tried to reassure that their daughters had not behaved that bad ever before. Tell it to the marines! I wonder if the hotel they had booked still stands! On the way to town we realized how bad the storm had been- fallen trees and branches broken off everywhere, streets covered with leaves. On the way back I met DiL number two on her way to work. She´ll have been late, as always. As I said before- this girl will be late for her own funeral!